Pharmacogenomics, or the study of the human genome's response to drugs, originated in the late 1990s. It has continued to grow and culminated in what we call today precision medicine. Precision medicine includes the in-depth analysis of the genomic data and DNA sequencing files of an individual and his/her lineage for generations. This genetic information is used to select personalized treatment options.
In August of 2018, a group of researchers at Check Point Research successfully breached a system of computers through a vulnerability in a Hewlett Packard printer and fax machine. The team sent a fax containing malware disguised as an image to the machine, which stored the document, and gave the researchers access to all the computers on the network.
A recent Yale study revealed that a large number of American hospitals fail to provide patient records upon request. The research was based on simulated patients requesting medical records and was conducted in 83 of the best hospitals in the US, all of which have independent medical records request processes and medical records departments, reachable by phone.
In 2018, Canada witnessed some revolutionary changes to its laws regarding healthcare and data security. However, a report released in 2018 revealed it was also the country with the third most cyber security breaches. Consequently, it is important that healthcare organizations keep working towards stronger security measures while simultaneously improving the patient experience. Giva has compiled the following list of upcoming events in Canada focused on healthcare security and innovation:
Cyber security is a growing concern for healthcare entities in the US. The fear of threats has encouraged healthcare providers to connect and collaborate to protect themselves and the data of their patients from attackers. The following healthcare security events are some great opportunities for collaboration on the issue:
2018 was an eventful year for healthcare security. From the enforcement of new privacy laws to the amendment of existing ones, the international healthcare sector has experienced many changes. Telehealth is growing, new health record initiatives are being put in place and old ones are being updated. In spite of this, the industry still has a long way to go before it can be considered a secure place for data to be stored and managed. Below is a list of valuable lessons learned over the course of 2018:
In June of 2018, California passed the Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), a law with similar rules to the European GDPR, which is set to be enforced on January 1 of 2020. However, on September 23, the California government approved an amendment (labelled SB 1121) to modify important areas of the act and to improve consumer privacy and security rights. The CCPA and the upcoming changes are not only expected to affect Californian organizations, but also ones that conduct business in the state, meaning that the U.S. market will most likely be affected. Below is a list of changes that are expected to occur as a result of the amendments:
Over the past decade, cloud computing has quickly become a necessary transition for healthcare providers. In this technological era, things have become fast paced and an on-premises healthcare system will undoubtedly cause the industry to lag behind. According to the 2016 HIMSS Analytics Cloud Survey, 84 percent of participating healthcare organizations utilize cloud computing in one way or another. Its uses range from data backups and recovery, business functions such as organizational finance and human resources. However, cloud computing is affected by some negative aspects that can cause serious damage if they obstruct a healthcare entity's systems. This is mainly because emergency situations do not withstand additional pressure. Healthcare providers still have some reservations about the following:
In the health sector, priority is always given to saving lives while the security of personal health records (PHR) is often overlooked. This is because in comparison to emergency situations, the storage of information seems very insignificant. As a result, an increasing number of healthcare providers are facing the consequences. From January through May of 2018, in the United States there were 147 security breaches reported, representing 2,807,227 health records exposed via various cyber attack methods. These methods include email hacks, ransomware incidents and malware infections, among others. Cyber-crime is stronger than it has ever been and there are no signs of its decline. Therefore, healthcare providers should counteract this by rising up to the occasion and replacing outdated security tools with updated technologies and strategies.
