The three West Alabama hospitals of the DCH Health System on Tuesday are only accepting new patients in the most critical condition.

This comes as a result of the system experiencing a ransomware attack, according to a press release.

A criminal is limiting our ability to use our computer systems in exchange for an as-yet unknown payment, the release stated.

The hospitals affected are DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Northport Medical Center and Fayette Medical Center.

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Our hospitals have implemented our emergency procedures to ensure safe and efficient operations in the event technology dependent on computers is not available, the release outlined. That said, we feel it is in the best interest of patient safety that [the three hospitals] are closed to all but the most critical new patients.

Our staff is caring for the patients who are currently in the hospital, and we have no plans to transfer current patients, the release added.

Patients scheduled for an outpatient procedure or test at a DCH hospital should call before going to the facility.

Additionally, local ambulances have reportedly been instructed to take patients to other area hospitals if at all possible.

Patients who come to our emergency departments may be transferred to another hospital when they are stabilized, the release added. We are constantly evaluating our situation, and we will provide updates.

Reacting to the news on Tuesday, a high ranking member of the University of Alabama Student Government Association told Yellowhammer News, Students already are warned about DCH essentially the message I was told as an incoming freshman was, Dont go there. Its a disaster. Go to UAB or somewhere else in the Birmingham area if you can at all help it. That said, what were seeing today is shocking. If a health system is susceptible to a cyber attack at any time, how can I trust that place with my wellbeing?

Yellowhammer News also spoke with an economic development professional heavily involved in statewide site selection and recruitment work, including Tuscaloosa and West Alabama.

At the end of the day, areas with high-quality, reliable healthcare access have a big leg up, he said. In Tuscaloosa, a lot of things have been going right and theres significant room for more growth. However, when companies are looking at cities in other states, or even comparing, say, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa or Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, one big thing we hear is that Tuscaloosas healthcare system is a negative mark on their scorecard.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

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