The healthcare industry has collectively acknowledged that data breaches are on the rise. What's more concerning, though, is the combined frequency of breaches resulting from hacking and unauthorized access or disclosure has also increased, according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers analyzed breaches reported to HHS using the agency's "Wall of Shame," a database displaying information about breaches that affect more than 500 individuals. They looked at breach data from 2010 to 2013 and found the majority of breaches, 58.2 percent, occurred via theft.
Researchers also found the overall frequency of breaches resulting from hacking or unauthorized access or disclosure was 21.9 percent. This rate of incidence, though, has steadily increased from 12.2 percent in 2010 to 27.2 percent in 2013.
"Most data breaches resulted from overt criminal activity," according to the research letter. "The persistent threat of theft and the increase in hacking raise serious security concerns."
Researchers noted the majority of overall breaches (32.7 percent) occurred via portable electronic device or laptop. All 50 states reported data breaches in 2013, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
"Strategies to mitigate the risk and effect of these data breaches will be essential to ensure the well-being of patients, clinicians and healthcare systems," the researchers concluded.
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