When It Comes to Cybersecurity, Could Health System Consolidation Hurt Patients?

Consolidation in the US healthcare sector has helped to spread costs and promote the acquisition of new technology. However, such consolidation can reduce competition and hike prices for medical services. It’s helped rural hospitals by centralizing services, but dependence on remote systems can disrupt care in cases of network failures or cyberattacks. Consolidation has also led to a reduction in local services, forcing patients to travel for care. Lastly, consolidation has created single points of failure, making entire systems vulnerable to cyberattacks and calling into question the industry’s resilience.