Tag: Telemedicine

Data in Telemedicine Systems Unsafe: Study

A report published by LexisNexis Solutions points to the low level of security across telemedicine and patient portals. Healthcare facilities across the world are deploying telemedicine solutions at a rapid pace. However, the use of traditional platforms has subjected patient data to cyber risks. Most of the renowned healthcare organisations are confident about their data safety and verification nodes. However, an in-depth analysis of their patient portals reveals major protection loopholes.

The report records responses of healthcare professionals and payers from over a hundred leading healthcare facilities. They were asked to fill-in their answers with regard to identity management plans, best practices, and future investments. 70 percent of the respondents revealed that they currently have a patient portal in place. 18 percent of them plan to deploy a patient management system in the future. Only 26 percent of healthcare facilities said that most of their patients use the portal.

Obsolete Nature of Traditional Systems

The report also gives key insights about the security concerns faced by healthcare facilities. Around 65 percent of healthcare facilities use multifactor authentication which is recommended by cybersecurity experts. The researchers expressed appal at the fact that 35% of facilities did not have multifactor authentication. Knowledge-based methods for authentication are not adequate in this scenario when data breaches are rampant.

Complacence of Healthcare Facilities

Healthcare organisations have succumbed to the pressure of maintaining patient healthcare records. This has led them to induct traditional and obsolete authentication systems and security nodes. Furthermore, healthcare facilities are showing complacence with their security systems and have to acknowledge the pitfalls. Several of these facilitates claim to prioritise patient data safety, but their weak authentication nodes suggest otherwise.

The researchers went on to say that some of the facilities are “waiting” for data breaches. Username and password are insecure options for protecting patient portals. Information-based login has, in fact, become an entry point for attackers and cyber criminals.

Rise in Use of Mobile Computing Devices behind Advent of Telemedicine

San Francisco, California, May 10, 2017: The global market for telemedicine is the focus of analysis of a recent market research report by TMR Research. The report is titled “Telemedicine Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth, and Forecast 2017–2025.” The capability of telemedicine practices to provide medical assistance to patients living in remote locations, where essential healthcare services are not available or are difficult to reach, is one of the key factors driving the global Telemedicine Market.

Intervention of governments across the globe through funds and incentives aimed at extending the reach of essential medical services across remote locations, increased use of mobile computing devices, and rapid rate of technological advancement of healthcare infrastructure across the globe are some of the chief drivers of the market. Some of the most popular services provided by the telemedicine market are medical education, specialist referral services, and provision of medical and health information to consumers.

Telemedicine is increasingly becoming one of the key segments of the conventional medicine and healthcare market. In the next few years, the market is expected to exhibit an excellent CAGR across developed as well as developing economies.

From a geographical standpoint, the market for telemedicine is presently gaining the most traction and promising growth opportunities in developed economies across North America and Europe. The North America market presently leads and is expected to retain dominance over the report’s forecast period as well. Technology advanced healthcare infrastructures, technologically well-versed population, excellent telecommunication networks, and the presence of a large number of some of the world’s leading companies in the telemedicine field are expected to continue to drive the North America market in the near future.

Over the report’s forecast period, Asia Pacific is expected to present vast growth opportunities to the telemedicine market. The thriving telecommunications industry, rapid rate of technological advancement of the healthcare infrastructure across developing economies, and the vast population will contribute to the growth prospects of the Asia Pacific telemedicine market in the near future.

The vendor landscape of the global telemedicine market is fragmented owing to the presence of a large number of regional as well as international players. Companies in the market are focusing on expanding their geographical reach and offering innovative solutions to attract more consumers to sustain in the highly competitive market. Some of the leading vendors in the market are CISCO Systems, Inc., ARDIOCOM, LLC, Agfa HealthCare NV, CAMD Global Telemedicine, Inc., LifeWatch AG, McKesson Corporation, Polycom Corp., Honeywell HomMed LLC, OBS Medical Ltd., Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., InTouch Technologies, Inc., and McKesson Corp.