--- title: Michigan medical practice to close after refusing to pay ransom to hackers - Interbit Data description: Battle Creek, Mich.-based Brookside ENT and Hearing Center is shutting down after cyber hackers deleted all the practice's patient records, WWMT, a CBS affiliate, reports. image: https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21178601/Imported_Blog_Media/spotlight-overlay-alternate-lighthouse-Jul-28-2026-07-41-21-8786-PM.png --- [Skip to main content](https://interbitdata.com/blog/michigan-medical-practice-to-close-after-refusing-to-pay-ransom-to-hackers#main-content) [Knowledge Base Login](https://knowledge.interbitdata.com/en/knowledge)     [Support](https://interbitdata.com/support/) [![Interbit Logo](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21178601/Interbit%202026/Interbit%20Logos/logo-interbit-retina-svg.svg) ![Interbit Logo](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21178601/Interbit%202026/Interbit%20Logos/logo-interbit-retina-svg.svg)](https://interbitdata.com) - [Show submenu for Solutions Solutions](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon) - [Beacon Downtime](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon/downtime) - [Beacon Delivery](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon/delivery) - [Beacon Navigator](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon/navigator) - [PatientPath](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/patientpath) - [Blog](https://interbitdata.com/blog) - Show submenu for Resources Resources - [Events](https://interbitdata.com/resources/events/) - [Resources](https://interbitdata.com/resources/success-stories/) - Show submenu for About Us About Us - [Meet the Team](https://interbitdata.com/about/team) - [Partners](https://interbitdata.com/about/partners) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Solutions Solutions - Solutions - [Solutions](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon) - [Beacon Downtime](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon/downtime) - [Beacon Delivery](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon/delivery) - [Beacon Navigator](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/beacon/navigator) - [PatientPath](https://interbitdata.com/solutions/patientpath) - [Blog](https://interbitdata.com/blog) - Show submenu for Resources Resources - Resources - [Events](https://interbitdata.com/resources/events/) - [Resources](https://interbitdata.com/resources/success-stories/) - Show submenu for About Us About Us - About Us - [Meet the Team](https://interbitdata.com/about/team) - [Partners](https://interbitdata.com/about/partners) - Search - [Request a Demo](https://interbitdata.com/request-a-demo) [Request a Demo](https://interbitdata.com/request-a-demo) Search [Blog](https://interbitdata.com/blog) Tags - [Healthcare Information Systems](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/healthcare-information-systems) - [IT Challenges](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/it-challenges) - [Business Continuity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/business-continuity) - [Cybersecurity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cybersecurity) - [Company News](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/company-news) - [Cyberattack](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cyberattack) - [Cyberattacks](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cyberattacks) Search - [Healthcare Information Systems](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/healthcare-information-systems) - [IT Challenges](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/it-challenges) - [Business Continuity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/business-continuity) - [Cybersecurity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cybersecurity) - [Company News](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/company-news) - [Cyberattack](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cyberattack) - [Cyberattacks](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cyberattacks) [Business Continuity,](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/business-continuity) [IT Challenges,](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/it-challenges) [Brookside ENT and Hearing Center,](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/brookside-ent-and-hearing-center) [Healthcare Information Systems,](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/healthcare-information-systems) [Cyberattacks,](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cyberattacks) [Cybersecurity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cybersecurity) # Michigan medical practice to close after refusing to pay ransom to hackers by [Alex Konstantinovsky](https://interbitdata.com/blog/author/alex-konstantinovsky) Apr 1, 2019 ##### Becker’s Health IT & CIO Report Jackie Drees | Monday, April 1st, 2019 Battle Creek, Mich.-based Brookside ENT and Hearing Center is shutting down after cyber hackers deleted all the practice’s patient records, *WWMT*, a *CBS* affiliate, reports. Hackers obtained no patient information because the practice’s EHR system encrypted the files, John Bizon, MD, co-founder of Brookside ENT and Hearing Center, told *WWMT*. Hackers infected the medical center’s records system with ransomware and demanded co-founders Dr. Bizon and William Scalf, MD, pay $6,500 to buy back access to the medical files, according to the report. Drs. Scalf and Bizon chose not to pay the ransom, and hackers erased all the system’s files, including patient information and appointment schedules. Drs. Scalf and Bizon have decided to retire early as a result of the cyberattack. The medical practice plans to close April 30, and the staff is currently providing referrals and working to answer patient questions. Tags: [Business Continuity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/business-continuity) [IT Challenges](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/it-challenges) [Brookside ENT and Hearing Center](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/brookside-ent-and-hearing-center) [Healthcare Information Systems](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/healthcare-information-systems) [Cyberattacks](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cyberattacks) [Cybersecurity](https://interbitdata.com/blog/tag/cybersecurity) **[Alex Konstantinovsky](https://interbitdata.com/blog/author/alex-konstantinovsky)** Apr 1, 2019 ## Related Articles [![Cybersecurity is Clinical Infrastructure:  Why Hospitals Need a Resilience Strategy](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21178601/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-963458566-Jul-28-2026-07-39-32-7419-PM.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=iStock-963458566-Jul-28-2026-07-39-32-7419-PM.jpg) Cybersecurity is Clinical Infrastructure:  Why Hospitals Need a Resilience Strategy](https://interbitdata.com/blog/time-to-reframe-the-shiny-object-in-healthcare-it) [![EHR report distribution: 3 workflow basics for hospital efficiency](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21178601/hubfs/Blog%20Post_EHR%20Report%20Distribution.png?width=500&height=500&name=Blog%20Post_EHR%20Report%20Distribution.png) EHR report distribution: 3 workflow basics for hospital efficiency](https://interbitdata.com/blog/ehr-report-distribution-workflow-basics-for-hospital-efficiency) [![Is Your Hospital ETDBW?](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21178601/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/patientpath-conversation-1.png?width=500&height=500&name=patientpath-conversation-1.png) Is Your Hospital ETDBW?](https://interbitdata.com/blog/is_your_hospital-etdbw) [![Ponemon: Business continuity management vital for data breach recovery](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21178601/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IT-staff-computers-712-1.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=IT-staff-computers-712-1.jpg) Ponemon: Business continuity management vital for data breach recovery](https://interbitdata.com/blog/ponemon-business-continuity-management-vital-for-data-breach-recovery) [![Interbit Data, Inc.](https://21178601.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21178601/Interbit%202026/Interbit%20Logos/logo-interbit-retina-svg.svg)](https://interbitdata.com/) Uptime, Downtime, Anytime! - - Keeping critical information moving securely and reliably for nearly 30 years. 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