JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida-based radiology provider has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just weeks after a "ransomware incident."
There are three Akumin Imaging centers in Jacksonville: Roosevelt Boulevard, Dunn Avenue, and Fort Caroline Road.
A patient told First Coast News Wednesday she's been unable to schedule an appointment.
Akumin posted a message on Oct. 24 to patients, saying they have "temporarily postponed most of our clinical and diagnostic operations until we can restore our systems in a safe and secure manner."
It goes on to say an investigation into "suspicious activity" in their "information technology network" determined they'd been the victim of a "ransomware incident."
The page says some services, including oncology services, have resumed, but "restorations of this nature take time."
There's no estimated timeline for restoration at all locations.
Akumin also said, "Access to certain imaging results from prior years may be currently unavailable."
In an SEC filing, Akumin CEO Riadh Zine said the company got notice from Nasdaq’s Listing Qualifications Department that Akumin's "Common Stock’s closing bid price had been below $1 for 30 consecutive business days and that it was therefore not in compliance with Bid Price Requirement."
Nasdaq gives companies 180 days to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement. The company was eligible to qualify for a second 180 calendar-day period to regain compliance.
In August, they got another notice from Nasdaq's Listing Qualifications Department that "it was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s Continued Listing Standards due to its failure to meet the Equity Standard."
One month later, Akumin requested to submit a plan to regain compliance.
The company failed to regain compliance and filed for bankruptcy this month.
In a statement, a spokesperson from Akumin said:
"Please note that the current restructuring process is not related to the ransomware incident.
With respect to the incident, upon becoming aware, we took quick action to secure our networks, including shutting down systems. We also launched an investigation, are working with experienced advisors, and notified law enforcement.
We have implemented a series of workarounds and manual processes for which our staff are well trained to support our patients and health partners and minimize disruptions in order to ensure continuity of care for patients. We are working closely with our business partners and third-party specialists to safely resume business activities. We have made substantial progress restoring certain operations, including all oncology services, since taking our systems offline, and have resumed treating some patients. More systems are being brought online each day. Akumin remains committed to providing high-quality services to our patients and health partners. We will provide additional updates as we are able."