Health Sector Coordinating Council Aiming to Identify Healthcare Workflow Chokepoints
As cyber threats against healthcare systems escalate, industry leaders are working to identify the weak points that could cripple patient care and hospital operations. Speaking at the HIMSS 2025 Global Conference, Greg Garcia, Executive Director of the Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group, outlined an initiative aimed at mapping the vulnerabilities of interconnected healthcare systems.
“The healthcare industry is deeply interdependent,” Garcia said. “Every service—from payments to prescriptions to electronic health records—relies on a vast digital infrastructure. Identifying cyber chokepoints is a necessary step in safeguarding the industry.”
Getting SMART
The Health Sector Coordinating Council is spearheading an initiative called the Strategic Mapping of Active Risk and Threats (SMART), designed to break down healthcare workflows and pinpoint digital vulnerabilities. By tracking critical dependencies—such as third-party vendors, IT systems, and cloud-based services—the initiative aims to equip hospital executives with a clear risk assessment framework.
Learn more about the SMART initiative at HealthSystemCIO.com.
