Healthcare CIOs Should Improve Two Areas Now Before Using AI

Hospitals and health systems are struggling with budget cuts, staff shortages, and growing patient expectations, which make the balance between quality care and ethical practice even more challenging. While AI is often seen as a rapid development, healthcare CIOs must quickly connect the fundamental opportunities to cybersecurity, operations, and clinical staff.

Cybersecurity

As we head into October, a special month for cybersecurity awareness, it’s a fitting reminder for healthcare CIOs to prioritize one of their most pressing concerns: cybersecurity. This month can be the beginning to review and strengthen technology systems in healthcare organizations.

A recent report by Sophos shows a significant increase in ransomware attacks, with 73% of healthcare organizations affected in 2024, up from 66% in 2023. There are many reasons for this increase, including the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, increased use of security systems, and expanding attacks from healthcare technology. The remote sensing and human sensing model has also increased vulnerabilities by creating more entry points for attacks. online. The need to constantly review and update their organization’s security posture is unprecedented for CIOs.

Healthcare leaders face a critical dilemma when deciding whether to pay the price during ransomware attacks. According to a report by Sophos, 60% of healthcare organizations hit by ransomware decided to pay the price. However, only 47% of those who paid were able to recover all their data. This figure shows the uncertainty and risk of relying on cybercriminals to restore access to malicious systems.

Data on ransomware attacks remind healthcare CIOs that paying the price is not a guaranteed answer. Instead, investing in strong backup and disaster recovery solutions is essential to ensure data recovery without relying on weather charges, breaking the cycle of attacks and discouraging criminals. the internet. Experts in the health care industry recommend paying the price.

The report also highlights the improving cyber insurance landscape. Although it is possible to spend some of the costs of ransomware, finding the ads is increasingly difficult. Many insurers are now requiring healthcare organizations to demonstrate cybersecurity compliance as a condition of insurance. This emphasizes the need for CIOs to balance reliance on cyber security and investment in security measures. A digital health strategy is needed in today’s digital health landscape.

IT and Healthcare Sector Gap

A study released by Symplr revealed a disconnect between IT leaders and practitioners. Physicians (72%) believe they should have more influence over software purchase decisions, while IT leaders (60%) and operations leaders (51% ) are more hesitant to include. Additionally, only 57% of physicians feel their clinical management software allows them to provide optimal care.

Healthcare CIOs have a long history of working with medical leaders such as the chief medical officer or chief information officer. medicine. However, it is not enough to include a doctor ‘super user’ in the purchasing option. It’s about getting them involved from the start. Similarly, hospital leaders should include IT early on when exploring technology solutions, not as an afterthought. ugh. This close connection between the hospital and IT is very important to bridge the gap and ensure the best patient care.

As we approach 2025, healthcare leaders must focus not only on AI but also on strengthening fundamental elements such as cybersecurity and bridging the gap between IT and healthcare. While these efforts may not be the same as using AI, they are important for keeping organizations safe and ensuring sustainable progress. Prioritizing robust practices over rapid technological improvements will ultimately create long-term benefits and enable health systems to thrive in an increasingly globalized world. digital.