Thinking This Is a Good Time to Try Telehealth? Don’t Leave Yourself Open to Cyberattack

Regular readers of JUCM News know telehealth has been on the rise among urgent care centers for the past year. It’s been so popular across the healthcare spectrum during the pandemic that the federal government just extended certain waivers, such as approving the right of patients to “see” providers in states other than their own, during the current public health emergency. If you’re thinking this would be a great time to dip your toe in the telehealth waters, be mindful of the security dangers spelled out in a report published recently by Health IT News. Reporting from the American Telemedicine Association’s EDGE policy conference, the piece notes that recent ransomware attacks highlight just how vulnerable healthcare institutions already are; with patients accessing various aspects of their own personal healthcare information from unsecure devices more and more, that threat is bound to grow for the foreseeable future. Health system-based urgent care centers may have an advantage in that their systems are part of a larger network, likely with dedicated personnel focusing solely on cybersecurity. Those who need to take a harder look at the “what ifs” might be well advised to consult with security experts to ensure their systems are secure. The Food and Drug Administration also offers resources through its All Hazards Readiness, Response and Cybersecurity team.