The U.S. Health System Vulnerabilities

Abstract

The increasing integration of health information technology (health IT) into the U.S. healthcare system has brought both opportunities for improvement and new vulnerabilities. The 2024–2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan emphasizes equitable data access, quality representative data, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve health outcomes. Yet, the growing complexity of digital infrastructures has amplified risks related to privacy and the security of protected health information (PHI). This study examines U.S. health system vulnerabilities by analyzing reported PHI breaches and situating them within evolving federal health IT priorities.