This is a piece written by Cybernews, a global team of experts in online privacy and security.
Digital health data security is a growing concern for individuals, organizations, and government agencies. The industry is under immense pressure to adopt new technologies and systems that can protect patient data while allowing easy sharing with authorized parties.
In fact, this is one of the challenges for the industry – balancing security and access. Too much security can make it difficult for patients to get the care they need, while too little security can leave patient data vulnerable to theft and misuse.
The good news is that each of these challenges presents an opportunity to better the current and future health data security. How? Let’s explore each of the main challenges faced, and how they represent a chance to better things.
Challenge: Data Breach and Hacking Incidents
The healthcare industry is embracing digital health technologies to improve patient care and outcomes. However, as more health data is collected and stored electronically, there is a greater risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
A recent study found that nearly 65% of healthcare organizations have experienced a data breach in the past year, with the average cost of a data breach for a healthcare organization being $6.5 million.
However, there are many opportunities for healthcare organizations to improve their data security. By understanding the threats and taking steps to protect data, healthcare organizations can keep patients’ information safe and secure.
Opportunity: Health Apps that Provide Control and Management of Patient Information
The challenge of data breach and privacy is an opportunity for security companies to create levels of control and management in their health apps.
When it comes to health apps, security and privacy should be of utmost importance because they contain sensitive information, such as patients’ health conditions and medical histories. This is especially concerning since these days, stolen medical data can be sold on the dark web or used for other malicious purposes.
If this information were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be used to exploit patients or for other malicious purposes. Therefore, it is crucial that health app developers take the necessary steps to ensure that their apps are secure and private. This includes using strong encryption methods and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to patients’ information.
Additionally, developers could also provide another layer of control for patients and health professionals, such as a VPN that secures their network. They should regularly test their security measures to ensure that they are up-to-date and effective.
Challenge: Accessibility
While electronic medical records (EMRs) have many benefits over paper records, one of the challenges associated with them is accessibility. EMRs are typically stored on a central server, which can make it difficult for clinicians to access them when they are needed. This is especially true for clinicians who work in remote or rural areas where internet connectivity is limited.
There are several ways to address this challenge, including developing offline EMRs that can be accessed even when there is no internet connection. Additionally, EMR providers can work with clinicians to ensure that they have the training and support they need to use the system effectively.
Opportunity: Creating a Digital Health Data System for Efficient Patient Care
Medical and health data is essential for developing efficient patient care systems. However, collecting this data can be challenging for a number of reasons. For one, it can be difficult to obtain accurate and complete data from patients.
Additionally, patients’ records are often spread across different providers and facilities, making it hard to get a complete picture of their health. This data is also collected from different sources that may not be compatible, making it difficult to compare and analyze.
This is an opportunity for healthcare organizations and developers to create a system that will allow patients, hospitals, and healthcare providers to collect and store patient records and history with the proper and legal accessibility in place. This still requires that the medical and health data system complies with various laws and regulations regarding patient privacy. An efficient patient care system that has such a reach but also provides a high level of security is also a challenge, but it can ensure that patient care is effective and efficient.
Challenge: New Guidelines for Medical Professionals on the Use of Digital Data
Medical professionals are increasingly using technology that requires digital information. This trend is driven by the availability of new and more sophisticated devices, as well as the need for more efficient and effective communication between medical professionals.
However, this trend also poses a challenge for medical professionals. The use of technology in medicine is regulated by a complex set of guidelines that are constantly evolving. This can make it difficult for medical professionals to keep up with the latest guidelines and ensure that they are using technology in a way that is compliant with the law.
Some of the challenges associated with creating guidelines for medical professionals on using technology include:
● Ensuring that the guidelines are evidence-based and up-to-date
● Tailoring the guidelines to the specific needs of different medical professionals
● Addressing the ethical implications of using technology in medicine
● Ensuring that the guidelines are accessible and easy to use
With these challenges in mind, creating guidelines for medical professionals on using technology requires a careful and thoughtful approach.
Opportunity: Co-operation Between Digital and Healthcare Industries
Both industries can find an opportunity in addressing this challenge. The healthcare industry has lagged in terms of digitization, but that is starting to change. As more and more healthcare companies adopt digital technologies, there is an opportunity to create new security guidelines that take into account the unique needs of the healthcare industry.
There are a lot of different stakeholders involved in healthcare, from insurance companies to hospitals to individual doctors. This fragmentation makes it difficult to create and implement new technologies across the board, but creating guidelines that all stakeholders can agree on is essential in overcoming this challenge.
Better security measures for the healthcare industry can only be achieved with the cooperation of all stakeholders and the agreement of patients and the government. By working together, they can create new security guidelines that will help not only protect patient data but also modernize and improve the healthcare system.
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The team at Cybernews works diligently to bring breaking reports of online privacy and security issues, backed by in-depth technical analysis and investigative reporting. You can find more of our articles on Cybernews.com and reach us on Twitter anytime.
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