AAMI 2015: Paving the way to hacker-proof interoperability
by
Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter | June 08, 2015
CT
Medical Devices
Risk Management
X-Ray
Courtesy of AAMI
A record-breaking 2,032 people turned out for the 2015 AAMI Annual Conference & Expo at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Tonight many of those health care professionals are returning to Denver International Airport, armed with a wealth of new ideas and experiences, and DOTmed News is among them.
This year's event featured some decidedly buzz-worthy industry topics. Including cybersecurity, alarm management, preventive maintenance strategies, risk management, device supportability, and endoscope reprocessing. Here are a few of the things you may have missed.
Cybersecurity
On Saturday, Billy Rios, co-founder of Laconicly, warned a crowd of listeners that cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The industry's growing dependence on computers and information technology networks highlight the importance of keeping data secure.
Rios explained that to conduct a massive cyberattack, a hacker only needs a single point of entry, such as an employee’s unsecured computer. From there they can tap into not only medical records, but medical devices themselves, such as infusion pumps which have been shown to be both vulnerable and deadly if mismanaged.
Rios stressed that the industry can help by getting rid of backdoor passwords, which only vendors and service or repair technicians should know. He also called for closer relationships between health care facilities, regulators, and the medical device industry to design a safer model of network security. Part of that relationship, according to Rios, means manufacturers must be transparent about what has caused a security issue so that damage can be best mitigated and future infiltrations prevented.
Addressing operational, financial, and productivity needs
On average, 58 percent of a hospital’s assets are idle, according to GE Healthcare. At the conference, GE showcased new technologies and solutions to help health care providers with operational and productivity challenges.
One of those solutions is a new computerized maintenance management system called AssetPlus to help hospitals better manage and prioritize equipment use and maintenance activities. It provides instant access to inventory data for every asset, preventive and corrective maintenance history from all departments, and spare part inventory.
GE partnered with Ascom and AirStrip to bring data from bedside monitors to the caregiver through GE’s mobility solution, enabling them to have access to near real-time patient data from anywhere in the hospital. GE is also offering a new comprehensive service solution designed to be one contract for all equipment service needs for rigid and flexible endoscopes, camera and couplers, power equipment, and surgical instrumentation.
|
|
You Must Be Logged In To Post A Comment
|