AHC Cybersecurity Task Force

By Elizabeth Moore — News & Updates

Almost everything is stored as data these days: personal information, bank balances, creative work – and it’s no different for physicians and nurses. Patient records, including personal health information and payment information, are all stored within a physician or nurse’s computer and/or mobile device. But these devices can just as easily fall prey to cyberattacks like any other phone or tablet, with identity theft and other cyber-related scams on the rise. To counteract these dangers, multiple measures have been initiated to prevent future cyberattacks that threaten the safety physicians and patients alike.

According to TheDoctorsCompany, “Cybercrime costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars each year and causes organizations to devote substantial time and resources to keeping their information secure. This is even more important for healthcare organizations, the most frequently attacked form of business. In 2015, U.S. healthcare data breaches cost companies an average of $363 per record—the highest of any industry”. Medical records are the most vulnerable pieces of information, since they contain social security and credit card numbers, which are then used for fraudulent medical claims and identity theft.

There is no one solution in eliminating the threat of cyberattacks, but multiple steps can be taken to improve cybersecurity implementation. At the American Health Council, education, employee training, assessments, updates, alerts and professional assistance among other variables help keep our affiliates safe from fraudulent activity.

We at the American Health Council, in an effort to emphasize and solidify our promise of the betterment of healthcare, have expanded our Affiliate Services, offering Fraud & Scam Protection services to our members in regards to tax-related identity theft, fake charities, phishing schemes, and phone scams.

The American Health Council, therefore, alerts our “constituency of illegitimate organizations attempting to take advantage of the people our nation relies on most for their health & well-being”.

Have you been the victim of Phishing or a scam? Tell us more: http://americanhealthcouncil.org/scam-protection-services/

About the American Health Council:

The American Health Council is the nation’s only organization with a constituency representative of all sectors of the healthcare industry. From the coasts to the heartland, the American Health Council has drawn Affiliates from major metropolitan hubs and small communities. These Affiliates span generations and have reached different stages of their careers — from recent graduates to retirees. More information about the American Health Council and its mission can be found at: http://americanhealthcouncil.org.

Additionally, the American Health Council strives to provide recognition and support for those individuals and institutions making the difference in patients’ lives day in and day out. Throughout 2017, the AHC is honoring “America’s Best Doctors and Nurses,” as well as the nation’s best medical universities and hospitals. The American Health Council’s “Best in Medicine” and “Best in Nursing” awards programs honor the individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to medicine and nursing, as well as the training and education of physicians and nurses. The most current selections for these honors may be viewed here: http://bestinmedicine.org and http://bestinnursing.org.

For media inquriries: media@americanhealthcouncil.org