Major Healthcare Systems Opening Bitcoin Wallets to Pay Ransom

An annual technology survey by the Center for Connected Medicine came up with a variety of findings about major American healthcare systems and their IT plans for 2018. 

Here are two big headlines.

Some American healthcare systems are buying Bitcoin

• Healthcare systems are worried about Ransomware attacks, and nearly 1 in 5 say they are opening Bitcoin wallets so they can pay a ransom if necessary.
  
  
  

  Healthcare systems spending more on cybersecurity in 2018

• Healthcare spending on cybersecurity is definitely going up.
  
  More than 9 out of 10 health care systems responding to the survey say they will spend more this year to secure the medical enterprise through technology and hiring additional personnel.
  

These are two key findings of a new survey covering more than 20 major U.S. health systems and conducted by the Pittsburgh-based Center for Connected Medicine (CCM), in partnership with the Health Management Academy (The Academy). 

You can read more healthcare IT survey details here. 

Now, back to the Bitcoin wallet results: as patients, should we be scared that some healthcare systems are preparing to pay off criminals if there is a ransomware attack?

Or should we feel good about that approach as 'an ounce of prevention' that can become a 'pound of cure' if needed?

Please let us know what you think about this issue.