Most Wired hospitals focus on security and patient engagement

Hospitals are taking more aggressive privacy and security measures to protect and safeguard patient data, according to the 17th annual HealthCare’s Most Wired survey, released today by the AHA’s Health Forum subsidiary and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. For example, nearly all Most Wired organizations use intrusion detection systems, privacy audit systems and security incident event management. A majority of Most Wired organizations also use electronic health records and physician and patient portals to facilitate information exchange across care settings and engage patients in their health and health care. “Congratulations to our nation’s Most Wired hospitals for harnessing the potential of information technology to improve quality care and patient safety and lower health care costs,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. “At the forefront of the field, these hospitals are setting the bar for protection of patient data through discerning security measures.” A list of Most Wired hospitals and detailed survey findings can be found in the July issue of AHA's Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, at www.hhnmag.com.