The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is implementing a major restructuring plan that includes cutting 20,000 jobs, consolidating its 28 divisions into 15, and reducing its regional offices from ten to five, with an anticipated annual savings of $1.8 billion. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized that the reorganization aims to streamline operations without compromising essential services, with significant layoffs affecting agencies such as the FDA, CDC, NIH, and CMS. Additionally, a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) will be established to centralize key administrative functions.

HHS Unveils Major Restructuring Plan, Cutting 20,000 Jobs to Save $1.8 Billion Healthcare IT News

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has initiated the AI Standards Zero Drafts project to advance the creation of artificial intelligence standards. This initiative, announced during NIST's AI symposium in September 2024, aims to involve a broad range of stakeholders to draft preliminary standards, referred to as "zero drafts." NIST emphasizes the urgent need for effective AI governance standards amidst rapid technological advancements and concerns about fragmentation in regulatory frameworks. The project will run until summer 2025, prioritizing community engagement through topic proposals and ongoing feedback, ultimately leading to comprehensive standards that address diverse AI needs.

NIST Launches AI Standards Initiative to Shape Future Governance NIST

A study from Stanford Medicine, published in *Nature Medicine*, reveals that an AI algorithm can improve the administration of intravenous nutrition for premature infants by predicting their specific nutrient needs. Trained on approximately 80,000 past prescriptions, the algorithm analyzes data from electronic medical records to assist healthcare professionals in the complex and error-prone process of prescribing total parenteral nutrition. The researchers aim to utilize this technology to streamline the prescription process, reduce mistakes, and enhance care for vulnerable infants who depend on these specialized nutritional interventions.

AI Revolutionizes Nutritional Care for Premature Infants, Boosting Outcomes Stanford Medicine

Healthcare innovation in rural America encounters distinct obstacles, as small towns depend heavily on local hospitals and physicians. Critical-access hospitals are investigating technologies such as telehealth and artificial intelligence to enhance care, but these solutions often do not fit rural contexts. Hospital leaders are cautious about new technologies, fearing they could undermine local connections. The balance between adopting innovation and preserving community ties is crucial, and workforce development constraints often limit available resources for technological upgrades. While telehealth can enhance access to specialists, it may also divert patients from local institutions, posing a risk to their viability.

Rural Healthcare Faces Innovation Dilemma Amid Community Connection Challenges HealthLeaders