New White Paper Shares Research Findings on Perceptions and Awareness of Medical Device Cybersecurity

Abbott and The Chertoff Group, a security and risk management advisory group, have released a white paper that shares key findings from a recent study of 300 physicians and 100 hospital administrators on cybersecurity challenges in the hospital environment. Results found that while physicians and hospital administrators view cybersecurity as a priority, the majority of them feel under prepared to combat cyber risks in the connected hospital.

Chris Tyberg
Chris Tyberg

“Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across all of us working in today’s healthcare system,” said Chris Tyberg, divisional vice president, product security, Abbott. “Hospitals are critical hubs within this system, and as the use of advanced medical technology and attention to cybersecurity and connected health increases, it is important for us to understand the challenges hospitals face and how we can collaborate on potential solutions.”

The survey revealed several key findings, including:

Using these survey insights, Abbott partnered with The Chertoff Group to develop the white paper on connected healthcare security, which outlines key considerations for managing cybersecurity risk in the connected hospital. The white paper, “Building a More Secure Connected Healthcare Environment,” identifies members of the healthcare ecosystem can work together to mitigate cybersecurity risk while preserving the benefits of connected medical devices for patients.

The white paper calls for the healthcare industry to come together to address three key areas:

“Today’s cyber risks are constantly evolving, which requires active engagement across the healthcare community to stay informed about the threats targeting Internet-enabled connections and what to do about them,” said Bennet Waters, principal and head of strategic advisory services at The Chertoff Group. “Engagement across all members of the healthcare ecosystem is critical to ensure that the cybersecurity investments being proposed are effective in clinical environments and that proper cyber hygiene is being applied at every level to contain and minimize risk. Working together, this community can ensure that patients continue to receive the benefits of today’s connected medical devices, which means more responsive and effective care.”

Abbott shared the white paper today at the U.S. News & World Report Healthcare of Tomorrow conference in Washington, D.C., which brings together physicians and administrators from the top hospitals around the country. Abbott also hosted a panel discussion on cybersecurity and connected healthcare with a diverse group of healthcare experts, including hospital information security professionals, leading physicians working with connected devices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other cybersecurity experts. The event reflects Abbott’s ongoing commitment to advance the understanding and management of cyber risks that affect the healthcare industry.


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