In an opinion piece called “Keeping Our Defenses Up Against Cyberattacks,” American Hospital Association (AHA) President and CEO Rick Pollack links cybersecurity to patient safety.
Mr. Pollack notes that there has been a “troubling increase in cyber threats perpetrated by international cyber gangs and state-sponsored hackers this summer” who are increasingly targeting healthcare vendors with ransomware attacks and data-theft extortion campaigns that can negatively impact both patient care and the supply chain. He notes that cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to create “more convincing phishing attempts and more sophisticated attack methods.”
“As these attacks become more common,” he writes, “there is a risk that we will begin to view them as simply another operational challenge. We cannot afford to do that…Cyberattacks are not merely technology incidents. They are threats to patient care and patient safety.”
He explains that disruption to healthcare information systems caused by cyberattacks can lead to delayed surgeries, compromised emergency department services, ambulance diversions, and clinicians losing real-time access to patient information.
After explaining the resources that AHA provides to help hospitals build their defenses, he notes that “while no organization can eliminate risk entirely, every organization can improve its preparedness. That starts with conducting regular risk assessments, strengthening defenses and incident response plans, training staff to recognize threats, and leveraging trusted resources and partnerships. Most importantly, no hospital or health system should face these threats alone. Protecting healthcare from cyber crime requires a whole-of-nation approach that includes collaboration among providers, government agencies, law enforcement and industry partners.”
He concludes that “cybersecurity is now an essential component of patient safety. By remaining vigilant, sharing information and working together, we can strengthen our collective defenses and help ensure that hospitals and health systems continue to provide the care and services our communities depend on every day.”
