Precision Medicine

Also called personalized medicine, this evolving field makes use of an individual’s genes, lifestyle, environment and other factors to identify unique disease risks and guide treatment decision-making.

California’s aid-in-dying law overturned in court

A judge in Riverside County, California, ruled the state legislature violated the law by passing the state’s aid-in-dying act during a special session limited to healthcare funding, giving the state’s attorney general five days to respond or else it would again be illegal for terminal patients to be given life-ending drugs by physicians.

App connects elderly patients to 'grandkids-on-demand'

To meet the needs of the increasing number of elderly patients, one man developed an app connecting college students to seniors.

Teledermatology cuts time to clinical resolution by 26 days

Teledermatology for suspected skin cancer costs more than usual care—but it speeds up the time to clinical resolution by nearly a month, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Wearable sleep technology has merits—but a lack of evidence hinders clinical growth

Consumer sleep technologies like wearables and mobile apps are adept at collecting patient-generated health data, but lacking validation data and FDA clearance are hindering utilization, according to a position statement published in the May 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

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Vermont’s statewide ACO-like system closely watched by state policymakers

The “zero year” of the OneCare Vermont system, operated much like an accountable care organization (ACO) on a statewide level, saw the program come within 1 percent of its financial target. With the model now expanded to cover about 18 percent of the state’s residents, other states are watching closely to see if it could be implemented elsewhere in the U.S.

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Team aims to corral KRAS-mutated cancer by testing drugs on 3D spheres

Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute, in a study published online May 10 in Octogene, developed spheroids that can be used for high throughput screening, which uses the structures to test for reactions to various drugs.

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mHealth apps could improve stress management—but apps lack value

Mobile health applications have benefits to stress management due to ease of use and easy access, but most apps lack value, according to a study published May 9 in JMIR mHealth and uHealth.

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Diabetes apps could improve blood glucose control—but further study is needed

Mobile applications aimed at improving diabetes outcomes could help users control blood glucose levels, but evidence to support their efficiency is lacking, according to a study published May 8 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Around the web

HHS has thought through the ways AI can and should become an integral part of healthcare, human services and public health. Last Friday—possibly just days ahead of seating a new secretary—the agency released a detailed plan for getting there from here.

Philips is recalling the software associated with its Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry devices after certain high-risk ECG events were never routed to trained cardiology technicians as intended. The issue, which lasted for two years, has been linked to more than 100 injuries. 

Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, detailed a new advocacy group focused on improving EP reimbursements, patient care and access. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu," he said.