Cybersecurity

In 2019, healthcare organizations across the country reported 172 ransomware attacks, affecting 1,446 hospitals, clinics and organizations. 

Though phishing attacks are the most common cyberattack on healthcare organizations, leaders still must be vigilant to ensure human errors don’t occur. 

Noblesville, Ind.-based Riverview Health began notifying 2,610 Feb. 27 that a limited amount of their information may have been exposed in a mailing error. 

Steven Porter, MD, a gastroenterologist in Ogden, Utah, has agreed to pay HHS’ Office for Civil Rights $100,000 to settle a potential HIPAA violation, according to a March 3 news release from HHS. 

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated with their techniques to encrypt and gather data from healthcare and other organizations.

An investigation by HHS' Office of Inspector General found that the National Institutes of Health did not have proper security controls and policies in place to protect patient data in its EHR.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators are probing Google and St. Louis-based Ascension again for more information on the controversial "Project Nightingale," according to The Wall Street Journal.

A former patient at Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital is claiming an employee improperly viewed her medical records, according to local news station WAFF.

Numerous privacy incidents at hospitals, pharmacy providers and other healthcare organizations captured public attention in February.

Walgreens is alerting consumers about a vulnerability in its mobile app that exposed users' personal information, according to ZDNet.