Healthcare Information Technology: Fast and Accurate Information Access vs. Cyber-Security

The term “health information technology” (health IT) refers to the electronic systems that store, share, analyze, and protect electronic health records. It includes also electronic prescribing, knowledge sharing, patient support tools, and mobile health technology together with decision-making algorithms. The privacy, security, and ethics of health information are priority for both patients and healthcare providers. The health IT is a target for cyber-criminals; stolen health information, or blackmailing via different kind of cryptolockers, is good on the black market. While the healthcare industry relies more on technology, cyber-attacks are threatening health IT. This article argues health IT issues from two perspectives. The first one is a physician's point of view aiming to improve quality of care using fast and accurate health IT. The second is the standpoint of cyber-security specialists aiming to protect data form cyber-criminals, continually developing new strategies and best practices.