Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter Faces Critical Infrastructure Attack 

Update: Monday, May 22nd

The MMC & Me patient portal is back online, and we are able to receive and send messages.

We are proud to say that all locations and departments have resumed normal operations. Our teams have done amazing work to restore functionality to the systems that allow our physicians and providers to take care of patients. 

We truly appreciate the community's understanding, patience and support as we have navigated this storm. 

Update: Friday, May 19th

Radiology services at our South Church location will resume normal business hours on Friday, May 19th.

Update: Monday, May 15th

Laboratory Services will resume normal hours and operations at our Garrison Drive and South Church locations.

Radiology will also resume normal operations with scheduled appointments for Monday at our Garrison Drive location.

For those that had a laboratory or radiology appointment cancelled in the last two weeks, you will be contacted to reschedule the appointment. 

Update, Friday, May 12th

Our Neurology office in Smyrna and Spine, Joint and Pain office in Manchester will reopen for scheduled patients on Friday, May 12th. MMC Northfield patients will continue to be seen at our main campus on Garrison Drive. 

Our main campus at Garrison Drive, South Church and The Fountains locations remain OPEN. Appointments have resumed as previously scheduled unless you have been notified otherwise. 

All laboratory and radiology services will remain closed. 

Walk-In Clinics are available at Garrison Drive and South Church. MMC Now Lascassas will open at 9am today.

We are unable to receive messages through the MMC & Me patient portal. Please call the office to discuss time sensitive matters.  

*Update: Thursday, May 11th

We would like to express our gratitude for your patience during our efforts to fully restore our clinic's operations. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our services back up and running. I am astounded by what our team have been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. MMC physicians and staff remain dedicated to providing the best care to their patients and our community. -Joey Peay, CEO

Our main campus at Garrison Drive, South Church and The Fountains locations are open. Appointments have resumed as previously scheduled unless you have been notified otherwise. All other locations remain closed.

All laboratory and radiology services will remain closed.

We continue to work diligently to resume all normal operations. Thank you for your continued patience. 

*Update for Wednesday, May 10th

Our main campus at Garrison Drive, South Church and The Fountains locations will be open. Appointments will resume as previously scheduled unless you have been notified otherwise. All other locations remain closed. 

All laboratory and radiology services will remain closed.

We continue to work diligently to resume all normal operations. Thank you for your continued patience. 

*Update for Tuesday, May 9th

- Patients have been contacted with important information regarding their visit. Please be vigilant in watching for phone calls or text messages from our office. 

- Laboratory and Radiology services at all locations will remain closed. 

- Our Garrison Drive, South Church and The Fountains locations will be open. All other locations remain closed. 

- Most Surgeries & Gastroenterology procedures in our SurgiCenter at Garrison Drive will resume as normally scheduled. Patients have been contacted. 

- Pediatrics and Internal & Family Medicine Walk-In Clinics at Garrison Drive will be open from 8am - 4:30pm.

- MMC Now Family Walk-In at South Church will be open tomorrow from 7:30am - 7:30pm. All other NOW locations remain closed. 

Thank you for your continued patience!

*Update for Monday, May 8th

• Patients will be contacted with important information regarding their visit for Monday. 

• We will be open for scheduled appointments at our Garrison Drive location as well as our Dermatology & Plastic Surgery offices located in The Fountains.

• Laboratory and Radiology services at all locations will remain closed. 

• Most Surgeries & Gastroenterology procedures in our SurgiCenter at Garrison Drive will resume as normally scheduled. Patients have been contacted. 

• Pediatrics and Internal & Family Medicine Walk-In Clinics at Garrison Drive will be open from 8am - 4:30pm.

• MMC Now Family Walk-In locations remain closed for Monday.

If you have not received a call or text message regarding your appointment, please call before arriving. 

Thank you for your continued patience. We know this hasn’t been easy for our patients. Our teams have been working around the clock this weekend. We thank you for trusting us with your care. Your Health Is Our Mission. 

*Weekend Update: May 6th and 7th

*Update: Friday, May 5, 2023 - 10:00AM

Great News! Our phone lines are up but, as you can imagine, we are experiencing a very high number of calls. Please be patient with us and leave a message with your call back number if you are prompted. We will return calls in the order in which they were received.

We do not have access to MMC & Me portal messages. If you have sent a message in the last week that is pressing in nature, please call to discuss.

At this time, we do have any updates about scheduled appointments or surgeries for next week. We will continue to provide updates as soon as we can. 

*Update: Friday, May 5, 2023

• MMC Pediatrics and Internal & Family Walk-In Clinics at Garrison Drive will be open from 8am-4:30 pm for sick visits. 
• All Surgeries in our SurgiCenter, Gastroenterology procedures, Laboratory and Radiology services are cancelled.
• MMC Pediatrics will be open for all scheduled appointments. **All appointments will take place at the Garrison Drive location.**
• Patients needing prescription refills should call our main number and the answering service will put them in contact with the on-call physician
• All MMC Now locations remain closed. 

*Update: Thursday, May 4, 2023

• MMC Pediatric  and Internal & Family Walk-In Clinics at the Garrison Drive location will open from 8 am-4:30 pm
• All other MMC offices and locations remain closed.
• Patients needing prescription refills should call our main number and the answering service will put them in contact with the on-call physician.
• Staff will contact all patients scheduled for Friday May 5th with important information regarding their visit.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter Faces Critical Infrastructure Attack 

MURFREESBORO, TENN. (MAY 2, 2023) – On April 22, 2023, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter (“MMC”) was the victim of a sophisticated criminal cyber-attack.  In response, we rapidly initiated an emergency shut down of our network to limit the spread of the attack within our systems and those of our technology partners. Since that time, we have been working with law enforcement agencies and third-party experts to identify the source and scope of the attack in order to restore normal clinic operations. Our first priority was to contain the incident and protect our patients and employees.

In conjunction with law enforcement, we continue to investigate the incident while also taking action on our infrastructure to, hopefully, prevent any further attacks. With the quick detection by our technology experts, we believe we have been able to limit the impact of this criminal attack.  We are currently in the process of restoring our systems safely with enhanced security features and controls. While that process is being undertaken, MMC has closed all operations and hopes to open on a limited basis on Wednesday, May 3rd, with the rest of our operations coming online shortly thereafter.*

Joey Peay, CEO of MMC, states: “Preserving sensitive patient and employee information is of the utmost importance to MMC, but like so many other organizations around the country and despite its best efforts, MMC has found itself as the target of criminals attempting to steal personal or company data.  I want to thank our patients and employees for their understanding and patience while we work to make sure our computer infrastructure is secure and free of any harmful software.”

We have worked diligently to communicate closures with all patients in a timely manner using all methods of communication at our disposal.  Future updates regarding clinic operations will be posted to our website, social media platforms, and through emails and phone calls directly to patients.  We apologize for the vagueness of our recent communications, but we did not want to do anything that would impede law enforcement’s investigative efforts.

While we have not confirmed that any specific patient, employee, or corporate data was accessed or removed from our network, patients and employees of MMC are encouraged to monitor their personal data for any misuse.  Personal data could include names, enrollment information such as group name, identification number, claims or treatment information such as claim numbers, dates of service, procedures, prescription information, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, and, in some cases, social security numbers.  Please note that MMC does not store credit card or bank account information within its network.

For over 70 years, MMC has been dedicated to caring for our community.  We have faced countless challenges over the years including natural disasters, a world-wide pandemic, and now, a highly sophisticated cyberattack.  With your continued support, we will overcome this criminal attack on MMC as we continue our commitment to the health of our community!

“Dr. Carter literally saved my life, and Dr. Medling is a miracle worker” Amy says as she begins her story.

Amy Lysycyzn is mother of two beautiful girls, bonus mom to a son, a realtor, and an advocate.

Amy was acutely aware of the risks of breast cancer. She had a family history: Her aunt had passed away from complications due to breast cancer in her late forties. Then, at 30, she lost her best friend to the disease. Her experience made her hyper vigilant about doing breast self-exams and maintaining appointments with her OBGYN at MMC, Dr. Brad Chesney. 

Shortly after the birth of her first child she found a lump in her breast. A needle biopsy was performed, and the area was benign. She began seeing MMC general surgeon, Dr. Jimmy Carter every 6 months. Another mass was found and then surgically removed, but still benign. Amy was having mammograms at MMC Radiology every year, sometimes irregular findings, but the high-density scans would be clear.

After her third mammogram in less than a year, Amy and Dr. Carter discussed genetic testing. Within 10 minutes, Amy had completed paperwork and had blood drawn. Two weeks later, Dr. Carter called and gave Amy the news no one wanted to hear, she was BRCA 1 positive. Within 2 hours she had an appointment with Dr. Chesney to have her ovaries removed and an appointment with Dr. Carter the following day. 

Amy was then scheduled for a double mastectomy in late October of 2019. The area they were watching was benign, but cancer was found in her right breast. A long 8-hour surgery gave them clear margins, and the team was optimistic. Amy opted for immediate reconstructive surgery with MMC plastic surgeon, Dr. Brad Medling. Unfortunately, multiple infections in her left breast led to more surgeries until the last infection in March 2020.

As Amy was battling an infection, the world was shutting down. Covid precautions meant Amy was all alone as she faced an emergency surgery and recovery. Once she was able to leave the hospital, because of her compromised immune system, the family was isolated indefinitely. During a follow up with Dr. Medling, the decision was made that she would not continue with breast reconstruction. 

The physical recovery from breast cancer surgery and multiple infections was hard, but Amy describes the emotional recovery as brutal. A friend referred Amy to Tennessee Oncology for counseling and then Amy was referred to the Ascension St. Thomas Foundation Cancer Wellness Program which includes support groups and a physical wellness class.

Through Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, Tennessee Oncology, and Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford, Amy has begun to move forward and heal, both physically and emotionally, after breast cancer. She has made a lifelong connection with both Dr. Carter and Dr. Medling and will be forever grateful for their compassion and devotion to her care.

The month of October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or (SIDS) Awareness Month. SIDS is a sudden death in an infant under the age of a year old. This means the death was unable to be explained despite proper examination and a thorough medical history review. In the United States, more than one-third of sudden unexpected infant deaths occur each year from SIDS. Having a safe sleeping area for your baby is essential as it can decrease the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. There are more tips on creating a safe sleep environment for your baby: Make Baby's Room Safe: Parent Checklist - HealthyChildren.org. 

Non-fitted sheets, blankets, quilts, and crib bumpers should be avoided because they can increase the risk of SIDS causing strangulation or suffocation. You should wait until they are at least 12 months old to have them sleep with soft objects or stuffed animals. It is best to keep the crib free of clutter. Having a firm mattress would be advisable for your baby as well. There is more information about soft objects and toys: When can my baby sleep with a stuffed animal or doll? | BabyCenter

It is best to lay your baby flat on their back for every sleep. This reduces the risk of suffocation and keeps their nose and mouth unblocked for better breathing, limiting choking and vomiting. The more your baby sleeps on their back, the more they’ll become used to sleeping in this position. You can learn more about how to safely position your baby for bedtime: Why Babies Should Sleep on Their Backs (momtricks.com).

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter welcomes Suresh Chitturi, M.D. and Michael Yu, M.D. to its Neurology department. Drs. Chitturi and Yu have practiced in the Smyrna area for more than 8 years as part of Middle Tennessee Neurology and Sleep Medicine. The board-certified Neurologists will join MMC Neurologist, Blake Kellum, M.D. and nurse practitioners Dana Carter, APRN, FNP-C and Megan Childers, ARNP-ANP.

“For the past several years, there has been significant need for additional Neurologists in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, noted Joey Peay, MMC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Having Drs. Chitturi and Yu, with their years of expertise, join MMC allows us to expand our service offerings in the neurology service line while also keeping them in the community. We welcome Drs. Chitturi and Yu and their patients to MMC.”

For now, they will continue to see patients primarily in their existing office located at 300 StoneCrest Blvd. Suite 365, Smyrna, TN. As MMC’s expansion efforts come online, their practice location may be reevaluated.

Dr. Michael Yu’s areas of expertise include: Sleep disorders: Apnea, Narcolepsy, Restless Legs Syndrome, Insomnia, Pediatric Sleep Evaluation and Testing. Neurology: Migraines/headaches, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia/Memory Disorders, Parkinson’s Disease/Movement Disorders, EEG, Stroke, Neuropathy, Neuromuscular Disorders.

Referrals from a patient’s primary care provider are typically required to be seen by a neurologist. To learn more about Dr. Chitturi and Dr. Yu, visit www.mmclinic.com/neurology.

An immigrant from Egypt, Kirolos has seen first-hand the negative impact that lack of access to medical care can have on an individual and their community. His background has given him an appreciation and respect for diversity, and a desire to serve not only the Rutherford County area, but the world through Doctors Without Borders. By completing more than 300 volunteer hours with Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and teaching Sunday school classes, he has demonstrated a passion for serving others. He aspires to better the lives of people and seeks to break the cycle of heath care discrepancies related to race, age, and gender. 

What inspired the scholarship?
In 2020, the physicians at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and SurgiCenter established The MMC Foundation (a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation) to advance its mission to foster continuous improvement in the community’s health. The MMC Foundation partnered with MMC’s Diversity Committee, led by Dr. David Chatman for the past 3 years, to develop a scholarship for local students who are advancing to medical school and who are also members of ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the medical profession.

“Representation matters,” said Dr. Chatman. “There are physical, educational, social, and economic barriers which serve to dissuade diverse students from seeking leadership opportunities and membership within dissimilar communities. Diversity in representation helps to break these barriers down, and helps to normalize and realize the American dream for all Americans. We are very impressed with Kirolos, who seems to know exactly what he wants to do and has a plan to get there. We hope that he will remember us, and remember this community. We believe that given his experience and skills, he can shape the future of medicine and we believe that he will serve his community well.” 

Did you know? 

• 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. 

• One blistering sunburn significantly increases a person’s risk for developing melanoma. 

• Tanning bed use (even once!) increases melanoma risk by 20%. 

Protect the skin you’re in! 

• Mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) SPF30 or greater applied every 2 hours provides adequate protection for children and adults. 

• Long sleeves protect for a long time! Choose sun protective clothing and wide brimmed hats. 

• Keep children in shade to protect them from UV exposure. Play outdoors in the morning or evenings when the sunisn’t as bright. 

Free Skin Cancer Screenings 

May is nationally recognized as Skin Cancer Awareness month. For the past several years, MMC Dermatology has offered free skin cancer screenings for new patients in the month of May. And they are proud to provide that same offer again this year! New patients will be scheduled with Carolyn Goodman Henn, DNP/FNP-C, who recently joined the practice as Dr. Brad Bledsoe’s Nurse Practitioner in 2021. Any additional treatment or procedure recommended will be scheduled accordingly. For more than 25years MMC Dermatology has served our community by providing adults and children the very best in skin care. To schedule an appointment, call 615-867-8220 or visitmmclinc.com/dermatology.

Your health is our mission.