Like all healthcare providers, US-based Northfield Hospital has a big responsibility when it comes to cybersecurity as sensitive data and the lives of patients could be at stake. A study by Proofpoint and the Ponemon Institute released in September 2022 found that patient mortality rates increased across more than 20% of healthcare organizations that suffered the most common types of attacks.
“If that healthcare organization is down and the patient doesn’t have access to health care that delays their care and can increase mortality, especially if you’re talking about a stroke victim or a heart attack where time is important. And when you don’t have automation to move that patient through your system and get them the care they need, that can increase the risk of mortality,” Vern Lougheed, Northfield Hospital’s security information officer, tells CSO.