According to the National Vulnerability Database, 18,353 vulnerabilities were reported in 2020. That’s nearly three times the volume of vulnerabilities reported five years ago, and higher than any year in the previous two decades. Given the rise in connected devices, this increase is not entirely unexpected. If that’s the case, shouldn’t we be seeing more vulnerability disclosures related to medical devices? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
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Patient Experience 2.0: A Shift in Priorities Defined by A Year of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the healthcare continuum within the past year, creating many roadblocks in the path towards high-quality care delivery. Amid these challenges, we have witnessed a significant shift in patient wants and needs, in addition to heightened demand for accessible, convenient clinical care. Notably, the desire for more care processes to be performed digitally has emerged as a priority among patients. According to a recent survey by Accenture about patient behaviors, 60%
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What Will It Take for Hospitals to Survive the Pandemic?
On New Years Eve, just as the Covid-19 outbreak in Los Angeles was at its worst, all 451 of Olympia Medical Center’s exhausted employees learned they would soon lose their jobs. After 74 years, the hospital closed for good on March 31st, leaving residents of the surrounding community — poor and mostly people of color — without a place to see a doctor. And it isn’t the only hospital closing. At least 47 hospitals have closed or filed for bankruptcy in the last year, and there will
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Why the Digital-First, Patient-Centered Care is Critical to Healthcare
In the turmoil of one of the hardest years the healthcare industry has experienced, many healthcare organizations innovated nearly overnight, transforming bedside tablets into virtual care providers and parking garages into field hospitals. Through the help of agile, flexible technology, healthcare has empowered providers to support patient care anywhere. The pandemic created a tipping point: The healthcare industry must accelerate its drive toward a digital-first mentality.
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Escalating Cyberattacks on Healthcare Organizations Highlight Need for Security Interventions
Healthcare organizations have faced continual stress from heavy COVID-19 caseloads in 2020. Cyberattacks on their information networks also loomed as a serious threat, and the pressure to protect data is expected to grow this year, as more criminals target healthcare providers. Protecting patient data from unauthorized access has long been a regulatory prerequisite for healthcare organizations. But increasingly, cybercriminals see profit potential in attacking and crippling their networks,
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Epic, Galen Healthcare, Chartis Group Named 2020 Overall Best in KLAS Awards
What You Should Know: - Epic was named the top Overall Software Suite for the eleventh consecutive year in the Best in KLAS 2021 Software & Services report, released today, which reports on the top vendors for 2020. Epic was also named the top Overall Physician Practice Vendor. Galen Healthcare Solutions was named the top Overall IT Services Firm. The Chartis Group earned the award of top Overall Healthcare Management Consulting Firm, edging out last year’s winner,
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Treat in Place: Protecting Nursing Home Patients From Hospital Readmission
A night doctor’s dilemma Five years ago, I was practicing medicine in a rural hospital in North Carolina as a nocturnist, when I received a call from an Emergency Room (ER) doctor. “Hey, it’s Blake. Room 7. Demented. UTI,” he says, and hangs up. I was struck by the abrupt and sparse communication—no detailed report. Not even a name. Charged with admitting and caring for patients, I head downstairs and find myself in room 7 where an elderly woman with a blown IV and no family around is
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4 Technologies That Are Transforming the Nursing Profession
There is almost no profession that technology hasn’t improved or changed in some way. At the touch of a button, we can order our groceries for delivery to our door. In the near future, drones may become commonplace for mail delivery. Every small change is making a significant difference. Therefore, it makes sense for the nursing profession and medical industry to see dramatic technological advancements, as well. However, some stand out from the crowd more than others, such as the
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Transitioning from Traditional to E-Fax: How Healthcare Communications are Transforming Post-COVID
The majority of industries have decreased or eliminated their use of the traditional fax machine over the past decade, including aviation, retail, and even finance. While the healthcare industry is at the forefront of disease research and treatment, however, it is still heavily reliant on this aging technology. Traditional fax has become ubiquitous in healthcare. It worked for health systems for many years, but the overwhelming volume of patient data and paper documents the healthcare
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Xealth’s CEO Shares Impact of Digital Health in 2020 and What’s Ahead in 2021
HIT Consultant sat down with Mike McSherry, CEO, and co-founder of Seattle-based digital prescription platform Xealth to discuss digital health lessons learned in 2020 and what we can expect in 2021. As Xealth’s CEO, Mike also works with Duke Health, UPMC, Atrium Health, and The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network where he uses his background in digital health to connect patients and care teams outside of traditional care settings. HITC: In 2021, How can digital
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