Increasing Cyber Threats in Healthcare: Patient Data Breaches Double in 2023, Impacting 87 Million in the US

There has been a significant increase in data breaches since 2022, here’s what you need to know:

1. US healthcare organizations are witnessing a significant rise in data breaches, compromising sensitive patient data.
2. In 2023, 87 million patients fell victim to data breaches, more than double compared to the 37 million affected in 2022.
3. In 2023, 480 data breaches were reported within the first three quarters. This new number of breaches is a considerable increase compared to 373 breaches in 2022.
4. The most significant breach of 2023 was the HCA Healthcare breach, affecting 11 million individuals.
5. Medical records are attractive to criminals due to their sensitive nature, thus requiring top-tier security measures.
6. California had the most healthcare data breaches in 2023, followed by New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Vermont reported no healthcare breaches this year.
7. Healthcare providers must prioritize data protection alongside patient care to ensure patients’ trust.

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[Source: Medical Economics, October 23rd, 2023]