UMMC closes clinics, opens triage phone line
By Patrice Guilfoyle
JACKSON, Miss. — University of Mississippi Medical Center clinics will remain closed through Wednesday as staff work to ensure a safe network environment following last week’s cyberattack.
The UMMC Triage Line has been established to allow patients to leave a message through a secure, automated voice system. Requests for time-sensitive needs, such as medication refills or postoperative care visits, will be prioritized, Dr. LouAnn Woodward said.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this attack on our system. We are doing all that we can to bring this situation to a safe resolution. In the meantime, we are opening this triage phone line for those most in need of immediate assistance,” Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs, said.
The UMMC Triage Line can be reached at 601-815-0000. Messages will be routed to the appropriate person for response; callers should speak clearly when prompted and have medication name, dosage and pharmacy name, address and telephone number ready for prescription refill requests.
UMMC staff are returning calls for the most time-sensitive issues first. Return calls may show as 601-815-0000 or come from an unknown number and may be delayed because high call volume is anticipated. Patients are urged not to call multiple times, as repeated calls will slow the ability to respond. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
