Stay ahead of the headlines

Dec 18, 2024·GovCIO Media

Jennifer Wendel, recently appointed as the Chief Information Officer for HHS, has outlined her priorities for 2025, focusing on enhancing cybersecurity, improving customer experience, and investing in workforce training. With 28 years of federal service, including one year as acting CIO, Wendel emphasizes the need to protect health records and sensitive data by continuously assessing cybersecurity measures, training employees to recognize threats like phishing, and maturing incident response processes. She also plans to promote digital literacy among staff to support cybersecurity efforts and reduce insider threats. Additionally, Wendel aims to modernize grants.gov to simplify the grant application process, improving accessibility for applicants and efficiency for grant makers.

Dec 18, 2024·LinkedIn

Linas Beliūnas has highlighted the swift advancements made by Google in recent weeks, suggesting that the company has surpassed Apple’s innovations over the past four years. While Apple traditionally set the standard for technological design and integration, Beliūnas points to a perceived stagnation in its innovation. Google’s recent developments, including the Gemini Pro 2.0 Flash AI model, the Multimodal Realtime API for handling multimedia data, and the Deep Research tool for simplifying data analysis, reflect a robust push into AI capabilities. Additionally, technologies such as Veo 2 and Willow illustrate Google’s focus on AI content generation and advancements in quantum computing.

Dec 18, 2024·CRN

Amazon's Chief Information Security Officer, CJ Moses, outlines the company's robust cybersecurity strategies that have effectively defended its cloud services from trillions of cyber threats. Key tools like MadPot and Sonaris enhance security by identifying malicious activities through honeypots and analyzing network traffic. MadPot, a global honeypot system, captures intelligence from around 750 million daily attacks, while Sonaris prevents 2.7 trillion attempts to exploit vulnerabilities on EC2 instances. Moses highlights that 99 percent of DDoS attacks against AWS are automatically mitigated, ensuring a secure environment for customers without their awareness of the threats.

Dec 18, 2024·Insurance Journal

Experian's annual breach forecast emphasizes the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity threats expected for 2025, highlighting a shift from traditional concerns such as ransomware and supply chain breaches. Michael Bruemmer, Experian's vice president of global data breach resolution, points out that AI is involved in a significant majority of hacking incidents, yet many executives are still unaware of its risks. The rise of generative AI makes data centers more appealing targets for cybercriminals, as their substantial energy demands introduce new vulnerabilities. This changing landscape calls for organizations to reevaluate their cybersecurity strategies. Additionally, younger individuals, particularly those familiar with AI through gaming and social media, are anticipated to increasingly contribute to the cybercrime landscape, with the average age of those arrested for cyber offenses currently at 19.

Dec 18, 2024·StarBridge Advisors

As the healthcare and IT sectors prepare for the challenges of 2025, a strategic focus on workforce well-being, mental health, and compassionate interactions is critical. The article highlights the diminishing stigma around mental health and the importance of supporting colleagues and communities in navigating the emotional impacts of recent global events. By promoting kindness and open communication, healthcare professionals can foster a supportive workplace culture that enhances patient care. Additionally, the need for collaboration and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are emphasized as means to improve both patient outcomes and employee satisfaction. Finally, securing IT environments and adopting digital services are outlined as essential steps for protecting patient data and maintaining competitiveness in the evolving healthcare landscape.

Dec 18, 2024·American Telemedicine Association

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action have endorsed a draft Continuing Resolution (CR) that proposes substantial extensions for telehealth services, pending congressional approval. Key elements of the legislation include a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities and first-dollar coverage for high-deductible health plans, along with a five-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program. Additionally, the draft allows for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services to be delivered via telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries in 2025 and 2026, marking significant advancements in virtual healthcare accessibility.

Dec 18, 2024·Boston Children's Hospital

The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in medical devices has surged, with the FDA approving nearly 250 such devices by 2023, compared to under 10 in 2013. However, a study from Boston Children's Hospital reveals a significant gap in the pediatric application of these technologies, with only about 40 devices approved for children this year and just 20 percent of them incorporating pediatric data in their algorithms. Researchers Dr. Ryan Brewster and Dr. Florence Bourgeois found that a majority of AI devices were either aimed at adults or lacked specified pediatric use, raising concerns about the safety and efficacy of adult-based algorithms when applied to children.

Dec 18, 2024·Becker's Hospital Review

Dan Magoc has recently assumed the role of Chief Information Officer at Integris Health, a 16-hospital system in Oklahoma City, with the goal of transforming the IT department into an elite unit. His approach focuses on executing foundational IT processes effectively while fostering a proactive culture that aligns IT with business priorities, moving away from a reactive model. Drawing on his extensive experience from Mercy, where he led AI initiatives and implemented mobile technologies, Magoc prioritizes addressing cybersecurity challenges, particularly concerning medical devices and IoT, and promotes a collective responsibility among staff for maintaining cybersecurity protocols.

Dec 17, 2024·Forbes

The rise of Nvidia, which recently surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable company, and fall of former computing titan Intel can offer learnings as healthcare reaches an inflection point. By leveraging technology and embracing preventive care, healthcare providers can enhance patient outcomes and reduce costs. Adapting to these shifts, including the integration of digital health solutions and personalized medicine, can help ensure that healthcare systems remain relevant and effective in addressing the needs of a changing patient population. The healthcare sector can benefit from applying these lessons from the tech industry to navigate its current challenges and enhance its long-term viability.

Dec 17, 2024·Cybersecurity Dive

Recent updates to password guidelines from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focus on simplifying password management for users by advising that passwords should only be changed when a compromise is suspected. NIST now recommends using longer passwords, ideally at least 15 characters, and encourages the use of passphrases. Despite these changes, many organizations still rely on passwords for regulatory reasons and due to outdated systems that limit modern authentication methods. Experts suggest that a shift towards more comprehensive identity governance strategies is essential, advocating for technologies like zero trust architectures to better safeguard against identity-based threats.

Dec 17, 2024·Becker's Hospital Review

Epic Systems conducts "immersion trips" for its employees to visit hospitals and health systems, allowing them to observe the real-world application of their electronic health record (EHR) software. Founder Judy Faulkner noted these experiences help employees assess software effectiveness and understand customer needs while fostering empathy for healthcare professionals. The autonomy given to employees in selecting relevant software upgrades supports innovation and responsiveness, empowering them to identify necessary modifications based on firsthand observations.

Dec 17, 2024·Healthcare IT News

The finalized first part of the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) rule, effective January 15, 2025, has generated disappointment among health IT developers, as it only addresses a limited number of proposed updates. Key elements include revisions to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement and administrative corrections; however, it lacks clarity on the certification of artificial intelligence enhancements. Despite 270 comments received by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the draft, the focus remained narrow, with updates affecting the Health IT Certification Program and specific security tagging requirements for clinical documents, leaving important questions unresolved for developers, particularly regarding Insights Measures essential for HHS compliance.

Dec 17, 2024·BankInfoSecurity

PIH Health, a healthcare provider in Southern California, experienced a significant ransomware attack on December 1, leading to the theft of 17 million patient records and widespread service disruptions across its facilities. The ongoing IT and phone system outages are affecting care delivery to the 3 million residents served by the organization. Cybercriminals have threatened to publish 2 terabytes of stolen data unless PIH Health complies with their demands, though no specific ransom has been disclosed. In response, PIH Health has instituted downtime procedures to maintain emergency services, but many elective procedures may be postponed, prompting patients to bring paper records for their visits.

Dec 17, 2024·Yahoo Finance

Yahoo employs cookies on its websites and applications to enhance user experience and maintain security. These cookies assist with tasks such as user authentication, preventing spam, and measuring site usage. By accepting cookies, users consent to data collection, which may include geographical data and personal information, for personalized advertising and content delivery. Users have the option to reject all cookies or manage their privacy settings, allowing them to control data usage according to their preferences. Yahoo also provides options to modify privacy choices through dedicated links on their platforms.

Dec 17, 2024·Intermountain Health

Intermountain Health has partnered with Microsoft, Gates Ventures, Epic, and West Health to address the healthcare crisis affecting rural America, where around 60 million people are facing limited access to services and rising mortality rates. The coalition aims to tackle challenges such as the financial instability of rural hospitals and technology infrastructure deficits, with a focus on delivering specialized care. Notably, a "hub-and-spoke" model is proposed to link rural hospitals with larger health systems, enabling enhanced resource access and transformative changes for these communities.

Dec 17, 2024·Healthcare IT News

Henry Ford Health recently held a two-day summit titled "Advancing Health Equity: Bridging the Telehealth Divide," aimed at addressing disparities in healthcare access related to telehealth. Hosted in Detroit and focused on digital health equity, the event gathered community organizations, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to discuss barriers and opportunities in this area. The summit, inspired by a Telehealth Equity Catalyst award, sought to promote collaboration and generate actionable solutions, with an emphasis on including individuals with lived experiences in the conversation to foster a more inclusive dialogue. Participants engaged in sessions assessing various aspects of digital equity, recognizing the necessity for greater awareness and support as healthcare continues to evolve.

Dec 16, 2024·Forbes

Experts are raising concerns about the increasingly sophisticated methods of email attacks as organizations approach 2025, as outlined in a report by Abnormal Security. The report identifies five advanced attack types: cryptocurrency-related phishing, file-sharing phishing, multichannel phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and email account takeover. Email remains a primary entry point for cybercriminals who exploit trust through impersonation. The evolving landscape, especially with the integration of AI for personalized messaging, necessitates awareness and preparedness to effectively counter these threats.

Dec 16, 2024·Rice University

Rice University and Houston Methodist have established the Digital Health Institute, a collaborative initiative aimed at transforming healthcare through technology and expertise. This multiyear partnership combines Houston Methodist’s academic medical research capabilities with Rice’s strengths in engineering and AI to develop innovative solutions that enhance patient care, boost operational efficiency, and promote equitable healthcare access. Led by prominent figures from both institutions, the institute will focus on key areas such as AI-driven disease diagnosis, predictive analytics, remote patient monitoring, personalized medicine, advanced imaging technologies, and expanded telemedicine services.

Dec 16, 2024·HealthTech Magazine

Healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting digital collaboration tools to improve patient care and team communication, as demonstrated by Moffitt Cancer Center, which implemented Zoom for telemedicine following a successful pilot in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic drastically shifted telemedicine visits from 15% to nearly 87% in just two years. Moffitt created a secure telehealth system that integrates Zoom with its electronic health records, enabling efficient remote post-operative care and enhancing patient access to advanced cancer treatment. Similarly, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center utilizes advanced audiovisual technology and platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to foster collaboration in its facilities.

Dec 16, 2024·Becker's Hospital Review

Nari Gopala has been appointed as the chief digital officer at Mayo Clinic, succeeding Rita Khan. Previously the senior vice president and chief digital officer at Kaiser Permanente, Gopala brings significant experience from roles at Amazon Web Services and Sony Online Entertainment. In his new position, he will collaborate with Dr. Brad Leibovich to enhance Mayo Clinic's digital capabilities and support its digital transformation initiatives, aiming to improve healthcare delivery and operational efficiency.