The University of New Mexico Health System announced on Thursday, Oct. 26, that a cyber‑security incident has crippled its operations across the state. As a precaution, the system is diverting all ambulance traffic to other hospitals and cancelling every scheduled appointment at its clinics.
Immediate actions for patients
UNM Health officials warned residents not to travel to any UNM facility on Oct. 26. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should dial 911 immediately. Those with non‑emergency needs are asked to wait for further notice before seeking care at UNM locations.
Impact on the community
The sudden shutdown affects a wide range of services, from primary‑care visits to specialty consultations. Patients who had appointments scheduled for the day will be contacted by the health system to reschedule. Local hospitals, including Presbyterian and Lovelace Medical Center, are prepared to receive redirected ambulance traffic and are coordinating with UNM to manage the surge.
What caused the disruption
UNM Health described the event as a “cybersecurity incident” but did not disclose technical details. The health system’s IT team is working with federal and state cyber‑security agencies to investigate the breach, contain any damage, and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
Advice for families
Parents are encouraged to keep a list of alternative urgent‑care locations and to monitor communications from UNM Health for updates on when regular services will resume. The health system emphasized that the safety of patients remains its top priority and that all steps are being taken to protect personal health information.
Looking ahead
UNM Health expects to provide a timeline for restoring services within the next 48 hours, pending the outcome of the investigation. In the meantime, the health system is urging the community to remain patient and to follow official guidance.
For the latest information, residents should follow UNM Health’s official website and social‑media channels, or contact the system’s patient‑services hotline.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
