By focusing on broader incident response training efforts – which involves medical, operational and other teams – as part of overall emergency preparedness programs, healthcare providers will be better positioned to maintain and deliver patient care when systems are breached and potentially disabled following a cyberattack.
Cyber attacks risk patient care
A recent study by the Ponemon Institute involving more than 640 healthcare IT and security leader participants found that while most of the provider organizations experienced nearly an attack each week last year, 57% also say these attacks are resulting in adverse impacts on patient care.
Half of respondents cited an increase of complications from medical procedures – and 20% reported an increase in mortality rates.
“This report aligns with the reality that healthcare organizations are facing in terms of the effects to patient safety,” said Anahi Santiago, chief information security officer at Delaware-based Christiana Care Health System.
She and other healthcare cybersecurity leaders spoke with Healthcare IT News about the connection between cyber hygiene and patient safety and how to prepare for healthcare cyber…
