In response to a notable outage caused by a flawed CrowdStrike security update in July, technology leaders are reassessing their IT operational resilience. A survey by Cockroach Labs and Wakefield Research revealed that over 90% of 1,000 senior cloud architects and engineers recognized operational weaknesses that could lead to costly interruptions, with nearly half admitting to inadequate measures for improvement. The incident, which disrupted millions of Windows systems and impacted major airlines and banks, underscored the necessity for robust cybersecurity and operational strategies, as companies reported an average of 86 outages a year, with significant recovery times and resultant productivity losses.

Tech Leaders Rethink Resilience After Major CrowdStrike Outage Exposes Vulnerabilities CIODive

Ransomware attacks and cyber threats are increasingly affecting healthcare services in the U.S., with an average of two data breaches occurring daily, according to Greg Garcia of the Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group. A recent ransomware incident at Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge, Georgia, disrupted its electronic health records system, forcing a temporary shift to paper processes. Meanwhile, Summit Pathology in Colorado reported a significant data breach impacting over 1.8 million individuals, with sensitive patient information being compromised.

Ransomware Surge Disrupts U.S. Healthcare, Compromising Patient Data Healthcare IT News

Regenstrief Institute has appointed Chris Harle as its new chief information officer (CIO), while he continues his role as a research scientist in the Center for Biomedical Informatics. With over ten years at Indiana University and Regenstrief, Harle will manage operations of Regenstrief Data Services, aiding more than 200 faculty in healthcare research. His responsibilities include improving support for researchers and overseeing access to the Indiana Network for Patient Care. He will work alongside the institute's new chief data scientist, Jiang Bian, and vice president for data and analytics, Dr. Shaun Grannis, to enhance data initiatives.

Regenstrief Institute Appoints Chris Harle as New CIO to Boost Data Services Healthcare IT News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not extend several key telehealth waivers that were implemented during the pandemic, which may restrict virtual care accessibility, particularly for older Americans in various regions. While most waivers will expire, CMS has extended the waiver allowing providers to bill Medicare for telehealth services conducted from home, a change advocated for by over 100 organizations seeking its permanence to enhance patient access. Additionally, CMS plans to include new services in the Medicare Telehealth Services List, such as caregiver training and PrEP counseling, and permit telehealth via two-way, real-time audio.

CMS Ends Key Telehealth Waivers, Impacting Virtual Care Access Nationwide HealthLeaders