Editor's Note The American Hospital Association (AHA) November 6 is alerting healthcare institutions to a new ransomware known as BlackSuit, which is likely to pose a serious threat to the healthcare and public health sectors. According to AHA: BlackSuit is very similar to the Royal ransomware family, which followed the…
Editor's Note A number of prominent hospital associations have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over guidance that seeks to prohibit them from using tracking tools to monitor visitors on their websites, the American Hospital Association (AHA) November 2 reports. A few highlights of…
Editor's Note The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on October 26 announced a new cybersecurity-focused toolkit with resources for healthcare organizations and the public health sector. The two agencies have been working with the Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity…
Editor's Note A new study analyzed the accuracy of diagnosis and therapy recommendations of two AI-based smartphone apps compared to recommendations coming from doctors. The findings were published in The Lancet Digital Health in October 2023. In the study, the AI-assisted app was compared with both medical experts and less…
Editor's Note An artificial intelligence (AI) tool called CLOT (Children’s Likelihood of Thrombosis) developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center accurately identified pediatric patients at high risk for blood clots in a clinical trial. The findings were reported in JAMA Network on October 13. The researchers analyzed the electronic health records…
Editor's Note Researchers have found a way to use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify tumor types related to brain tumors prior to surgery. The findings were published on October 11 by the journal Nature in a study titled, "Ultra-fast deep-learned CNS tumor classification during surgery." Following are some highlights, according…
Editor's Note Cisco has released an update that fixes a critical vulnerability in their Emergency Responder communications platform, a system used throughout the health sector, an October 6 HC3: Sector Alert from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Information Security reports. The HHS recommends that healthcare systems…
Editor's Note A new report from cybersecurity provider Critical Insight notes that data breaches are continuing to pose major problems for healthcare systems, an August 2023 Business Wire press release reports. Already more than 40 million patients' medical information was reportedly involved in data breaches in 2023. Following are key…
Editor's Note Major warehouse corporation Costco has entered a partnership with virtual care company Sesame to expand its healthcare offerings to its members, Chief Healthcare Executive September 27 reports. This collaboration will reportedly allow Costco members to access Sesame's telehealth services at “affordable rates.” David Goldhill, Sesame's CEO and a…
The healthcare industry as a whole has faced numerous and unprecedented challenges in the last few years. With each challenge compounded by external pressures, these proverbial spotlights illuminated existing vulnerabilities. The healthcare workforce, particularly nursing, continues to be one of the most impactful vulnerabilities. With the pandemic acting as a…