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.

Empowering Healthcare: Prioritizing Mental Health and Collaboration for 2025 StarBridge Advisors

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.

Telehealth Gains Momentum: Key Extensions Proposed in New Legislation American Telemedicine Association

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.

AI Medical Devices Surge, But Pediatric Testing Lags Behind Boston Children's Hospital

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.

Integris Health's New CIO Aims for Elite IT Transformation Becker's Hospital Review