St Vincent’s Health Australia successfully addresses concerns over a recent IT breach, affirming the safeguarding of sensitive data. eHealth NSW appoints Richard Weir as CTO, injecting valuable leadership into the organization and introducing new functionalities to the SafeScript NSW program. In a bid to enhance emergency services, the Western Australian government collaborates with Genvis for an improved Emergency WA platform. These initiatives collectively reflect a commitment to fortifying cybersecurity, advancing healthcare technology, and optimizing emergency response systems in different sectors.
St Vincent’s Health Australia reassured the public on Thursday that no sensitive data was stolen during an IT system breach on December 19. The not-for-profit health and aged care provider shared the results of a forensic investigation conducted by CyberCX, emphasizing that hackers were unable to access sensitive personal information within their network. The report confirmed that identification documents such as driver’s licenses, passports, Medicare cards, medical records, and banking information remained secure and had not been pilfered.
St Vincent’s Health Australia provided a comprehensive update, highlighting the absence of any evidence indicating the stolen data being posted on the dark web. The investigation did identify that approximately 4.3 gigabytes of system, configuration data, and network credential data were compromised. In response, the organization has undertaken extensive remediation activities, including round-the-clock monitoring to swiftly detect and respond to any suspicious activities.
In a separate development, eHealth NSW has appointed Richard Weir as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Weir, a seasoned technology executive with over 15 years of national and global leadership experience in telecommunications, software, financial services, and consulting, will also serve as the executive director of Service Delivery for the organization. His previous roles include serving as the director of Technology Delivery for Commonwealth Bank at DXC Technology and as the CTO for Thomson Reuters and PayVantage.
Weir’s responsibilities include overseeing the management of eHealth NSW’s statewide platforms and leading its Service Delivery team comprising over 1,400 IT professionals. Additionally, eHealth NSW announced the launch of a new approval management functionality on its real-time prescription monitoring program, SafeScript NSW. This functionality enables prescribers to submit approval applications online, track their progress, and exit or cancel existing approvals for certain high-risk Schedule 8 medicines.
The Western Australian government has taken a significant step in enhancing emergency information services by engaging public safety technology provider Genvis. The contract with Genvis is part of a multi-year project aimed at improving the Emergency WA platform, which has been providing authoritative, accurate, and timely emergency information across the state since 2016. The collaboration with the WA Department of Emergency Services aims to make Emergency WA capable of delivering faster, more personalized, and targeted warnings during emergencies.
Among the planned enhancements, Emergency WA will feature new functionalities implemented in phases. These include the development of an app, translated warnings, the ability to set watch zones, integration with in-home and wearable smart devices, and new accessibility features. The overarching goal is to deliver nationally consistent warnings through the Australian Warning System, ensuring a more effective and streamlined emergency information platform for Western Australia.
Overall, recent strides in healthcare and emergency services highlight a collective commitment to fortifying security and embracing technological advancements. St Vincent’s Health Australia’s thorough investigation and transparent communication reassure the public, emphasizing data integrity post-IT breach. The appointment of Richard Weir as CTO at eHealth NSW signifies a strategic leadership move to steer technology initiatives. The introduction of new functionalities in the SafeScript NSW program further exemplifies the sector’s adaptability to enhance prescription monitoring. The collaborative effort with Genvis in Western Australia reflects a proactive approach to elevate Emergency WA, ensuring faster and more targeted warnings. These endeavors collectively signify a resilient and forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity, healthcare technology, and emergency response capabilities.
