Retail giant Walmart has decided to exit its primary care clinic and virtual health businesses, citing underestimated costs and lower-than-expected volumes. Despite their extensive customer base and logistical prowess, Walmart found it challenging to make primary care profitable due to high revenue cycle overhead, tight labor markets, and the financial constraints of their customers. Their decision underscores the broader struggle within the corporate primary care sector, where even so-called "disrupters" face significant hurdles. This move highlights the complexities and high costs associated with transforming primary care in the U.S. healthcare system, suggesting that viable solutions may require substantial changes in how services are funded and reimbursed.

‘It’s putting patients’ lives in danger’: Nurses say ransomware attack is stressing hospital operations

May 30, 2024CNN

A ransomware attack on Ascension, a major US hospital network, has severely disrupted operations at multiple facilities, forcing staff to switch to manual records and endangering patient safety. Nurses at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital and an Ascension hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, reported significant challenges, including increased patient loads, delayed lab results, and safety risks without electronic health records. Ascension, which oversees 140 hospitals, is working to restore electronic systems, but the attack highlights broader vulnerabilities in healthcare cybersecurity. The Biden administration is preparing to introduce new requirements to improve hospital cybersecurity, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive defenses against such attacks.

Hospital margins are increasing — and so are prices

May 30, 2024publication

Health systems have experienced a financial boost in the first quarter of 2024 due to higher patient volumes and reduced reliance on contract labor, with many large nonprofit systems reporting increased operating and net margins. However, this financial improvement comes alongside rising hospital prices, which are contributing to overall inflation in the U.S. Prices for medical care and hospital services have seen substantial increases, attributed to renegotiated contracts with insurers and the need to cover the costs of new medical advancements. Economic experts suggest that higher hospital prices will persist due to ongoing labor market disruptions and evolving healthcare needs.

Apple Bets That Its Giant User Base Will Help It Win in AI

May 29, 2024publication

Apple is integrating modern AI features into new releases of iOS 18 and macOS 15, hoping that its large user base will give it a competitive advantage despite these features being less advanced than those of competitors. Additionally, Sonos has introduced long-awaited headphones, the company Humane is seeking a buyer, and Apple has appointed a new diversity chief.

Eric Schmidt: Why America needs an Apollo program for the age of AI

May 29, 2024MIT Technology Review

Eric Schmidt argues that the United States needs a national compute strategy akin to the Apollo program to secure its position in the global race for artificial intelligence. As nations worldwide escalate investments in AI and advanced computing, Schmidt emphasizes the importance of government-led infrastructure, like the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR), to support AI research and development. He contends that only through a combination of dedicated federal AI supercomputers and strategic talent acquisition, including relaxed immigration policies for PhD holders, can America maintain its lead in innovation and national security. Schmidt calls for immediate foundational investments to sustain long-term competitive advantages in AI technology.

New state law to protect entities under cyber attack from class action suits amid Ascension Health hack

May 29, 2024WKRN

Ascension Health announced a ransomware attack detected on May 8, prompting them to halt non-emergency procedures and block online patient records. This follows a broader trend of increased ransomware attacks in the healthcare sector. Despite efforts to secure systems, healthcare entities like Murfreesboro Medical Clinic have faced swift class action lawsuits post-breach. A new state law, now pending the governor's approval, aims to prevent such lawsuits unless gross negligence is involved. Critics argue this could provide undue immunity to negligent organizations. Ascension is collaborating with federal agencies and cybersecurity experts to manage the current attack and restore services.

Why Healthcare Organizations Are Launching Innovation Centers

May 29, 2024healthtechmagazine.net

UC San Diego Health’s Jacobs Center for Health Innovation (JCHI) has been active in enhancing patient care through technology-driven initiatives. Since its launch in 2021, JCHI implemented an AI sepsis prediction algorithm that reduced sepsis deaths by 17% in emergency departments. The center also rolled out an at-home patient monitoring program and is developing a 24/7 command center to improve care coordination. The innovation uses a hybrid cloud infrastructure, mainly relying on AWS but integrating on-premises systems for comprehensive data management. Current projects include leveraging AI for generative tasks and developing an AI-driven Mission Control Center to manage hospital operations, with an anticipated launch of the full operations hub in 2026. This center aims to continuously foster innovation, improve operational efficiency, and enhance patient outcomes across the healthcare system. Health innovation hubs like the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub and the MaineHealth Innovation Center are being developed nationwide to address key healthcare challenges and integrate advanced technologies. Emory's hub has collaborated on projects involving AI, AR, and VR with healthcare and tech companies to improve patient care and staff productivity. Meanwhile, MaineHealth's Innovation Center supports employees’ projects through funding and partnerships, with initiatives including AR training systems and AI-powered diagnostic tools. These centers

Potent youth cybercrime ring made up of 1,000 people, FBI official says

May 29, 2024CyberScoop

A senior FBI official recently disclosed that Scattered Spider, a cybercriminal group implicated in multiple high-profile breaches, consists of approximately 1,000 individuals. At the Sleuthcon conference, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, characterized the group as vast and dispersed, with many members not knowing each other directly. Known also as “0ktapus” or UNC3944 by cybersecurity firms, Scattered Spider has targeted big-name companies like MGM Resorts and Okta. Its members, primarily from the U.S. and the U.K., specialize in social engineering to gain network access and have collaborated with ransomware groups. The group is recognized as a top cybersecurity threat, with parallels to nation-state actors. The FBI has faced criticism for limited arrests but emphasizes ongoing efforts and some private actions. The potent threat from groups like Scattered Spider has spurred calls for more resources and attention to cybercrime, comparable to those for state-aligned cyber operations.

Union Demands Patient Safety Fixes in Ascension Cyber Outage

May 29, 2024bankinfosecurity.com

A recent cyberattack on Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital in Michigan has forced medical staff to revert to manual processes and paper charting, posing significant patient safety risks. The Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 40 has petitioned for immediate safety measures, citing concerns over the lack of electronic health record access. The union's demands include better communication huddles, staff training, regular progress reports, patient-to-nurse ratio limits, and reduced elective procedures to manage safety and care quality. Ascension is actively working with cybersecurity experts to restore operations, while acknowledging the dedication and resilience of healthcare workers during this crisis.

IBM Selling Cloud Security Software to Palo Alto Networks in Broader Cyber Strategy Shift

May 29, 2024The Wall Street Journal

IBM is selling its QRadar cloud-based cybersecurity software to Palo Alto Networks in a strategic move to deepen their partnership and eliminate product overlap. This collaboration aims to enhance both companies' AI-powered security product offerings. IBM will shift focus toward securing generative AI applications and data management. The sale is pending regulatory approval and expected to close by September. Post-transaction, QRadar cloud users will transition to Palo Alto's Cortex XSIAM platform, while on-premise users can retain their current setup. This partnership is projected to significantly boost IBM’s revenue and streamline security solutions for businesses.

Epic releases open-source AI validation tool for health systems

May 28, 2024Fierce Healthcare

Epic has released its first open-source AI validation tool, making it available on GitHub for global use. The software suite allows healthcare organizations to test and monitor AI models within their electronic health record (EHR) systems. This tool, designed to ensure AI equity, can be used to validate models developed by Epic and other organizations. Health systems can evaluate performance and ensure fairness across different patient demographics. Organizations like Duke Health, Mayo Clinic, and Kaiser Permanente plan to utilize this tool for local validation of AI models. Epic aims to expand the tool's capabilities in the future.

Where’s the ROI for AI? CIOs struggle to find it

May 28, 2024CIO

Many Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are struggling to identify and demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Challenges in estimating AI's value, a lack of qualified talent, and uncertainties about the technology's reliability were highlighted in a Gartner survey of over 700 IT leaders. Despite widespread AI adoption—95% of respondents have implemented AI in some form—nearly half express concerns over its tangible business benefits. AI solutions like Microsoft Copilot are often deployed without clear use cases or necessary employee training. Experts recommend establishing specific use cases, metrics, and pilot programs to better gauge AI's effectiveness before full-scale implementation.

OpenAI and Google are launching supercharged AI assistants. Here’s how you can try them out.

May 28, 2024MIT Technology Review

Project Astra is an upcoming AI agent from Google that was demonstrated at Google’s I/O conference and is set to be released later this year. It will be accessible via smartphones, desktop computers, and potentially other devices like smart glasses. The presentation of Project Astra focused on its visual capabilities, contrasting with OpenAI’s GPT-4o, which emphasized audio features. Both companies claim rigorous testing for their models, with Google highlighting comprehensive safety evaluations and OpenAI involving over 70 experts in the testing process. The true measure of these AI models will be their performance when deployed to a broader audience.

How cuddly robots could change dementia care

May 28, 2024MIT Technology Review

The article explores the potential of using cuddly robots in dementia care, focusing on their ability to provide comfort and companionship to patients. It discusses various studies and examples of robots that mimic pet-like behaviors, helping to reduce anxiety and improve well-being among individuals with dementia. The piece examines the benefits and challenges of integrating such technology into caregiving practices, considering both the emotional impact on patients and the practical implications for caregivers and healthcare systems.

Hospital groups urge feds to hold Change accountable for breach notifications

May 28, 2024Becker's Hospital Review

Multiple hospital groups, including the American Medical Association and CHIME, are urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealthcare subsidiary, complies with breach notification protocols following a February cyberattack. In a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the groups called for clarity on how the department will enforce HIPAA-related reporting requirements. They emphasized the need for Change Healthcare to assume full responsibility for breach notifications, relieving affected providers of this obligation. UnitedHealthcare has stated it will notify impacted parties once the nature of the compromised information is confirmed and manage the necessary administrative tasks.

Health Plan Services Firm Notifying 2.4 Million of PHI Theft

May 28, 2024bankinfosecurity

WebTPA, a Texas-based health plan administration services provider, is notifying over 2.4 million individuals about a data breach discovered in December, which had occurred more than a year prior. The breach, involving a network server, compromised personal information such as names, contact details, Social Security numbers, and insurance information, but not financial or medical treatment data. Following the detection, WebTPA initiated security measures, conducted an investigation with third-party cybersecurity experts, and informed federal authorities. The incident highlights the increasing vulnerability of business associates in the healthcare sector to cyberattacks and underscores the importance of robust incident response and breach analysis protocols. Affected individuals are being offered two years of identity and credit monitoring services.

Air-Ground Ambulance Firm Tells 858,000 of Hack 1 Year Ago

May 28, 2024BankInfoSecurity

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service has notified over 858,000 individuals of a data breach that occurred in 2023, where sensitive information was compromised. The company discovered unusual activity in May 2023, and further investigation revealed that between May 15 and May 23, an unauthorized actor had copied certain files containing personal and medical information. The breach impacts names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive data. Superior is now taking steps to notify affected individuals as per HIPAA regulations. Meanwhile, another ambulance service, DocGo, reported a similar cybersecurity incident but has yet to provide detailed disclosures. This highlights the unique challenges faced by mobile medical services in securing sensitive information. Multiple law firms have begun investigating potential claims against Superior related to this breach.

AInsights: At Google I/O, AI Becomes An Extension of All You Do and Create, and Its Going to Change...Everything - Brian Solis

May 24, 2024publication

At Google I/O 2024, Google unveiled several advancements in AI technologies that are set to significantly impact daily tasks and creative processes. Key announcements included the integration of Gemini AI across products, enhanced AI features in Google TV, Maps, Photos, and Gmail, and new AI models such as Veo and Imagen 3 for high-definition video and text-to-image generation. Google Search will incorporate 'AI Overviews' and multimodal search abilities, improving contextual and interactive searches. Project Astra, a prototype AI assistant capable of real-time object and audio recognition, was also introduced. These developments reflect Google's intent to embed AI deeply into its ecosystem, offering substantial productivity and customer experience improvements while redefining the future of AI-assisted tasks and content creation.

Associations Ask OCR for Clarity on Change Healthcare Breach Reporting

May 24, 2024Healthcare Innovation

**Data Breaches Study: Cyberattacks Increased By 136% In One Year** In a recent study, it was reported that cyberattacks saw a dramatic increase of 136% over the past year, highlighting significant vulnerabilities in the health technology sector. The findings stress the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive health data from malicious actors. **Data Breaches Cyberattack on Singing River Health System Impacted 895,000 Individuals** A cyberattack on Singing River Health System has affected approximately 895,000 individuals, exposing personal and medical information. This incident underscores the increasing threat of cyberattacks on healthcare systems and the critical importance of robust data protection protocols.

Can LLMs Provide References for Their Work? An Experiment

May 24, 2024Phil Windley's Technometria

Phil Windley's article "Can LLMs Provide References for Their Work?" explores whether Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can offer valid references. Windley clarifies that LLMs do not inherently generate references as they create text based on a vast corpus of pre-ingested data, not from active research. An experiment on providing references highlighted that while LLMs can generate hyperlinked citations, many can be erroneous or outdated. Windley suggests that interrogating LLMs through follow-up questions may yield better-supported content, akin to consulting a librarian for dependable sources. Despite some success, ensuring accuracy in AI-generated references remains challenging, as emphasized by examples of broken or shallow links.

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