AI use in health systems lacks formal policies, with AI focusing on easing clinicians' documentation burden and automating functions. Survey shows interest in AI but concerns over data and privacy risks. Systems establish AI governance committees with only 16% having system-wide policy. CCM and KLAS Research surveyed health execs on AI use and risks. Generative AI seen beneficial in improving system efficiencies, enhancing decision visibility, and automating tasks, with 70% looking to integrate AI via EHR vendors.

How Health Systems are Navigating the Complexities of AI ConnectedMed

Lack of substantive action on healthcare issues results in repeat problems such as hospital closures, staff safety concerns, workforce shortages, and cyberattacks. Delayed attention to hospital financial issues often overlooks patient safety and care, with Steward Healthcare's recent financial crisis highlighting this issue. Ongoing violence against healthcare workers reflected by legislation like the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act, shows increased risk and requires deterrent measures. Data gaps weaken responses to persistent healthcare staff shortages, affecting care availability. Lastly, increasing, yet insufficiently addressed, cyber attacks on hospitals pose a growing threat.

Leaders keep kicking the same healthcare cans down the road Beckers Hospital Review

"P" in HIPAA denotes portability, not privacy, allowing health data transfer between providers. Misunderstandings impair recognizing its actual scope. HIPAA devised primarily for providers and insurance companies' operations doesn't cover all assumed aspects. Limited scope covers specific entities and data, not including, for example, a fitness app's information. Originally, HIPAA designed for medical record health data now struggles to match current data exchanging state. Personal data becoming health identifiers has resulted in state-specific laws surpassing HIPAA's coverage to protect wider health data footprint. Washington State's My Health My Data Act shields personal health data beyond HIPAA's scope, including forbid data sales without consent and enabling health data deletion upon request. Law's effectiveness and influence remain unseen.

HIPAA protects health data privacy, but not in the ways most people think Engadget

Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago suffers cyberattack, causing downtime of phone, email, and electronic systems for nearly three weeks. No timeline provided for recovery. Outages persist but hospital continues patient care. Cyber threats against healthcare facilities increasing, despite potential for heightened law enforcement attention. Ransomware groups predicted to continually target critical infrastructure sectors.

Chicago Children’s Hospital Confirms Cyber Threat Activity HealthITSecurity