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May 1, 2025·Healthcare IT News

Epic Systems has seen significant growth in the U.S. acute care EHR market, achieving its largest net gain in market share in 2024 despite a slight overall market decline, as indicated in the latest KLAS report. The company secured contracts with ten major health systems, including ChristianaCare and UAB Health, bolstered by a strong reputation for customer partnership. Conversely, Oracle Health, Epic's main competitor, struggled with a net loss of 74 clients despite gaining nine new contracts, as customer loyalty and relationship ratings fell post-Cerner acquisition. However, some customers express cautious optimism about Oracle's new product offerings, including the Clinical AI Agent.

May 1, 2025·WWMT

Ascension has disclosed a security incident affecting patient data at multiple care sites across five states, attributed to an inadvertent disclosure to a former business partner due to a vulnerability in third-party software. Identified on December 5, 2024, the breach potentially involved the theft of sensitive patient information, including personal and clinical details. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Ascension confirmed that its own systems and electronic health records were not compromised. The affected states are Alabama, Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas, with an investigation concluding on January 21 revealing the specifics of the data exposed.

May 1, 2025·AHA

A recent report from the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlines the financial difficulties hospitals and health systems are currently facing, largely due to rising operational costs and workforce shortages that necessitate higher wages. The report notes that inadequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements further exacerbate these financial strains, while practices by Medicare Advantage plans add complexity to the situation. Additionally, potential tariffs on medical imports could increase costs for medical devices, which are often sourced from abroad. AHA President Rick Pollack has called attention to the critical nature of these issues, urging policymakers to take action to preserve access to hospital care and support the sustainability of healthcare providers.

May 1, 2025·CSO

Recent reports from Mandiant and Verizon highlight a notable shift in cyberattack trends in 2024, with stolen credentials and perimeter exploits emerging as prominent methods, while phishing attacks have decreased. Mandiant's data indicates that stolen credentials were involved in 16% of breaches, overtaking phishing at 14%. The report underscores the growing use of infostealers and keyloggers for credential theft and emphasizes the necessity of multifactor authentication (MFA) for protection. Exploited vulnerabilities remain the main form of initial access, now responsible for a third of intrusions, with an increasing focus on zero-day vulnerabilities in security devices. Financial motivations are evident, with 35% of attacks driven by profit, and data theft linked to 37% of incidents.

May 1, 2025·MedCity News

During the symplr Healthcare Operations Summit in Chicago, hospital executives discussed strategies for improving patient care through collaboration and empowerment of frontline staff. They highlighted the necessity of involving all team members in quality improvement efforts and integrating patient perspectives. Omar Hasan from MaineHealth emphasized the importance of teamwork in quality and safety initiatives, while Vi-Anne Antrum from Cone Health noted the need for strong collaboration between nurses and physicians. Additionally, the inclusion of supply chain experts with clinical staff was discussed as a means to enhance operational efficiency and ensure nurses have timely access to essential supplies.

May 1, 2025·LinkedIn

Epic Systems has distinguished itself in the healthcare technology sector by prioritizing a deep understanding of healthcare complexities over rapid innovation. While many startups focus on improving user interfaces and accelerating development, Epic emphasizes the importance of trust, safety, and integration within clinical workflows. A significant aspect of its strategy lies in rigorous employee training on healthcare regulations and electronic health record systems, ensuring that development teams are equipped to meet professionals' needs. Additionally, Epic fosters user engagement through annual meetings where clients can propose and vote on new features, creating a collaborative environment that informs its software development, unlike many tech vendors that rely solely on internal strategies.

May 1, 2025·Health Leaders Media

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have initiated a remote patient monitoring program named BRITE-MOM to enhance cardiac care for expectant mothers. The study will focus on how pregnancy affects heart health, particularly for those with congenital heart disease and pre-eclampsia, utilizing wearable ECG monitors from Vivalink to track participants throughout their pregnancies and for six months postpartum. By gathering data on arrhythmias and cardiac stress, the initiative aims to improve early detection and treatment, addressing a significant gap in knowledge about pregnancy-related cardiac events, with the ultimate goal of reducing maternal mortality linked to cardiac complications.

May 1, 2025·CNN

Michael Scheuer, a former Disney menu production manager, has been sentenced to three years in prison for hacking into the company's servers and altering restaurant menus, which included falsifying allergen information and inserting profane language. He was ordered to pay nearly $690,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to computer fraud and aggravated identity theft. Scheuer’s actions raised concerns about public health and safety, particularly due to manipulated allergen information that could have endangered individuals with allergies. Disney identified and corrected all alterations before they affected restaurant operations, but Scheuer's misconduct also included disabling employee accounts, disrupting the menu creation system, and necessitating the application’s removal for restoration.

Apr 30, 2025·Censinet

The February 2024 ransomware attack on Change Healthcare underscored significant vulnerabilities in the healthcare sector, revealing how connected systems can disrupt care delivery and patient safety. In light of rising cybersecurity threats, organizations are increasingly adopting established frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 to enhance their cybersecurity preparedness. The 2025 Healthcare Cybersecurity Benchmarking Study highlights ongoing gaps in areas like third-party risk management and asset management, stressing the need for improved resilience. Based on a survey of 69 healthcare and payer organizations, the study correlates cybersecurity practices with factors such as insurance premiums, spending, and staffing.

Apr 30, 2025·Cybersecurity Dive

During her keynote address at the RSAC Conference in San Francisco, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem outlined a strategic redirection for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), stressing the need to realign its efforts with its original mission of countering cyber threats. She criticized CISA for diverging from this purpose, particularly as the agency faces staffing challenges amid concerns over job cuts and resignations. Notably, Noem emphasized the rising risks posed by Chinese hackers to small businesses and local governments, advocating for enhanced resilience and secure technology development as part of the Trump administration's cybersecurity strategy.

Apr 30, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

CIOs are reimagining electronic health records (EHRs) to incorporate advanced technologies such as ambient AI for automatic clinical documentation and enhanced user experience through hands-free controls. Dr. Jordan Tannenbaum from Saint Peter’s Healthcare System suggests that AI transcription could save clinicians time but notes the hurdle posed by inadequate data exchange across EHR systems. Steven Travers of Broward Health emphasizes the necessity of robust cybersecurity measures and the integration of wearable devices for real-time health monitoring. Kristin Myers of Northwell Health advocates for smooth AI integration into EHR workflows to augment patient care and clinician efficiency.

Apr 30, 2025·LinkedIn

Healthcare CIOs are navigating a complex landscape of AI vendors, all touting solutions for various challenges in the sector, amid predictions that the AI healthcare market will exceed $504 billion by 2032. As they face a deluge of proposals, CIOs are focusing on ensuring that solutions align with strategic goals and deliver measurable value, particularly in clinical outcomes and operational efficiency. While the promise of AI adoption is high, only 54% of healthcare organizations report achieving a return on investment in the first year. Ambient AI is gaining traction for its potential to ease documentation burdens and improve clinician satisfaction, although many organizations remain cautious in their overall AI implementation strategies.

Apr 30, 2025·Joe Kvedar

Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, reflects on the evolution of value-based reimbursement strategies in U.S. healthcare on the 10th anniversary of "The Internet of Healthy Things." He notes that while there has been some growth in value-based (VB) reimbursement, fee-for-service (FFS) models remain dominant, especially in inpatient care. Kvedar recalls the 2015 goal set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to achieve 90% value-based reimbursements by 2018, which has yet to be realized, particularly in hospital settings. Currently, about 75% of Medicare enrollees participate in some VB program, but progress has stalled, with limited adoption in Medicaid and employer-sponsored plans.

Apr 30, 2025·SecurityWeek

JPMorgan Chase's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has warned organizations about the increasing sophistication of cybersecurity threats, particularly as the RSA Conference approaches. This caution underscores the urgent need for businesses to enhance their security measures amid a landscape of evolving cyber risks, especially in the financial sector, which handles sensitive data. The CISO advocates for collaboration among industry leaders to share best practices and emphasizes the importance of investing in advanced technologies and training for effective threat response.

Apr 30, 2025·healthsystemcio.com

Cyberattacks are posing significant risks to the healthcare sector, prompting information security leaders to adopt the zero trust security model, which requires no user or device to be trusted by default. In a recent webinar by healthsystemCIO, experts emphasized that zero trust should be viewed as a comprehensive architectural shift rather than a mere technical update, necessitating a fundamental change in security mindset and practices. Erik Decker, CISO of Intermountain Healthcare, underscored the need for organizations to rethink their entire security architecture in light of potential adversarial threats, while Greg Garneau from Hospital Sisters Health System pointed out the obsolescence of relying solely on secure network perimeters. The implementation of zero trust in legacy systems is complex, with challenges arising from outdated devices and infrastructures, highlighting the necessity for a strategic, phased approach.

Apr 30, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

Ambience Healthcare and Houston Methodist have partnered to integrate artificial intelligence in emergency departments and inpatient care, aiming to reduce the documentation burden on clinicians. This collaboration addresses challenges like clinician burnout due to extensive documentation, particularly in emergency settings. Ambience's platform offers specialized documentation tailored to various clinical scenarios and incorporates deep clinical coding insights to minimize errors. It seamlessly integrates with the Epic electronic health record system, automating documentation from provider-patient interactions while alleviating workload, enabling clinicians to focus more on patient care.

Apr 29, 2025·AMA

Health leaders are increasingly acknowledging the importance of clear policies and governance frameworks for the integration of augmented intelligence (AI) into healthcare systems. At Atlantic Health System, a focused two-part strategy emphasizes data privacy alongside the evaluation of AI's clinical impact by healthcare professionals. The rise in AI usage among physicians underscores the urgency for effective governance, prompting organizations like the AMA to advocate for the involvement of executive leaders in AI initiatives. Implementing guiding principles and establishing strategic oversight can help healthcare organizations align AI tools with their broader goals and ensure compliance with relevant standards.

Apr 29, 2025·CNBC

A software outage at multiple Community Health Systems (CHS) hospitals, triggered by Oracle engineers deleting critical storage during maintenance, led to a five-day disruption of the Oracle Health electronic health record (EHR) system beginning April 23. Approximately 45 hospitals reverted to paper-based records while CHS activated downtime procedures. The outage was resolved on April 28 without any connection to cyberattacks, and a CHS spokesperson reported that patient care was not materially affected. This incident underscores the importance of EHR systems in healthcare and follows Oracle's acquisition of Cerner, positioning it as a major player in the market.

Apr 29, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

The role of CIOs in healthcare is evolving in response to generative AI, significantly broadening their responsibilities beyond traditional IT management. As noted by various CIOs, including Lynnette Clinton, James Wellman, and Jordan Ruch, generative AI necessitates a shift toward strategic innovation and governance. CIOs are increasingly responsible for integrating AI into clinical workflows and enhancing decision-making processes, positioning themselves as key drivers of digital transformation and innovation in healthcare organizations. This new focus requires identifying effective AI applications while ensuring a measurable return on investment.

Apr 29, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

Henry Ford Innovations (HFI) underscores the crucial involvement of physicians in advancing healthcare innovation, leveraging their expertise to develop effective patient care solutions. Working alongside the Henry Ford Medical Group's 1,900 physicians, HFI prioritizes physician engagement in innovation processes, ensuring new healthcare technologies are validated through real-world experiences. The active participation of physician champions is essential for project success, as demonstrated by a recent AI initiative for cancer pathology that required adjustments based on physician feedback. Notable achievements include Dr. Annmarie Vilkins' development of LaparAssist for improved surgical communication and the use of natural language processing in cancer care documentation, highlighting the significance of physician-driven innovations in addressing health challenges.