The risks of cyberattacks on hospitals and other healthcare settings was already high pre-pandemic, as these institutions work with sensitive data, like patient information. But attackers never let an opportunity go to waste, and they’ve already targeted the manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines—including a known attack on Pfizer.

Hospitals that use patient portals for online scheduling should beware of relying on them too heavily for scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations, a new survey suggests. In addition, the data indicates that revenue cycle leaders should encourage this population to set up online patient portal accounts or allow them to appoint proxies to do so for them. The National Poll on Healthy Aging finds that older adults—who are among the first in line to receive their COVID-19 vaccines—often don’t have access to patient portals.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact every aspect of healthcare, and a popular annual list of health technology hazards reflects this as well.

Expect accrediting organizations (AO) to get even tougher on problems found within the physical environment after yet another critical CMS report to Congress about the agency’s oversight of AOs.  CMS also expressed concerns again about missed findings under Infection Control and Governing Body Conditions of Participation (CoP).

Healthcare providers can now sign up for a ASSE training course on core water pathogen competencies such as environmental testing, risk assessment, water safety and management programs, mitigation and remediation methods, construction and renovation, and case investigation. The online course takes 24 hours to complete, plus a final exam.