Digital Transformation

This evolution of healthcare involves using technology to improve diagnosis, treatments, monitor patients, enhance hospital operations and culture, and bolster consumer-focused care. This includes virtual reality tools, wearable devices, workflow software, health apps and other digital health tools.

From Capitol Hill to a hospital near you? 5 federal recommendations for healthcare AI policy
The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks.
Healthcare AI regulation needs nuance, balance: Research review
When regulating AI-equipped medical devices, the FDA might take a page from the Department of Transportation’s playbook for overseeing AI-equipped vehicles. These run the gamut from assisting human drivers to fully taking the wheel.
ICU diary-keeping: There’s an AI for that
Intensive care units around the world use daily diaries to track patients’ emotional as well as physical ups and downs. Many find that keeping these helpful resources can add to nurses’ already-heavy workloads. How might generative AI help?
Stanford HAI lookback: Best-read blog posts of 2024
The year 2023 saw a shift toward open-source AI models, surging investments in generative AI and increasing AI regulation.
Providers, payers share actionable experiences involving healthcare AI
A large venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage healthtech companies has a tip for AI startups targeting the healthcare sector.

Kaiser fined for failing to provide Medicaid data

Kaiser Permanente is being fined $2.2 million by the state of California for not submitting data on patient care to Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program.

August 30, 2017

Cedars-Sinai Graduate Program Launches Master’s Degree in Health Delivery Science to Better Harness, Analyze Health Information

Doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are heading back to school at Cedars-Sinai, joining the first class of a new, accredited master’s degree program in health delivery science, offering an advanced curriculum focused on measuring and improving the value of healthcare.

August 28, 2017

ONC cuts would be reversed under new amendment

President Donald Trump proposed cutting $22 million from the budget for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) in fiscal year 2018. Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, has introduced an amendment to keep the agency’s funding at its 2017 level.

August 24, 2017

VA being sued over awarding EHR contract to Cerner

Electronic health records provider CliniComp is suing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) over its decision to select Cerner to replace its in-house EHR system without allowing for a competitive bidding process.

August 23, 2017

AHIMA 2017 preview: ‘We’ve taken it up a notch this year’

The activities and discussions at this year’s American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) conference will go beyond fundamentals, according to the group’s vice president of health information management (HIM) practice excellence, Lou Ann Wiedemann, MS.

August 21, 2017

Illinois Opens Blockchain Development Partnership with Hashed Health

The Illinois Blockchain Initiative announced today its partnership with blockchain healthcare innovation company Hashed Health, to leverage blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. The pilot program will initially explore opportunities to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the medical credentialing process in Illinois. The concept will leverage a blockchain-based registry to streamline the sharing of medical credential data and smart contracts to automate workflow related to multistate and interstate licensure.

August 9, 2017

HITECH ACT boosted EHR adoption in hospitals

A study published in Health Affairs tried to judge the effectiveness of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 in getting more hospitals to implement electronic health record (EHR) systems. According to Julia Adler-Milstein, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, and her coauthors, it succeeded.

August 8, 2017

American Telemedicine Association CEO abruptly steps down

Jonathan Linkous has resigned as CEO of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), the group announced on Aug. 7, after leading the organization since it was founded in 1993.

August 8, 2017

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

AI in Healthcare

From Capitol Hill to a hospital near you? 5 federal recommendations for healthcare AI policy

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks.

Cardiovascular Business

Merck spends up to $2B to license new weight loss drug with potential heart benefits

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.