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 Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software.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

Bipartisan bill aims to hold device vendors accountable for security

Cybersecurity remains a hot topic in healthcare as hacking and ransomware attacks are becoming commonplace. In an effort to improve security measures, a bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation directly targeting the vulnerabilities in devices that have the potential to be breached.

Lock it down: 11 findings from cybersecurity survey of healthcare execs

Cyber security is at the top of the list for improvement in many healthcare organizations due to the uptake ransomware attacks in the recent month. The recently published 2017 KPMG/Forbes Insights CyberSecurity Survey outlines on the current landscape of cyber security, technology and strategies in ensuring patient data remains safe while also showcasing where the industry lacks in protecting electronic information.

Better technology, strategy top avenues to improving cybersecurity

KPMG has released its 2017 Cyber Healthcare & Life Sciences Survey, outlining current cybersecurity measures and threats.

HHS introduces tool to provide information on data breaches

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has introduced a revised HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool (HBRT) that gives individuals information to improve identification of data breaches and help them understand how they are investigated and resolved.

Hacking victims spent more than $25M in ransom demands

Ransomware has become an increasingly familiar method of cyberattacking healthcare organizations and patient data. In the past two years, hacking victims have paid more than $25 million in ransom, according to a study by Google.

Clinicians rely on pagers for care-related communications but many remain unprotected

With an array of options to communicate, physicians are able to pick and choose their favorite. A new study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine found that of all the communicative technologies, physicians prefer to use pagers to receive patient care-related (PCR) communications.

55% of healthcare professionals believe firms ready for cyberattacks

In the recent Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA) Stat poll, 55 percent of healthcare professionals believe their organization's information technology (IT) infrastructure was secure against cyberattacks.

What healthcare can learn from Netwrix report on data security

The recent Netwrix 2017 IT Risks Report examined information technologies professionals across 30 industries to find 75 percent of healthcare systems reported budget and a lack of time as main barriers to improving data security. The report was conducted by Netwrix Corporation to outline the thoughts to IT professionals regarding the data protection.

Around the web

Cardiovascular devices are more likely to be in a Class I recall than any other device type. The FDA's approval process appears to be at least partially responsible, though the agency is working to make some serious changes. We spoke to a researcher who has been tracking these data for years to learn more. 

Updated compensation data includes good news for multiple subspecialties. The new report also examines private equity's impact on employment models and how much male cardiologists earn compared to females.

When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country. 

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