Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has renewed the public health emergency declaration for the opioid crisis in the U.S., originally established in 2017, extending it for an additional 90 days to facilitate federal efforts against the epidemic. The declaration allows for expanded authorities that support substance use disorder treatment and research initiatives. Despite a reported 25.5% decline in overdose deaths over the past year, Kennedy reaffirmed the administration's dedication to addressing the crisis as a national security emergency due to its ongoing severity.

HHS Extends Public Health Emergency to Combat Ongoing Opioid Crisis SAMHSA

Cherodeep (Chero) Goswami has been appointed as the new chief information and digital officer for Providence, a healthcare system operating in seven western states, effective May 12. Goswami previously served at the University of Wisconsin Health System, where he led IT strategy and digital initiatives. In his new role, he will manage information systems with a focus on cybersecurity, AI deployment, and digital platform development, aimed at reducing administrative burdens for clinicians and enhancing care for vulnerable populations. Goswami emphasized the importance of combining technology with compassion to improve patient care.

Providence Appoints Chero Goswami as New Chief Information and Digital Officer Providence

Mayo Clinic has launched a new series intended to clarify machine learning (ML) and related technologies for healthcare professionals and patients, using an analogy from "The Wizard of Oz" to illustrate the unveiling of complex systems. The initiative aims to bridge communication gaps among clinicians, patients, and technologists by explaining how ML diverges from traditional artificial intelligence, which relies on explicit programming. The article details the transition to data-driven learning exemplified by Google's AlphaZero, and outlines the three main types of machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, emphasizing their applications in developing diagnostic tools and understanding data patterns.

Mayo Clinic Unveils Series to Simplify Machine Learning for Healthcare Mayo Clinic Platform

A recent study by experts from institutions like MIT and Harvard Medical School highlights the risks associated with artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly the issue of "hallucinations" where AI produces outputs that seem correct but are factually incorrect. The research categorized these errors into four types: factual errors, outdated references, spurious correlations, and incomplete reasoning, each posing specific threats to clinical practice. While some AI models perform well in pattern recognition, they struggle with tasks requiring precise information. This disparity, with error rates reaching up to 25% in data interpretation tasks, raises concerns about the reliability of AI in clinical decision-making and the potential consequences for patient care.

AI in Healthcare: Addressing the Risks of Medical Hallucinations BankInfoSecurity