Cybersecurity

The digital security of healthcare institutions and data is a growing concern, with an increasing number of cyberattacks each year against healthcare systems, which are seen as easy targets. Cyber attacks often use ransomware to target personal health information, patient data and medical devices to cut off access to the data until a ransom is payed to the hacker. Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software. Due to the interconnected nature of hospital IT systems today, the weakest link can be older web-enabled medical devices, including clinical and non-clinical systems. Employees are also a major target of attacks via malicious e-mails that prompt them to open attachments that then download malware onto the hospital's IT system.

Healthcare companies accounted for most security incidents in first half of 2018

Healthcare companies were responsible for the most security events during the first half of 2018.

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Hundreds of medical records found on Houston sidewalk

The private medical records of about 1,800 patients were found on a sidewalk in a Houston neighborhood, according to a report by KHOU 11.

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Protected health information of 19K Toyota employees, health plan members potentially exposed

The personal and protected health information of about 19,000 current and former Toyota employees and health plan participants may be at risk following a breach that happened in August.

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Only 39% of healthcare providers confident in medical device security

Just 39 percent of healthcare organizations and providers are confident in their medical device security, according to report by KLAS, College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIMES) and the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security (AEHIS).

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Patient information exposed on Twitter during Gwinnett Medical Center breach

The FBI is currently investigating a reported data breach at the Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia, according to a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Cybersecurity threats named top health technology hazard for 2019

Cybersecurity and hacking threats were named the top technology hazard healthcare organizations are expected to face in 2019.

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Aspire Health email system hacked, loses some protected health information

Nashville healthcare company Aspire Health is still trying to identify a hacker that attacked its email system and took some patient health information, according to a report by The Tennessean.

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Healthcare providers, health plans accounted for most breaches, patient records exposed

Between 2010 and 2017, healthcare providers and health plans accounted for the most breaches and largest number of patient records compromised from breaches, according to a research letter published in JAMA.

Around the web

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said the clinical community needs to combat health misinformation at a grassroots level. He warned that patients are immersed in a "sea of misinformation without a compass."

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