Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

If you have a procedure or appointment scheduled today at Centra Southside Hospital, you need to call and make sure it’s still happening. The hospital, along with everywhere from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to airports and agencies around the world, has been hit by a computer outage. 

The problem comes from a computer update. A defect was identified in a content update for Windows users that went out late last night. But the problem was found after the update had already gone through, causing systems to crash for every operation that used the “CrowdStrike” program. CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company, one that produces software to prevent computer systems from being hit by cyberattacks. 

Centra was one of the companies hit hard by the glitch. Stephanie McBride, Centra’s Director of Communications, said everything from the Farmville hospital to primary care and specialty clinics are being affected. 

“Central is operating on a modified schedule today,” McBride told The Herald. “Centra’s emergency departments and urgent care locations are fully operational. Most ambulatory clinics such as primary care and specialty clinics are open, but experiencing delays. If you have a procedure or appointment, please call the location directly to confirm.” 

So to be clear, that goes for hospital procedures, both outpatient and otherwise, as well as simple doctor visits. If you’re supposed to go to your primary care this afternoon, you need to call and make sure they still have you on the schedule. 

Also, some of Centra’s phone systems have also been affected by the glitch. If you get a busy signal either at the hospital or your primary doctor, McBride asks that you call the switchboard at 434-200-3000 and they can help. 

Problems beyond Centra Southside  

The “blue screen of death” as this glitch is being called, is impacting companies across the board, beyond hospitals like Centra Southside. So if you’re having problems checking your bank account or making a deposit, there’s a good chance that’s why. The same goes for airlines. If you planned to fly out of Richmond, for example, flights have been delayed and in some cases canceled. Here in Prince Edward County, the Department of Social Services put out a statement around 10 a.m., saying staffers have “limited to no access to the state computer network.” The office will remain open, but just with limited abilities to process any requests for assistance. For anyone who has questions for social service, they can call 434-392-3113. 

All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles offices are closed, however. That goes for Prince Edward, Lunenburg, Buckingham and all across both the region and the state. One positive is that the glitch didn’t affect any 911 systems across this region. Those are still functional. However, most state agencies are still scrambling. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a statement this morning, saying state officials were working with CrowdStrike and the different agencies to get things back to normal. 

“Amidst the global tech outages, overnight we have conducted an initial assessment to determine impacts across government agencies and departments for functionality,” said Youngkin. “The assessment determined that government administrative functions are experiencing disruptions, and we are coordinating with local, regional and federal authorities and private sector critical infrastructure partners in order to reestablish normal operations. As a result of the administrative disturbances, Virginians may experience delays and we ask everyone to remain patient as we work to remedy and reestablish the high standards that Virginians deserve.”