The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) plans to update its train control system by moving away from the antiquated 5¼-inch floppy disks currently in use, a decision expected to be finalized by 2030. Since its implementation in 1998, the system, which includes both on-board and central components, has relied on these floppy disks for loading essential software, despite having exceeded its intended lifespan. Initial planning for this technological overhaul began in 2018 but was delayed due to COVID-19, with a now anticipated completion towards the end of the next decade. This move aims to mitigate the increasing risks associated with data degradation and the potential for system failure, all while addressing the challenge of maintaining a workforce skilled in outdated technology. The SFMTA is committed to training current staff on the new system and hiring additional specialized personnel, ensuring a seamless transition while enhancing overall system reliability and efficiency.

5.25-inch floppy disks expected to help run San Francisco trains until 2030 Ars Technica

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has taken legal action against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its bulletin on the use of online tracking technologies by HIPAA-covered entities, labeling it as both "substantively and procedurally unlawful." The AHA criticizes the HHS's restrictions on healthcare organizations' ability to use third-party web tracking technologies, which could collect visitors' IP addresses, arguing that such limitations could hinder healthcare providers from disseminating important health information. Despite HHS issuing a revised bulletin in response to legal challenges, the AHA contends that the changes are insufficient and maintain the original bulletin's flaws. The organization, alongside others, has sued HHS to prevent the enforcement of what it views as overreaching regulatory measures that could affect how healthcare entities communicate with their communities.

Hospital group calls HHS' web tracking rules unlawful Beckers Hospital Review

The RansomHub extortion gang has started to release what it claims to be corporate and patient data stolen from United Health's subsidiary, Change Healthcare, escalating a complex extortion scheme following a February cyberattack. This attack, linked to the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware group, disrupted U.S. healthcare billing services severely. Even after the BlackCat group ceased operations amid allegations of an exit scam involving a $22 million ransom from Change Healthcare, the affiliate known as "Notchy" has partnered with RansomHub to demand another ransom. Despite not confirming any ransom payment, Change Healthcare faces a renewed threat as attackers begin leaking sensitive data, including patient information, and threaten to sell it unless their demands are met within five days.

Ransomware gang starts leaking alleged stolen Change Healthcare data BleepingComputer

In a series of LinkedIn posts, Justin Norden, MD, MBA, MPhil, Partner at GSR Ventures and Adjunct Professor at Stanford Medicine, highlights key insights from the Stanford Med216 course on Generative AI and Medicine, emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in healthcare, and calls for a participatory approach to innovation. Dr. John Hennessy's session stressed the rapid pace of AI innovation, which is reshaping the landscape faster than previous technological waves, necessitating swift adaptation in education and regulatory frameworks. The discussion spans the impact of AI on patient care, diagnostic accuracy, and research efficiency, alongside the intellectual curiosity needed to navigate these changes. Norden also shares findings from a digital health VC survey, revealing cautious optimism towards generative AI's influence on investment strategies, with a focus on healthcare data analytics and tech-enabled services. Additionally, insights from healthcare system surveys unveil a critical gap between the perceived potential of generative AI in healthcare and the lack of prepared strategies for its implementation, signaling an urgent need for concise action plans amidst fast-evolving AI capabilities.

Justin Norden, MD, MBA, MPhil on LinkedIn: #genai #lifelonglearning #futureofhealth #ai LinkedIn