Efficient patient identification is an area plaguing U.S. healthcare. In fact, the Joint Commission has named improving the accuracy of patient identification as the most important national patient safety goal since 2014. However, privacy concerns have been a barrier to their widespread implementation. Unique patient identifiers are central to eliminating medical errors and costs resulting… Read More »
In the spring of 2018, cybercriminals attacked a multi-specialty practice, a lab-testing company and an electronic health records developer in just a few weeks. In the most alarming example, they infected a Missouri clinic with multiple types of malware. Then, as the hackers made their exit, they also infected the clinic with ransomware to cover… Read More »
An email phishing incident at Palmetto Health resulted in unauthorized access to certain employee email accounts, potentially affecting protected health information. The Pensacola, Fla.-based system is notifying 23,811 patients that an apparent attempt by a hacker to gain access to payroll information may have also impacted their health information. Patients of Palmetto Health, which recently… Read More »
This story is part of a partnership that includes WBUR, NPR and Kaiser Health News. This story can be republished for free (details). Kristina Cunningham was in stable condition on an evening in June, when EMTs lifted her gurney into a medical flight, bound for Boston. The 34-year-old couldn’t use her right arm or speak… Read More »