Chaos in the Saxon Clinic: Cyber ​​attack endangers patient life!

Chaos in the Saxon Clinic: Cyber ​​attack endangers patient life!

In the upcoming episode of the ARD series "In all friendship" entitled "Concerns", which will be broadcast on Tuesday, May 13th, at 9 p.m. The episode deals with the serious consequences of a cyber attack, which led to serious IT problems in a previous episode. These attacks are increasingly endangering patient care and are a growing risk in healthcare, as [Ärzteblatt] reports.

During Dr. Kai Hoffmann (Julian Weigend) has disappeared for a day and a half, there is unrest among employees and patients in the clinic. On his return, he brings a shocking message for Maria Weber (Annett Renneberg), which indicates the tense framework conditions that unsettle both teams and patients. In the current and the previous consequences, the urgency and precarious Situation in medical facilities are discussed, which is reinforced by cyber attacks.

cyber attacks in healthcare

The former episode "Everything at zero" already addressed how the Sachsenklinik became the goal of a hacker attack. This resulted in computers and medical devices could no longer be operated and emergency plans had to be activated. Patients were partially moved to other clinics. The clinic was blackmailed by hackers, which drastically tightened the situation, as important operations on the brink, as [TAG24] described.

The increasing networking in healthcare, combined with a growing dependence on digital infrastructure, makes clinics susceptible to cyber attacks. The Federal Criminal Police Office reported that over 136,000 cyber attacks were registered in 2022, with the healthcare system one of the most frequently attacked industries. The estimates indicate that only every tenth attack is displayed. The importance of preventive measures and emergency plans thus receives a new dimension to cope with the challenges.

clinic under pressure

In the next episode, Miriam Schneider (Christina Petersen) is also required as interim care manager. It faces the task of gaining the trust of a patient who, due to his fear of touch, refuses an urgently needed heart transplant. At the same time, Dr. Philipp Brentano (Thomas Koch) on a new concept for endoprosthetics to stabilize the financial means of the Saxon Clinic, which encounters tensions in the team, as not all colleagues are behind his plan.

The current scenarios in the Saxon Clinic impressively illustrate how cyber attacks and digital threats can have a lasting impact on healthcare. Necessary measures to combat such challenges are more important than ever. The upcoming episode will take a further look at this problem and illuminate the fire brigade of a clinic in financial and technological hardship.

The episode "Concept" promises to once more exciting to take up the relationship between technology, health and human fate. So not only secure your space in front of the television, but also remember that these topics affect our everyday healthcare system. Further information and the latest episodes can be found on the [ARD media library].