What You Should Know:
– Nordic, a global health and technology consulting firm, today announced an initiative with Microsoft and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) to establish a national Rural Health IT Community.
– The collaborative effort aims to champion policies, programs, and services tailored to the unique needs of rural healthcare, fostering collaboration between rural hospitals and global technology leaders, and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies that safeguard these vulnerable healthcare organizations.
Addressing the Unique Challenges of Rural Healthcare
With nearly 20% of the U.S. population residing in rural areas, there’s an urgent need to support rural healthcare organizations by providing access to cutting-edge tools and resources and encouraging the adoption of new technologies. This community will serve as a dedicated platform for rural digital health leaders and their teams to connect, exchange solutions, and drive innovation in the communities they serve.
Focusing on Cybersecurity
In light of the increasing cyberattacks targeting healthcare systems, the Rural Health IT Community’s initial focus is on enhancing cybersecurity. This initiative aims to help rural hospitals, which often operate with limited resources, combat the growing threats and incidents that can disrupt operations and compromise sensitive patient data.
Leveraging Unique Offerings
Both Nordic and Microsoft bring valuable expertise to the table. Nordic recently launched its third-party vulnerability management service, while Microsoft recently announced the Microsoft Cybersecurity Program for Rural Hospitals. These offerings, along with the collective insights and collaboration fostered within the community, will help strengthen the cybersecurity posture of rural healthcare organizations.
Call to Action
The Rural Health IT Community is open to all digital health leaders and solution providers committed to supporting the needs of this vital healthcare market. The official launch will take place at the CHIME Fall Forum with an informative Sunrise Session on November 6, 2024.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Microsoft and CHIME on this national initiative to help keep rural health services safe and secure and drive innovation,” said Jason Griffin, managing director of digital health strategy and cybersecurity at Nordic. “By combining our expertise and services with Microsoft technology and resources and CHIME’s industry voice, we’re shaping the future of rural healthcare to better serve patients no matter how resource limited or physically distant the health system may be.”
