U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems have been under such relentless cyberattacks in recent months that it is beginning to be a threat to their bottom lines, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings, Healthcare Dive reports.
Fitch says the issue has become increasingly serious over the past 18 months, citing data from the firm Bitglass concluding that cyberattacks among healthcare facilities rose 55% last year. Moreover, the rising cyberattacks also resulted in a 16% increase in the average cost of recovering a patient record in 2020 versus 2019.
“Attacks may also hinder revenue generation and the ability to recover costs in a timely manner, particularly if they affect a hospital’s ability to bill patients when financial records are compromised or systems become locked,” the report said, adding that patient care may also begin to be impacted. Read more.
