Medical Devices

On Dec. 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final guidance addressing the cyber vulnerabilities in medical devices, outlining how manufacturers should maintain security of internet-connected devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps.

Hospira, the developer of infusion technologies, is partnering with Iatric Systems to work toward better interoperability between Hospira's smart infusion pumps and electronic medical records.

Scripps and Walgreens joined forces to conduct the research. Scripps director Eric Topol said it enables them to better understand how mobile devices and apps can help improve behavior and outcomes. 

A new report compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shows that a steep drop in hospital-acquired conditions has accompanied a decrease of 3 million adverse events in the past five years.

Cerner’s CareAware Event Management software makes it possible to route alerts from Hospira medical devices to clinicians’ mobile phones.

Digital health has been a reality for 20 years. Since its humble beginnings – during the days of the Sony Walkman and Palm Pilot – technology has evolved and the market is set to explode. But much work remains to be done.

When it comes to medical device security, the greatest challenge is equipment is running on outdated systems. The issue then becomes how to protect the data and determine whether the equipment is safe to operate.

Among the items in the ‘security graveyard,’ Intermountain CISO Karl West included flat networks, SOC-less security and compliance-only security.

Move comes following Rush’s extensive national search.

(SPONSORED) Jeff R. Livingstone, global lead, life sciences & healthcare at Unisys, says not enough attention is paid to the security of medical devices, which, thanks to the increasing interconnectedness of the Intenet of Things, represent a dangerous front for cyberattacks.