Navigate the HITRUST CSF framework with expert insights. Explore certification types (e1, i1, r2, AI), readiness and bridge assessments, version updates like v11.4.0, remediation strategies, and how HITRUST aligns with HIPAA, NIST, and ISO standards
Over the past decade, healthcare has seen a dramatic shift from paper records to electronic health records (EHRs). In 2008, less than half of healthcare organizations used EHRs. Today, thanks to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH), it’s unusual to find a physician’s office without them. While EHR adoption has modernized American healthcare, it has also introduced new challenges, especially when it comes to security breaches.
Since the HITECH Act increased penalties for noncompliance, the number of healthcare data breaches has risen steadily. In 2010 alone, reported breaches surpassed the total of the previous six years combined. Initially, this spike was attributed to rapid EHR adoption, but it’s now clear that other factors contribute to the growing risk. By 2018, incidents continued to climb, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in healthcare cybersecurity.
With the proliferation of digital tools, from smartphones and computers to cloud storage and metadata, cybersecurity risks in healthcare have never been higher. Understanding these risks is crucial to protecting electronic personal health information (e-PHI) and learning about the top security breaches affecting the industry.