The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has launched the Digital Health Security (DIGIHEALS) project. This initiative aims to combat cyber-attacks on the US healthcare system by addressing the current lack of effective cybersecurity tools.
Description
The DIGIHEALS project seeks to repurpose state-of-the-art technologies originally designed for national security purposes. Its goal is to fortify civilian health systems and medical care institutions, protecting patient privacy [3], safety [2] [3] [4], and lives [2] [4]. By detecting and defending against emerging cyber-threats [4], DIGIHEALS aims to address the current vulnerabilities in the healthcare system. This includes software-related vulnerabilities that could jeopardize patient safety and overall experience.
To achieve its objectives, the project is inviting proposals under the Scaling Health Applications Research for Everyone (SHARE) BAA [3]. Multiple awards are expected [3], ensuring equitable distribution of the technologies to all systems regardless of size or location [5]. Proposal submissions are being accepted through the Scaling Health Applications Research for Everyone broad agency announcement [1].
Conclusion
The DIGIHEALS project holds significant implications for the US healthcare system. By leveraging advanced technologies and addressing cybersecurity gaps, it aims to enhance the security and resilience of medical facilities. This will ultimately lead to improved patient safety and overall experience. The project’s focus on equitable distribution ensures that all healthcare systems can benefit from these advancements. With multiple awards anticipated [1], the future of healthcare cybersecurity looks promising.
References
[1] https://potomacofficersclub.com/news/new-arpa-h-project-seeks-to-protect-medical-facilities-from-cyber-threats/
[2] https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/hhs-opens-digital-health-infrastructure-security-rfp
[3] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-arpa-h-counters-healthcare/
[4] http://pfete.com/index.php/2023/08/22/us-arpa-h-initiative-counters-healthcare-cyber-threats/
[5] https://www.ormanager.com/briefs/hhs-arpa-h-project-to-strengthen-healthcare-cybersecurity/
