Are Clinics Aware of the Risks Using AI for Patient Info Maintenance Amid the Rise of Cyberattacks?

The phrase “cyber breach” is never welcome, but particularly not in the world of healthcare. No one wants their private information leaked into the world but it happens all the time. Ireland experienced one of the largest healthcare breaches of all time back in 2021 in an incident where hundreds of patients had their medical records leaked by Russian hackers.

That was a splashy example of something that happens on a smaller scale every day. Personal records in the healthcare system are vulnerable in a way that many people do not fully understand. Are our hospitals protected? In this article, we take a look at the risks healthcare systems take when they use artificial intelligence tools to store patient information.

We also take a broad fiber in the healthcare space. Read to learn more.

Why Do Bad Actors Want Your Records Anyway?

What is the monetary value of your last blood pressure reading? Most hackers don’t care about the information itself. They steal it because it can be sold on the dark web and used to steal your identity for insurance or credit purposes.

The other reason hackers target healthcare information is a little bit more nefarious. The Russian hackers that we described in the introduction were not specifically interested in the healthcare-related data of their hundreds of victims.

What they wanted was to cause fear. That is what terrorists do. They create chaos to undermine civilian confidence in government systems. Why wouldn’t you doubt a government that allowed your hospital records to be leaked?

While healthcare information is carefully encrypted and secured by intense government regulations, it is ultimately implemented by doctors and nurses who mean well but are not necessarily trained in cyber security.

They make simple mistakes that allow hackers to access networks. Unfortunately, AI can exacerbate the problem.

The Issue with AI

The problem with artificial intelligence in this context is that hackers can exploit its algorithms to introduce corrupt data. Once they get into the hospital system, they can easily gain access to other departments.

Without human supervision, it is even harder to detect these infiltrations than with otherwise be the case. Even in the best of circumstances hospitals and other businesses can go years without realizing that they experienced breach.

With AI, the problem only intensifies. That is part of the reason that the world is currently scrambling to define and implement AI ethics. How can we use artificial intelligence in a way that is responsible? Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a good answer to that question yet.

Do hospitals know about these problems? Of course, they do! Date of breaches are a major healthcare liability.

Have you ever wondered why hospitals are so massive? It’s because they aren’t only hosting patients. The offices are filled with dozens of administrators, all of whom are deeply concerned with the threats of cyber breaches.

Not only do breaches compromise patient data, but they also represent an enormous financial liability for hospitals. Between getting systems online and paying out damages, a big breach can result in tens of millions of dollars in losses.

So how do they keep themselves safe?

Best Practices

Cyber security security applications are subject to the same government regulations as any other healthcare tool. Developers must follow HIPAA guidelines the same way doctors and nurses do. This means implementing high-level encryption, and multi-factor identification protocols that make it very difficult for hackers— or for that matter anyone else— to access healthcare records.

If you have ever been terribly frustrated with a healthcare app, these regulations are why. Those signouts and endless login requirements are designed to keep you safe.

Unfortunately, they aren’t always enough. A person who uses a questionable Wi-Fi link on a device authorized to access hospital records, or opens an email that they shouldn’t have on the company account has just opened the door to hackers.

Patients who don’t know how to use the applications could also create unsafe conditions. For example, elderly patients who are not acquainted with cyber security protocol. People who just get frustrated with all of the jumps and hoops healthcare applications require and so take shortcuts.

Think of it the way you might consider home security. The best locks, alarms, and cameras in town do no good at all if you leave the door open.

The same is true of cyber security, where you are only as strong as your weakest link. 

Possible Solutions

Hospitals can negotiate the problem by scheduling regular training with their employees. Emphasize the importance of cyber security protocols. Make sure everyone understands the risks that are present even with activities that do not feel dangerous.

For example, most people will not think twice about checking their email in a coffee shop. However, if they accidentally log into an unsecured wifi network, they could be creating the conditions for a breach.

AI creates more vulnerabilities, but it is just one of many problems that hospitals face. To keep records secure they need to do a better job of standardizing cybersecurity training protocol and making sure everyone is on the same page. No one wants to cause a healthcare breach. By making sure everyone understands what is expected of them, hospitals can help keep all of their records safe.