Some medical devices were infected, but primarily the latest attack reinforced the need to correct any weaknesses in medical cybersecurity systems.
The Wall Street Journal: International cyberattack affects some corners of U.S. Health Care, including medical devices
The international cyberattack that swept the globe has had some impact on the U.S. health-care system, as hospital systems scramble to prevent its further spread. On a conference call with health-care organizations Monday, U.S. federal officials said several medical devices had been infected with the ransomware that proliferated across dozens of countries, but declined to identify the devices, according to a person on the call. The Department of Health and Human Services, which organized the call, referred questions to Homeland Security, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. (Evans, 5/15)
Los Angeles Times: WannaCry Cyberattack: When A hack shuts down A hospital, Who’s to blame?
It’s one thing to fall victim to a burglar. It’s another to realize the thief got in because you left the front door wide open. The distinction could lead to difficult legal battles for organizations affected by the WannaCry cyberattack, which crippled an estimated 300,000 of the 2 billion Windows computers worldwide in recent days, slowing factories, canceling surgeries, eating homework assignments and shuttering gas stations. (Dave and Peltz, 5/15)
In other health IT news —
Kansas City Star: Children’s mercy app helps with pediatric desisions
Children’s Mercy Hospital has teamed with a local tech company to develop a smartphone app that can help doctors and nurses spot the scary cases. Russell McCulloh, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital, presented the CMPeDS: Pediatric Decision Support app to an international audience last week at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco. (Marso, 5/15)