The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center’s September 19 Threat Briefing On Healthcare Technology Security – Healthcare

As healthcare technology continues to evolve, so does the need
for robust compliance strategies to safeguard patient information
and ensure the integrity of medical devices. In a joint September
19, 2024 presentation, the Department of Health and Human
Services’ Office of Technology and the Health Sector
Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) explored key concepts and
definitions, examined various technologies, electronic records
systems, medical devices, and AI, and discussed defense and
mitigation strategies that sophisticated compliance personnel must
consider. What follows are highlights from that presentation.

I. Specific Areas of Concern

• Picture Archiving and Communication Systems
  (PACS): A medical imaging technology that provides
  economical storage, retrieval, management, distribution, and
  presentation of images. PACS systems streamline the management of
  medical images, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval.




• Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine
  (DICOM): A standard for transmitting, storing, and sharing
  medical imaging information, ensuring interoperability among
  different medical imaging devices. DICOM plays a crucial role by
  standardizing image formats, ensuring compatibility across
  different devices and software.




• Electronic Health Records (EHR): Digital
  versions of patients’ paper charts that provide real-time,
  patient-centered records accessible to authorized users.

But digitization comes at a price – data breaches, as
these charts from the presentation bear out:

• Medical Devices
  

  • Insulin Pumps: Due to their critical role in
    diabetes management, these devices require stringent security
    measures. Vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access, risking
    patient safety. Regular updates and security patches are essential
    to mitigate risks.

  
  

  • Pneumatic Tubes: This seemingly analog
    technology is still around and vulnerable to hacking. Research
    revealed that an unauthenticated attacker could gain full control
    over pneumatic tube systems connected to the Internet and then
    compromise a hospital’s entire tube network.

  
  

  • Electronic Health Records (EHR): EHRs are
    central to modern healthcare and contain extensive patient data.
    Compliance personnel must implement robust authentication
    processes, encryption, and regular audits to safeguard these
    records against breaches.

  
  

  • Artificial Intelligence: AI is transforming
    healthcare, offering tools for predictive analytics, diagnosis, and
    treatment recommendations. However, as AI systems become more
    integrated into healthcare workflows, compliance personnel must
    address potential algorithm biases and ensure that patient data
    used in training models is anonymized and secured.

II. Defense and Mitigation Strategies

To protect against cyber threats, healthcare organizations
should adopt a multi-layered security approach:

1. Risk Assessment: Regularly assess
   vulnerabilities in technology systems, focusing on potential
   threats and impacts.




2. Access Control: Implement role-based access
   controls to limit who can view and manipulate sensitive
   information.




3. Incident Response Plan: Establish a robust
   incident response plan to address and mitigate any breaches that
   occur quickly.




4. Continuous Training: Ensure that all staff are
   trained in security best practices and know their role in
   maintaining compliance.

As healthcare technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, so
too must compliance strategies. Understanding the intricacies of
PACS, DICOM, medical devices, EHRs, and AI ensures that patient
data remains secure. By adopting comprehensive defense and
mitigation strategies, compliance personnel can protect sensitive
information and contribute to a culture of safety and
accountability within their organizations. Embracing these
technologies responsibly will ultimately enhance patient care and
trust in the healthcare system.

References

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Originally published 19 September 2024

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.