Healthcare IT Consulting and Strategy

An attack on the cybersecurity of a healthcare system is an attack on patients. 2023 has seen a record number of attacks on US hospitals, with high-impact ransomware attacks that shut down hospital computer systems and deny clinicians access to patient information becoming more prevalent.
Ransomware attacks are taking the form of “double extortion.” The hackers first encrypt data and demand a ransom to decrypt it; they also threaten to publish the sensitive exfiltrated data unless another ransom amount is paid.
The threat actors for ransomware include Rhysida, Clop, NoEscape, BlackCat, LockBit3.0, Medusa, SiegedSec, and Hunters International, and the vulnerabilities exploited include the MOVEit file transfer service and Citrix Bleed – Citrix Netscaler ADC and Gateway.
Healthcare breaches have impacted an estimated 100 million individuals over the years, and 2023 has proved to be the worst year yet in terms of breached health records. From January through November this year, 115,705,433 healthcare records have been exposed or compromised – more than the combined total for 2021 and 2022.

Patient-centric care is the new buzzword in the healthcare industry and we are witnessing significant transformation with a growing emphasis on customer relationship management (CRM).
While information is easy to access and digital devices are ubiquitous these days, patients may be better informed about their medical condition, but still lack the expert knowledge of a provider. Unless the provider-patient relationship changes to a collaborative partnership, it is not possible for the patient to participate actively in disease management.

Health IT implementation is not just about buying a bunch of software and hardware.
Healthcare IT implementation involves patient and clinician-friendly integration of information technology systems and solutions- including communications, components and interactions of healthcare programs, within healthcare organizations to improve efficiency, patient care, and data management. Correct healthcare IT implementation has the potential to greatly enhance clinical outcomes, streamline operations, and ensure data security and interoperability.

Laboratories, in today’s transitional environment, are increasingly facing operational challenges while managing their workflow, data and security. Countless hours are lost on tedious administrative tasks such as manual data entry, tracking sample locations, and monitoring regulatory compliance. The risk of unauthorized access, data breach, accidental mishandling, or accidental deletion raises a perpetual data security concern. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is designed to tackle these key issues. The software’s powerful automation capabilities streamline the entire process of laboratory management. From sample monitoring and inventory management to data collection and analysis, LIMS transforms laboratory operations by eliminating manual errors, increasing efficiency, and ensuring data integrity.