Content by Howard Anderson

VA CIO: Personally Owned Devices OK

Howard Anderson  •  October 31, 2011

The Department of Veterans Affairs expects to accommodate the use of in excess of 100,000 iPads and iPhones within 18 months, including a mix of government-owned and personal mobile devices, says Roger Baker, CIO.

Medical Device Hack: A Turning Point?

Howard Anderson  •  October 28, 2011

News this week about an "ethical hack" of a Medtronic insulin pump, which has a wireless transmitter, could prove to be a catalyst for ramping up efforts to protect the security of medical devices.

VA Seeks Help With Mobile Security

Howard Anderson  •  October 26, 2011

As it seeks information from vendors about implementing a more robust mobile device management system to ensure security, the Department of Veteran's Affairs has reported its first case of a stolen iPad.

Mobile Device Management

Howard Anderson  •  October 25, 2011

Roger Baker, CIO at the VA, says desktop computers will eventually phase out, as mobile devices become predominant channels for communication and work. That evolution has made plans for ongoing mobile security a priority for organizations that cross every business sector.

Updating the Breach Scorecard

Howard Anderson  •  October 24, 2011

The total number of Americans affected by major health information breaches since the HIPAA breach notification rule took effect could grow by more than 50 percent once two major recent incidents are added to the official federal tally.

Data Sharing Guidelines for ACOs

Howard Anderson  •  October 24, 2011

A new federal rule setting the final guidelines for Accountable Care Organizations under federal healthcare reform gives patients the opportunity to veto the sharing of their Medicare claims data with ACOs.

Are Personal Mobile Devices a Threat?

Howard Anderson  •  October 21, 2011

Should clinicians be allowed to use personally owned smart phones and tablets to access patient data?

VA's Plan for Mobile Device Security

Howard Anderson  •  October 20, 2011

Roger Baker, CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs, outlines the department's mobile device security strategy, providing details on the rollout of iPhones and iPads.

Protecting Privacy During Research

Howard Anderson  •  October 20, 2011

The American College of Physicians has proposed revisions to federal privacy rules to strengthen protections for individuals who participate in medical research projects.

Training: A Powerful Breach Preventer

Howard Anderson  •  October 19, 2011

Recent breach incidents point to the need to investigate how business associates train their employees about privacy protection.

Training Proposed After TRICARE Breach

Howard Anderson  •  October 18, 2011

The Department of Defense and two other government agencies have issued a proposed rule designed to help ensure that government contractors provide adequate privacy training to their staff members.

Backup Tape Encryption: How Common?

Howard Anderson  •  October 14, 2011

Two recent major breach incidents call attention to the value of encrypting backup tapes. A new survey shows how many organizations are taking this precaution.

Car Burglars: A Major Breach Threat

Howard Anderson  •  October 14, 2011

Yet another breach incident involving the theft of computer storage media from a vehicle was added to the official federal tally of major health information breaches this week.

TRICARE Hit With $4.9 Billion Lawsuit

Howard Anderson  •  October 14, 2011

A class action lawsuit is seeking $4.9 billion in damages as a result of alleged privacy violations stemming from a recent health information breach affecting beneficiaries of the TRICARE military health program.

HHS Advisory Group: Go Slow on Metadata

Howard Anderson  •  October 14, 2011

While a presidential advisory council wants to move forward quickly with using metadata tags within electronic health records, such as to indicate patient privacy preferences, another federal advisory panel is saying "not so fast."