Disturbing findings from a recent study examining the impact of ransomware attacks on patient care must serve as a wake-up call for the healthcare sector to intensify its preparedness to deal with such incidents, say Larry Ponemon of research firm Ponemon Institute and Ed Gaudet of security risk management firm Censinet. The two companies conducted and sponsored the research.
The study found that 22% of the respondents – who were all IT and security professionals at healthcare delivery organizations experiencing ransomware attacks – believe the incidents resulted in an increase in patient mortality.
In addition, 71% of the respondents reported that ransomware attacks resulted in longer lengths of stay for patients, 70% reported delays in procedures and tests, 65% reported an increase in patient transfers or facility diversions and 36% reported an increase in complications from medical procedures. (See: Patient Safety Concerns Grow Over Medical Gear Security.)
“These findings are very depressing, to be honest,” Ponemon says in an interview with Information Security Media Group. “We were…
