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.

Roy Schoenberg, MD, MPH, CEO of American Well® Receives American Telemedicine Association Industry Council Award

May 20, 2014 -- Roy Schoenberg, MD, MPH, CEO of American Well Systems, today received the Ninth Annual American Telemedicine Association Industry Council Award for Leadership in the Advancement of Telemedicine at the 19th Annual ATA Meeting & Exposition, held in Baltimore, MD.

Nurses’ media campaign warns against ‘unproven’ medical technology

A campaign launched by National Nurses United is calling the explosion of medical technology both “dangerous” and overly expensive, and a contributing factor to “the erosion of care standards.”

HHS to disperse $110M for Health Innovation Awards program

The Department of Health & Human Services is awarding as much as $110 million in combined funding to 12 prospective recipients for round two of its Health Innovation Awards program, which seeks to test innovative models designed to deliver better care outcomes and lower costs.

Seeking innovation inspiration from Starbucks, online gaming

BOSTON—“I would assert that the single biggest change on our planet in our lifetime is interconnectedness. Seeing that as principle transformational element” will help us improve the healthcare system, said Larry Keeley, strategist with innovation firm Doblin, speaking at the National Healthcare Innovation Summit on May 15.

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Innovation: Reframe the problem to find the best solution

BOSTON—Change doesn't just happen. “Leaders have to change. Every company has to change. Large groups have to change and do the heavy lifting,” said Roy Rosin, chief innovation officer, Penn Medicine, speaking at the National Healthcare Innovation Summit on May 15.

Surescripts: More than half of prescriptions are electronic

More than half of all eligible prescriptions were routed electronically, according to a report from the nationwide health information network Surescripts.

‘Groundbreaking’ agreement reached between Mass. AG and Partners on hospital acquisitions

Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Martha Coakley announced a comprehensive agreement with Boston-based Partners HealthCare allowing the system to acquire South Shore Hospital and Hallmark Healthcare.

Provider tendencies important to readmissions as well as patient characteristics

A new study indicates that in some regions, healthcare providers use hospitals more often than others for care of all types, including readmitting patients within 30 days of their discharge after treatment for a heart attack.

Around the web

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.

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. 

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.