The digitization of healthcare offers abundant rewards for providers and patients alike. Improved transparency, greater convenience, and more precise, AI-driven diagnostics all promise to transform the way we experience healthcare. However, all of the improvements in the industry rely on the collection of vast amounts of personal data from patients, and that poses a challenge that medical professionals can’t ignore.
According to HIPAA Journal, when it comes to data breaches, the healthcare industry has the highest cost per stolen record. Each compromised record costs providers an average of $408 in lost business following a breach. Eight in ten hospitals have been the victim of a cyber attack since 2018, and hackers have become more innovative in their strategies for penetrating healthcare databases.
The medical industry offers numerous opportunities for sophisticated hackers to capitalize on sensitive data. With stolen personnel paperwork, hackers can steal physician’s identity, falsify prescriptions, and easily acquire and distribute illicit drugs. Some fraudsters hack systems to claim victims’ insurance, and others steal personal health information to blackmail patients. A breached healthcare provider creates vulnerabilities that extend well beyond the waiting room.
Many healthcare providers rely on commercially off-the-shelf packaged software to handle data-sensitive documents and communications. These software packages are often seen as more affordable than custom software. However, the hidden cost of non-proprietary software is its susceptibility to breaches. Because they are so ubiquitous, cyber criminals are well-versed in their vulnerabilities, making them easy to crack.
Unlike commercial software, custom software is designed specifically for your organization. Its proprietary nature makes it more of a challenge for cyber criminals, who have to spend time learning the software before they can hack it.
What’s more, custom software can be developed with security as a priority. A custom patient portal, for example, can be designed with security features that specifically protect your organization’s processes as well as the data of your patients and professionals.
At Antares, we work with our clients in the healthcare industry to identify the features and requirements that have the highest value to their business model. Then, we develop custom software that streamlines and secures patient data as well as physician and business data.
Contact us today to learn more about our software development processes and how we help healthcare providers take advantage of emerging tech trends to satisfy the demands of their clientele.