Transforming Nursing

ETHICS, CYBER ETHICS, AND SECURITY

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to two of your colleagues by expanding upon their responses or sharing additional or alternative perspectives.

Challenges

In today’s digital age, cybersecurity stands as a paramount concern for numerous organizations. Among them, healthcare institutions play a pivotal role, entrusted with safeguarding highly sensitive data regarding individuals’ health, medical histories, and financial information, a responsibility of immense importance (Nahm et al., 2019). Patients may have concerns about the privacy and security of their health information, especially in light of high-profile data breaches and privacy violations in the healthcare sector. One of the three primary goals of cybersecurity in healthcare is confidentiality (Alanazi, 2023). Addressing these concerns while maintaining the confidentiality of patient data is essential for building and maintaining trust. Healthcare practitioners face numerous challenges in striking this balance, with the most significant issue being data security risks. This includes cyber-attacks, insider threats, device vulnerabilities, and data breaches (Alanazi, 2023).

Strategies

To navigate these challenges effectively, healthcare organizations can implement strategies such as comprehensive security training for nurses, practitioners, and health care providers along with regular security assessments and updates (Nahm et al., 2019. In today’s digital healthcare landscape, Nursing Informaticists (NIs) and Healthcare Practitioners play a crucial role as custodians of patient health data. In Nahm et al.’s (2019) study, it was emphasized that Nursing Informaticists play a pivotal role in safeguarding personal health data across different stages, including evaluation, implementation, and maintenance of systems. They collaborate closely with clinicians and patients, utilizing a range of health information systems and consumer-oriented devices and programs, thereby ensuring the security of personal health data. Moreover, NI’s excel in educating and training clinicians, staff, and patients on best practices for protecting health data, thereby further fortifying the confidentiality of patient information. By consistently reinforcing training efforts, staff can stay abreast of evolving threats and technologies (Nahm et al., 2019). Maintaining these priorities while upholding patient confidentiality is crucial for fostering trust in healthcare institutions. According to Nahm et al. (2019), another vital approach involves conducting ongoing security audits of digital systems to swiftly identify and resolve vulnerabilities. In addition to this proactive measure, it’s imperative to regularly update both software and hardware with the latest security patches. This ensures that any newly discovered vulnerabilities are promptly addressed, reducing the risk of potential security breaches (Alanazi, 2023). By implementing these measures, healthcare organizations can effectively leverage digital tools to enhance care delivery while safeguarding patient confidentiality and privacy.

References

Alanazi A. T. (2023). Clinicians’ Perspectives on Healthcare Cybersecurity and Cyber Threats. Cureus, 15(10), e47026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47026

Nahm, E. , Poe, S. , Lacey, D. , Lardner, M. , Van De Castle, B. & Powell, K. (2019). Cybersecurity Essentials for Nursing Informaticists. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 37 (8), 389-393. doi: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000570

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Ethics, Cyber ethics, and Security

The confluence of cyber ethics, ethics, and security is vital to the safety of clinicians and patients in clinical practice. The fundamental framework of ethics, which emphasizes values like beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, directs the actions and choices made by healthcare professionals. Following ethical rules is crucial to preserving patient dignity, confidentiality, and trust in clinical practice. Cyber ethics expands this framework into the digital sphere by addressing concerns like patient data privacy, informed consent in telemedicine, and the responsible use of technology in healthcare delivery. Comprehending cyber ethics is crucial for protecting confidential patient data and averting unauthorized access or breaches, given the growing dependence of healthcare systems on digital platforms and interconnected networks. Safeguarding patient security and avoiding interruptions to essential healthcare services depend on maintaining cybersecurity. To reduce leaps and preserve the integrity and confidentiality of patient data, security measures such as encryption, access controls, and routine system audits are crucial. To protect patient trust, privacy, and well-being in an increasingly digital healthcare environment, healthcare professionals must thoroughly understand ethics, cyber ethics, and security. According to researchers, cybersecurity is becoming a more pressing concern when healthcare providers adopt digital technologies to improve patient care quality. The damaging effects of cyberattacks, like WannaCry and ransomware, on the healthcare industry have been highlighted by recent reports, Nifakos, S. et al. (2021).

What are the key challenges that healthcare practitioners encounter when balancing patient care with the requirement for stringent data protection?

Healthcare providers face numerous obstacles to maintaining strict data security guidelines while providing the best possible care for their patients. A significant obstacle is striking the right balance between protecting patient privacy and gaining access to medical records necessary for treatment. Reaching this balance necessitates carefully planning when and how to access private information without jeopardizing privacy. Another level of complexity is added by navigating the intricate web of regulatory frameworks like HIPAA and GDPR. Healthcare organizations may find it time-consuming and resource-intensive to continuously adapt to changing mandates and requirements to comply with these regulations. Technological obstacles exacerbate the problems above, as the widespread use of digital health records and telemedicine platforms expands the potential for data breaches. Strong cybersecurity measures and continuing technology investments are necessary to ensure the security of data transmission, storage, and access points. Further underscoring the necessity of thorough employee training and awareness initiatives is the continued vulnerability of threats from insiders and human error. A comprehensive healthcare data protection approach is imperative as resource constraints, interoperability issues, and the constantly evolving threat landscape intensify. Healthcare providers, organizations, legislators, and technology suppliers must collaborate to balance patient care and data security to navigate these challenges successfully. According to researchers, states were given federal funding through the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Balancing Incentives Program (BIP) to facilitate long-term care transition from institutional settings to homes. Nevertheless, whether its use is connected to unpaid caregiving is still being determined, Anastos-Wallen, R., Werner, R. M., & Chatterjee, P. (2020).

Healthcare professionals also have to deal with the issue of protecting patient information while allowing information to move seamlessly between various healthcare providers and systems. Interoperability issues frequently impede the safe exchange of patient data, as I mentioned earlier. Which also makes it more difficult for healthcare providers to collaborate and provide timely care. Investing in interoperable technologies and creating standardized protocols for data exchange while maintaining strict security measures are necessary to close these interoperability gaps. In addition, new vulnerabilities and complications are brought about by the quick development of healthcare technology and the introduction of creative digital solutions, which call for proactive measures. To successfully navigate these complex challenges, stakeholders must work together to develop a culture of data security, support periodic training and education, and put in place reliable technology alternatives that put patient care and data protection first.