Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
Key Points:
- Post-acute care facilities face unique cybersecurity challenges.
- The HICP framework provides comprehensive guidance for enhancing cybersecurity resilience.
Post-acute care facilities play a critical role in providing extended medical assistance beyond hospital stays. However, they face distinct cybersecurity challenges, especially with new staffing mandates from CMS. Recent data breaches highlight the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures in these settings. The Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP) framework introduced by HHS offers comprehensive guidance tailored to the health care sector.
The HICP framework includes ten key practice areas, such as email protection systems, endpoint security, and vulnerability management. These practices provide a roadmap for post-acute care providers to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses effectively. By prioritizing cybersecurity and leveraging advanced security technologies, these facilities can safeguard patient data, ensure cybersecurity resilience, and maintain patient trust.
Key statistics from 2023 show an increase in security breaches in health care, with ransomware attacks impacting hospital systems. To protect sensitive patient information and health care infrastructure, post-acute care facilities must implement robust cybersecurity measures and adhere to the HICP framework.
Phil Wong and Kristen Berglas from Redapt, Inc. are cybersecurity experts who emphasize the importance of cybersecurity in post-acute care settings. By partnering with cybersecurity experts, these facilities can strengthen defenses, ensure compliance with regulatory mandates, and protect patient safety and privacy.
