HealthsystemCIO.com January 21, 2026
Healthcare organizations face mounting technology safety challenges in 2026, with digital darkness coming in second on the list of concerns identified by ECRI, an independent patient safety organization that has published its annual health technology hazards report for 19 consecutive years.
ECRI defines digital darkness as the sudden losses of access to electronic systems and patient information caused by cyberattacks, natural disasters, vendor outages, or internal system failures. These occurrences can paralyze facilities, delay treatments, and force workflow changes that increase error risks.
Legacy medical devices present particular cybersecurity concerns because they provide entry points that malicious actors can exploit. Software-based devices and systems that no longer...
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