In the news: why healthcare M&A is a cybersecurity risk, managing medical supply chains, and more

The FBI recently warned that ransomware attackers are more likely to target companies going through significant financial events, including mergers and acquisitions.

Now, we’ve seen that warning come to life as CommonSpirit, which has 142 facilities in 21 states, deals with the fallout from a ransomware attack that occurred three weeks ago. The attack knocked critical systems offline and caused disruptions to patient care.

“We’ve seen in this case where a number of surgeries had to be rescheduled. People are being turned away, getting sent to different hospitals,” said Ken Westin, the director of security strategy at Cybereason.

In this month’s news roundup, we’ll take a closer look at the CommonSpirit attack and explore why significant financial events can expose organizations to increased vulnerability. We’ll also dive deeper into medical supply chain challenges and how to overcome them. Plus, find out why the FDA is anticipating fewer novel medical device approvals this year.

After CommonSpirit ransomware attack: Why healthcare M&A is a ‘huge’ cybersecurity risk

As CommonSpirit Health, formed by the merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives in 2019, continues to deal with the fallout from a ransomware attack three weeks ago, security experts are weighing in on why tie-ups and acquisitions make healthcare systems more vulnerable to security breaches. See what lessons can possibly be learned from this most recent attack.

How to manage medical device supply challenges

Medical device management is a huge expense for many hospitals. Hospitals not only need to acquire medical devices but also need to keep track of inventory and maintain them in good working condition. Read on to learn more about the four primary supply chain challenges related to medical devices and how to address them.

FDA anticipates fewer novel medical device approvals in 2022

On the backs of a waning pandemic and massive global supply chain disruptions, the FDA expects that a broader slowdown in the pace of medtech innovation will result in a slowdown in the number of new devices approved this year.

To give you an idea of pace during the pandemic, the FDA received over 8,000 emergency authorization requests, and granted green lights to more than 2,300 devices, including 444 diagnostic tests, through the end of September.