Healthcare Providers Face Security Challenges

Many healthcare organizations are unprepared for new federal regulations and other security challenges, according to a study. Security budgets are low, organizations don't have response plans for threats or a security breach, and a designated chief security officer isn't in place.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) provisions of the U.S. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 includes new regulations for maintaining privacy and security of patient health data, but healthcare providers aren't ready, according to the results of the 2009 Security Survey from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, sponsored by Symantec (NSDQ: SYMC). Information Week.