Security of electronic personal health information in a public hospital in South Africa

Digital health technologies have changed the healthcare sector landscape and thus generated new opportunities for collecting, storing accessing electronic personal information (ePHI). However, this has also caused ePHI to be exposed a variety of security threats, attacks vulnerabilities. This qualitative study explored in public hospital South Africa. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected network controllers, IT technicians, administrative records clerks triangulated document analysis. coded analyzed using ATLAS.ti, version 8. The findings showed that is witnessing deluge cyber threats such as Worms, Trojan horses, shortcut viruses. compounded by technological vulnerabilities power system failure, obsolete computers, systems. Security measures username-password, encryption, firewall, antivirus audit log exist protect ePHI. recommends need implement an intrusion protection constantly update firewall antivirus. It concluded without proper protocols, could attacks. urged use blockchain technology strengthen