by medicaltechont | Jul 8, 2023 | AI, EHR, Healthcare, Microsoft, Software, Technology
Microsoft Corp. and Epic recently announced an exciting development in their strategic collaboration, aiming to revolutionize the healthcare industry. The two technology giants are combining their expertise to integrate Azure OpenAI Service with Epic’s industry-leading electronic health record (EHR) software. This collaboration unlocks the potential of generative AI, providing powerful tools for healthcare professionals.
Building upon their existing partnership, which allows organizations to leverage the Microsoft Azure cloud platform for running Epic environments, this integration marks a significant step forward.
By clicking here, you can delve into the details and explore the future possibilities this collaboration holds for the healthcare landscape.
“Microsoft is committed to creating responsible AI by design that is guided by a core set of principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.”
Click here for more details.
by medicaltechont | Oct 22, 2016 | Cloud, Hardware, Security, Software, Technology
Cyber-warfare – Yesterday a massive DDoS attack took down a large portion of the Internet leaving sites offline or at dial-up speed. At first it was thought that the issue was neutralized, however as midday approached another massive attack rendered major sites unavailable. The attack was targeted at a major domain DNS server provider, however the ramifications to the attack were seen to be much more substantial. Sites like Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, PayPal, Kijiji, Pinterest and even the entire PlayStation Network were down or struggling. This was only a small portion of the list. At the moment we still do not know who initiated the attack, however it’s thought that IoT (Internet of Things) devices may actually be the an accessory to the crime. With so many providers affected we now need to take time analyze how this may affect online EMR providers in the future. Can IoT malware attacks and other types render cloud based applications offline? How does this affect patient care?
To read more about the attack that shutdown a large portion of the Internet click on the links below:
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/internet-outage-ddos-dns-dyn/
https://threatpost.com/mirai-fueled-iot-botnet-behind-ddos-attacks-on-dns-providers/121475/
by medicaltechont | Apr 27, 2016 | eHealth, EHR, hackers, Privacy, Security, Software
The growing concern with ransomware attacks at hospitals is provisionally a healthcare IT problem, but as the number of such attacks grows, it will quickly become a financial one as well.
Just a single ransom sum has been disclosed: Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles paid the equivalent of about $17,000 in bitcoin to free up its computer systems last month.
That may not have been a wise move: Steve King, chief operating officer with Netswitch Technology Management, a Northern California consulting firm that focuses on healthcare IT and security issues, told me last month that paying ransoms would set a precedent that would embolden hackers looking for paydays.
“The more they comply with these ransom demands, the more frequently we’re going to get these kinds of attacks,” King told me. He suggested it might be preferable for some hospitals to simply replace their existing IT systems than succumb to ransoms.
Read more at http://www.fiercehealthfinance.com/story/ransomware-attacks-hospitals-need-weigh-bottom-line-or-just-take-some-basic/2016-03-28
by medicaltechont | Apr 23, 2016 | Canada, Electronic Medical Records, Healthcare, Hospitals, Medical Records, Ontario, Security, Software
Important Notice:
As we have previously indicated, on March 30, 2016, the Grandview Medical Centre experienced a computer malfunction. As a result, and despite our extensive recovery efforts, some data entered into our electronic medical records has been lost.
Please rest assured that there has been no unauthorized access to your personal health information as a result of this incident.
We are currently in the process of determining the extent of the data loss as well as which patients have been affected by this unfortunate event. We will be notifying affected patients as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize for this occurrence and appreciate your patience as we identify the full extent of the loss and those affected patients.
Read more at https://www.facebook.com/gmcfht/
by medicaltechont | Dec 20, 2014 | Canada, e-Health, eHealth, EHR, emr, Google, Ontario MD, Open-Source, Software, Technology
Did we see this coming?
Well the last 2 to 3 months have been interesting and a bit disconcerting, for medical professionals in Ontario. We now have 3 instances of uncertainty with technology, for those attempting to move forward with EMR in Ontario. Some of the issues could not have been foreseen. However in others we may have to address the collective wisdom, at the time, of the body responsible for certifying vendors in Ontario.
The OntarioMD mandate is to enhance EMR use in Ontario. As indicated on their website:
“OntarioMD manages the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Adoption Program on behalf of eHealth Ontario to help community-based family physicians and specialists transition from paper records to EMRs to enhance patient care and practice efficiency. Eligible physicians receive funding and other supports to assist them with the implementation of an EMR and optimizing their EMR use.”
There is a host of initiatives by OntarioMD. However, in essence, so far they have created a certification process; where private vendors ensure that their software applications meet regulated standards. The process, overall, has been successful ; helping Ontario to finally move forward in EMR and data integration. Unfortunately there have been some recent bumps in the road.
Bell Canada is getting out of the market?
With TELUS Health making significant inroads in the EMR market who would have thought that Bell Canada would decide to step out and close its EMR offering? The OntarioMD website has already been updated indicating the following:
“Bell Canada has announced, as of December 1, 2015, the Bell EMR Service will no longer be available. Information for physicians using the Bell EMR offering.”
What does this mean for clients? Change is on the horizon. Basically by December 1, 2015, Bell EMR will be no more and clients will need to move to a certified solution. Unfortunate for those who have already spent a significant amount of time and resources getting up to the EMR standard in Ontario.
Jonoke was suspended? What?
Jonoke Software Development Inc. has been a long-standing player in the EMR market, even before there were specific standards set out by OntarioMD. Albeit their website still looks a bit dated, with a copyright dating back to 2012. OntarioMD has already indicated the following on their own website.
“Suspended** effective November 21, 2014. During the period the EMR offering is suspended, the EMR vendor is not permitted to promote or sell the EMR offering as funding eligible to physicians selecting an EMR from the EMR Adoption Program.”
What does this mean for clients? Who knows, the suspension online seems to be clouded in mystery. We can only hope that it’s not serious.
OntarioMD and vendor battle over new OSCAR EMR? What changed?
OSCAR EMR (community software created out of McMaster University) is an interesting player in the EMR market. It was amazing that an open-source vendor was able to get successfully certified, when specific standards are set out by OntarioMD. Open-source generally allows individuals and / or corporations to modify the code under GPL; as long as the code is provided back to the “Community”. Question is how can OntarioMD even manage this situation, when OSCAR has “9 OSCAR certified vendors“? OSCAR allows certain companies to distribute OSCAR EMR on their behalf. However missing from the list is the darling of the group “Indivica“, who is no longer listed as a vendor. OntarioMD has not talked much about the dispute, other than posting a link to the news article and the response under the vendor news section. However OSCAR has listed the following:
“Important Notice Regarding Indivica – The software currently being installed by Indivica does not meet the requirements to be an Affiliated Product of OSCAR EMR and is not the Ontario EMR Specification 4.1a Funding Eligible Offering from OSCAR EMR.”
What does this mean for the many clients of Indivica, in Ontario? Possibly uncertainty and more confusion. Being that Indivica has changed the code, OntarioMD would need to re-certify the application. However OntarioMD may not necessarily have the resources to check the application every time it changes; in addition to all of the other vendors pushing OSCAR. Can OntarioMD ensure that all vendors of OSCAR EMR are certified? Where are the controls on the process or basic code? Moreover it questions the concept of open-source in EMR. How can a certified product allow code to be modified if there are standards to be followed? There are so many who claim to have “OSCAR” versions that it may become confusing for clients. It may be time for OSCAR to “close” the code or choose one vendor for their application for certification. This would be difficult since it would fly in the face of open-source. You don’t have to look far for an example. Just ask Google who was faced with the same situation. Google’s Android was forked by the mighty Amazon. There is also Cyanogenmod, a pure forked version of Android. Google does not have the ability to totally control the situation, being that Android is a form of open-source and Linux. Eventually, Google may opt to merge Android with Chrome OS and close the system. However I doubt this will happen soon. The growth of Android, as a challenge to Apple’s IOS, is in part due to the OEMs who Google turned a blind eye to in order to expand Android’s presence.
Choices need to be made soon
OntarioMD and the eHealth Ontario may have some tough choices to make in order to move EMR forward. They have systems in place to handle situations like this, however the uncertainty places many medical professionals in a difficult position. Imagine going forward with a new EMR application, such as Bell, and being told that they have to change? Or learning that your EMR application vendor has been suspended? Or lastly working with a vendor that decides to go it alone, causing one to loose funding? The times are indeed changing dynamically, however it will get better. Stability is needed and standards must be met in order to move medical offices, hospitals and the technology forward. Besides the Ontario government does not necessarily have cash to burn in these trying times.
by medicaltechont | May 24, 2014 | Cloud, EHR, Ontario, Privacy, Software, Technology, The Internet
Is your cloud (online web-based) application vulnerable to hackers? Do you even know if the OpenSSL security flaw and bug affected your important data? Are you paying attention to your investment? Or do you even care?
With many moving full steam ahead with cloud-based solutions, recent developments have casted a slight shadow on the security of patient data and how much risk a medical practitioner is willing to take with personal medical information in the cloud.
When you visit the doctor, nurse practitioner or other health professionals there is a trust developed; whereby your confidentiality is respected and observed. As a patient you assume that all efforts are taken to uphold that trust. You assume that your personal medical data is secure from the prying eyes of others. However do you really know if your personal information is safe? It’s amazing to know that so many regular individuals assume, in Canada, that their personal information, located within a Doctor’s office, is 100% safe and secure. But what happens if they find out that there was a breach in security? What happens if a patient came to view results of something extremely important, only available within your EMR or medical software, and your “Internet” connection is down? What do you tell the patient? Are you certain that your medical information is safe?
Read: Cisco and Heartbleed, A Class Action Lawsuit In The Making (Seeking Alpha)
Although the term “online web based billing software” is the new buzz word, not all solutions have to be cloud-based. Many use terms like “bill from anywhere“, or “use any web-browser“, yet there are alternatives, which still allow you to be in control or your data. Many companies will never tell you how often their networks are down. Fear is used scare individuals into thinking that their equipment is safe with their company. “ 99% up-time“, is the standard default line for most online and cloud providers. However, as a medical professional, you assume the risk to your reputation and medical license. Patients believe that “you” and your medical practice are in trust of their personal medical and critical information. We all know, once trust is broken it is often difficult to repair.
Good luck trying to blame your technical problems on others when your cloud application is down (offline), your web-based provider was hacked (losing personal patient information) or even have disappeared with your data (bankrupted). Some comments from online vendors are shown below.
” Sorry about that folks, someone literally drove over our Internet connection this morning and ripped it from the pole. Everything restored.”
“The six-hour outage of Cerner’s network late last month has raised fresh concerns about cloud hosting of patient records.”
“ Target ignored its own alarms—and turned its customers into victims of an epic hack“(Bloomberg Businessweek)
“EBay initially believed user data safe after cyberattack“(Toronto Sun)
If your medical patient records are in the cloud ask yourself the following questions.
- Who actually has your data?
- Where, on planet Earth literally, is your data located?
- Are their cloud servers in Canada? The U.S.? Overseas? Or in an undesirable location in another country?
- If your patient data is in a foreign country what laws govern access to that information?
- Who is actually looking at your entrusted patient data?
- What is the risk and liability to your medical practice?
When choosing a vendor, for your medical software, never assume that the data within their office. Ask questions, first and never assume. Servers could be anywhere.
“If the cloud that hosts your data has servers in a foreign country, the laws of that foreign country may govern your data when stored in that server.”
Think of a more balanced approach to medical file management and health records. There are options to mobility that will not compromise your medical data. Just because it looks cheap, bleeding edge and downright “cool”, does it make it the best solution for you?
You can survive without your Facebook page, even Microsoft Word online for a while, but what about your medical records, lab reports and more; in relation to your office, or hospital? Under some certifications and requirements today EMR is considered a medical device; which must operate and function in a specific manner. If medical records and software were like a pace-maker, how much risk would you take?
Did we see this coming?
OntarioMD and the 