2024 healthcare struggles focus on abortion rights, AI in medical care, and healthcare pricing. Abortion rights debate diversifies with states challenging Roe v. Wade via new restrictions mostly surrounding mifepristone, drug used in medical abortions. The generative AI in healthcare accelerates; its impact on patient care and interplay with practice of medicine questioned. Healthcare pricing battles intensify with increasing healthcare costs, doctors selling private practices to equity firms, and inflation on medication prices, whilst political policy changes await upcoming elections.

3 huge healthcare battles being fought in 2024 LinkedIn

Spencer Dorn, a healthcare influencer, discusses the financial struggles of healthcare systems despite appearing greedy. The unprofitability comes from high expenses, operational inefficiencies, and a business model driven by necessity rather than profitability. Comments from other professionals highlight the disconnect between the perception and realities of healthcare economics, varying from issues of monopolisation, the non-profit mandate, and poor leadership. Dorn also discusses the impact of AI on healthcare and its potential to further erode doctors' autonomy. While AI could aid in filtering and analysing data, he warns of its potential misuse by corporations to monitor employees. Dorn emphasizes that despite technological advances, healthcare's greatest challenges are more social than technical.

Spencer Dorn on LinkedIn: Here’s who’s profiting the most in health care | 12 comments LinkedIn

Epic launches Showroom site integrating third-party healthcare tech companies, replacing the previous App Market. The service connects software companies with provider customers, offers staffing support for feature implementation and connects healthcare ecosystem members. Its products section includes the Connection Hub for vendors to list their products integrated with Epic software, Toolbox with recommended integration practices and third-party apps, and Workshop for co-developing technology; all with an annual $500 fee. Epic aims to support standards-based interoperability while addressing provider request for beyond-standard integration. Showroom also includes Open.Epic API tool for app developers.

Epic launches new 'Showroom' website for 3rd-party apps, services Fierce Healthcare

WHO warns that AI-based health care technologies could be hazardous for lower-income nations. Contemporary models that lack data from these underprivileged regions might not serve them properly. WHO's digital health director stresses the importance of avoiding inequality amplification through these technologies. The WHO updated its AI health care guidelines due to quick generative AI development, requiring governments, civil societies, and recipients to participate in its all-round regulation and development. The report later expressed concern about potential industrial capture, as larger firms may monopolize AI research, causing potential loss of academia involvement.

Medical AI could be ‘dangerous’ for poorer nations, WHO warns Nature