Data + Technology

As Chief Healthcare Executive continues its series on cybersecurity, we look at the Fisher-Titus system in Ohio. The organization offers useful lessons in how smaller providers can improve their security.

This week, Chief Healthcare Executive is publishing a series of stories on cybersecurity and what healthcare organizations should be doing to protect themselves. Today, we look at why hospitals should expect a breach.

More than 100 breaches have been reported to the federal government since Jan. 1, and some have affected hundreds of thousands. As part of our series on cybersecurity this week, we look at the largest attacks in the first three months of the year.

Third-party patient financing has a vital role to play in providing patients with more options, and in ensuring that cash-strapped hospitals recoup revenue.

CoxHealth gets a new CEO, Scripps Health selects a new chief financial officer, and more leaders are announced.

Doctors and executives see the value in the practice, but some say there are issues with workflows and reimbursement, a new survey finds.

The vast majority of doctors are using telehealth and see the value for patients. Some express concern about ensuring all patients can take advantage of it.

People want more convenience, and healthcare organizations have to respond if they want to avoid losing patients.

The Cleveland Clinic and Amwell have teamed up to offer patients, employers and health plans the chance to check a diagnosis remotely. Frank McGillin, CEO, says there’s a clear need and a substantial market.

In other news, University Hospital in New Jersey chooses an interim CEO, and an HCA Healthcare hospital in Virginia selects a COO.

Most executives describe it as a top priority, but only about a third have money allocated for health equity efforts. Ankoor Shah of Accenture outlines steps hospitals should consider.

Now is the time for healthcare organizations to assess what worked and what didn’t, says Michelle Machon of Kaiser Permamente.

Most executives say burnout and staff shortages are hurting patient safety, according to the Hospital Patient Safety Report by VigiLanz. Some say they are leading to patient deaths.

Physicians have lost a lot of autonomy and are spending more time on bureaucratic tasks. Healthcare executives can take steps to ease the burdens on doctors.

Scammers are trying to get victims on the phone to download malware, according to a new report. Email attacks continue to rise and executives are being targeted more often.

Due to insufficient planning, some costs are being passed onto patients, according to the study by Syntellis. Leaders are also worried about COVID-19 variants and staffing shortages.

The conference highlighted exciting opportunities for technology to dramatically improve healthcare, along with some formidable obstacles. Here are nine key takeaways from a memorable week.

Organizations that have embraced digital transformation through the cloud, automation, and AI will see additional performance and cost efficiencies.

Evelyn Terrell, director of telehealth at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, outlines ways to ensure telehealth programs aren’t leaving patients behind.

Many breaches aren’t discovered until months after the fact, and ‘double extortion’ is a growing threat, experts said at the HIMSS Conference.

Baligh Yehia, an Ascension executive, explains how the system surveyed patients about their unmet needs, and then worked to help them.

In an overview of the state of healthcare, leading experts talked about what needs to happen from the perspectives of providers, doctors, patients and payers.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stressed the importance of sharing data. They also talked about taking action against those who are blocking information.

Elsevier Health partnered with Ipsos for its first ‘Clinician of the Future’ report. Healthcare professionals say they’re worried about increasing technology demands and a shortage of doctors and nurses.

Healthcare systems must see guarding against breeches as an essential part of keeping patients safe, a doctor and top cybersecurity expert explained at the HIMSS conference.