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 Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software.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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HIMSS: 7 points showing healthcare cybersecurity is improving

Facing an increasing amount of cyberattacks, healthcare organizations are building up their cybersecurity programs, according to the 2017 HIMSS Cybersecurity Survey. After speaking with 126 health information technology leaders, researchers outlined current security measures to show points of improvement and explore how the industry can prevent future attacks.

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Ransomware attacks in healthcare industry increases by 133%

The healthcare industry has fought an uphill battle against hackers in 2017—and it shows in the latest Beazley Breach Insights report. The report, conducted by the cyber and data breach response insurance firm, found the rate of ransomware attacks had increased by 50 percent in the first quarter of 2017, with demands up 133 percent.

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.

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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