October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and this BONUS episode of SoundPractice highlights an interview with Julie Chua, PMP, CAP, CISSP, Director of Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Division of Health and Human Service’s Office of Information Security. It follows a prolonged period of ransomware attacks on healthcare systems and providers. In fact, ransomware attempts, and attacks have been so severe and pervasive as to harden the cyber insurance markets. Medical devices, emails, laptops, personal phones, fax machines interconnected with billing systems or the hospital EHR – are all risks for healthcare organizations.  Director Chua provides sources of governmental assistance and useful recommendations. She makes a strong case for cyber being included in enterprise risk management planning and why cyber safety is also patient care and patient safety. This episode offers an important briefing on a critical issue by a high-ranking federal official.

Resources mentioned by Director Chua may be found at https://healthcyber.mitre.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/405d-One-Pager.pdf.Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org