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 Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software.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

Gem launches blockchain initiative

Gem, a blockchain technology platform, has launched Gem Health, an initiative for building an inclusive blockchain ecosystem for healthcare.

Thumbnail

Physical theft and loss the top reason for healthcare security incidents

Almost three-quarters of security incidents in healthcare in 2015 involved physical theft and loss, insider and privilege misuse and miscellaneous errors, according to the Verizon 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report.

Oneida Nation suffers data breach

The Oneida Nation's Oneida Health Center in Wisconsin has reported a data breach after a flash drive containing details of patients' dental information was stolen.

Phishing email the source of a breach for Wyoming Medical Center

An email phishing scheme has led to a data breach impacting 3,184 patients of Wyoming Medical Center. 

N.C. provider to pay $750,000 to settle HIPAA violations

Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic of North Carolina will pay $750,000 to settle HIPAA violation charges.  

Stolen unencrypted laptop impacts CVS pharmacy customers in Alabama

A stolen unencrypted laptop is the source of a data breach affecting customers of a CVS Pharmacy in Calera, Ala., according to a report by AL.com. 

ACC breach affects 1,400 provider groups

The American College of Cardiology has notified 1,400 institutions that some of their patient data may have been compromised after inadvertently being made available to a third-party vendor.

Ransomware's impact growing

Ransomware isn't just affecting a few organizations here and there.

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. 

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup