Panel 1: Usability and Healthcare Data Breaches

Eric Johnson and Panelists

Khaled El Emam and Paul Connelly

Panel 1 Photos by Ali Uribe

Panel Abstract

Usability failures – of both systems and embedded security – lead to user workarounds and security failures. In many areas of healthcare, workarounds are epidemic. Such workarounds, whether clinical or back office, create new information risks and patient data hemorrhages. In this panel, we explored how usability issues and workarounds lead to security failures and how those failures can be prevented. (From an academic and information security professional perspective.) 

Panelists and Presentations

• Chaired by Eric Johnson, Benjamin Ames Kimball Professor of the Science of Administration and Director, Glassmeyer/McNamee Center for Digital Strategies 
  • Slides
• Ritu Agarwal, University of Maryland 
  • Slides
• Eric Cowperthwaite, Chief Security Officer, Providence Healthcare 
  • Slides
• Khaled El Emam, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute 
• Paul Connelly, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, Hospital Corporation of America 
  • Slides

Panel Summary

•  Download the document that summarizes this panel discussion. 

Related News and Video

Read Eric Johnson's op-ed in the US News & World Report online that discusses the theme of this panel and watch the interview Eric conducted during the conference with Eric Cowperthwaite. They discussed the challenges of security in the healthcare realm.