Essential Healthcare Cybersecurity Considerations From the HSCA

The Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) recently released key cybersecurity considerations for medical device manufacturers, healthcare delivery organizations, and service providers to help safeguard patient health, safety, and privacy. The critical considerations, according to HSCA’s cybersecurity measures include cybersecurity training and software; equipment acquisition standards and risk coverage; data encryption; and information sharing and standards organizations.

In conjunction with the release of the key considerations, HSCA which represents the nation’s leading healthcare group purchasing organizations (GPOs) also published “Recommendations for Medical Device Cybersecurity Terms and Conditions.” These recommendations detail potential purchasing contract terms and conditions that could help ensure rapid adoption of rigorous cybersecurity measures.

“The widespread adoption of telemedicine and rapid shift to virtual operations during the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the important role that information technology, software, and medical devices can play in improving patient care. However, as evidenced by recent cyberattacks, medical devices and services are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats that could jeopardize patient health, safety, and privacy,” says HSCA President and CEO Todd Ebert, R. Ph. “GPOs leverage their unique line of sight over the supply chain to help providers harness the benefits of technology to care for their patients while guarding against cyber threats.”