Awareness is Key: Educating Executives on Cybersecurity Risks in Healthcare

The following is a guest article by Anis Trabelsi, Chief Information Officer at Palomar Health As the Chief Information Officer at Palomar Health, the largest healthcare district in California, I believe it is crucial to strike a balance between technology, cybersecurity, and business needs. Historically, healthcare organizations are known for their focus on technology and innovation. However, the proliferation of electronic health records, the interconnectivity of medical devices, and the rise of telehealth has made healthcare systems more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. According to a recent study, 89% of healthcare organizations reported around 43 cyber-attacks per year, almost one attack a week. Cyber criminals will continue to target healthcare systems more frequently, and the resulting breaches have significant consequences, including loss of sensitive patient data, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.  My challenge every day is to keep up with healthcare needs while making sure patient data is kept safe. As healthcare IT executives, we recognize the importance of cybersecurity, but the challenges of security are not always understood by other leaders. Too often, business executives focus solely on business needs, without fully understanding the risks and threats that come with implementing new technologies. This can result in a situation where security is an afterthought, and the organization is left vulnerable to attack.  A big part of our role as IT leade...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: C-Suite Leadership EMR-EHR Healthcare IT Hospital - Health System Security and Privacy Anis Trabelsi Cyber Attacks Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Initiatives Cybersecurity Risks Electronic Health Records Healthcare Security Threats Im Source Type: blogs