Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

A new report by a federal panel offers suggestions to help healthcare IT leaders move forward on cybersecurity

Healthcare Informatics: The conclusions in the report that the Health Care Industry Cybersecurity Task Force of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released to Congress on June 2 were a bit like the conceptual equivalent of a slow-moving hurricane—devastating, but long predicted. Stating that “healthcare cybersecurity is in critical condition,” the report’s authors cited a severe lack of security talent, legacy equipment that runs on old, unsupported and vulnerable operating systems, vulnerabilities that impact patient care and an epidemic of known vulnerabilities. The report, developed by Task Force members comprised of government and private industry leaders, also cited “premature and over-connectivity” as an issue contributing to the critical state of cybersecurity. “Meaningful Use requirements drove hyper-connectivity without secure design and implementation,” the report’s authors wrote.

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