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 Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software.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.

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Survey: More organizations prioritizing cybersecurity in past year

Concern over the state of cybersecurity has led to 23 percent more organizations making improvements to their security systems since last year, according to the 2018 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO survey.

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5 tips to reduce end-point complexity, improve strategic alignment

Reducing end-point complexity and improving internal stakeholder alignment should be the focus of hospitals hoping to prevent cyberattacks, according to a study published May 28 in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

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1 in 3 healthcare organizations have experienced a cyberattack

A survey conducted by cybersecurity provider Imperva has found that more than one in three healthcare organizations have experienced a cyberattack within the last year, while one in 10 have paid a ransom.

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Black Book: Fortified Health top cybersecurity provider for medical devices

Black Book Market Research, a healthcare and public opinion research company, has named Fortified Health Security as the top cybersecurity service vendor in the "medical device and internet of things" category.

Organizations are trying to improve security, but employees remain an obstacle

While organizations have made investments into data security tools, employees remain a major barrier to achieving full privacy, according to a survey commissioned by Biscom.

Serial killer case raises concerns about privacy, security with DNA tests

In solving a cold case involving a serial rapist and murderer who terrified Northern California for decades, police used a novel approach to track down the killer. Detectives accessed open-source genetic data to locate relatives of a person whose genetic material was collected at a crime scene.

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5 usability issues in EHRs that may harm patients

While electronic health records (EHRs) have improved the safety and quality of patient health information, the shift from paper to digital interfaces has introduced a new set of barriers that may contribute to patient harm.

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Lacking trust in security, privacy reduces patient trust in health IT

Privacy and security concerns are linked to reduced patient access of health records and trust in health information technology (HIT). Findings were published April 11 in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

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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