ID: 214173 Evaluating Physician Understanding of Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in Neuromodulation Systems

Abstract

Advances in Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs) with wireless communication features have provided healthcare providers with new capabilities, such as remote device programming and patient monitoring.[1] Unfortunately, reliance on software and networks for wireless communication with IMDs allows for vulnerabilities to outside attack. Patients with neuromodulation devices represent a unique group of potential targets to hackers because of the data points these devices collect and can transmit. Healthcare providers bear the responsibility of educating patients on the data privacy and cybersecurity risks involved with IMDs. Little research has been done to learn what practicing physicians understand about these issues. We seek to investigate healthcare provider knowledge of neuromodulation device cybersecurity and data privacy using survey data analysis.