Todd Shryock is managing editor of Medical Economics.
Health care cybersecurity challenges increase as threats rise
Vast majority of health care organizations are under constant cyber attack
Adults with disabilities face unfair treatment in health care and when applying for benefits
Study shows stark disparities in how adults with disabilities are treated in health care settings
U.S. data breaches hit alarming new highs
Quarterly breaches are down, but for 2023, hackers are having a banner year
AI Roundup: Skynet is hacking your computer, translate your videos into Texas slang, patients trust AI more than you.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing in health care and all facets of business and life. Here are the latest developments:
Powering AI could use as much electricity as a small country
While the health care applications look promising, there are some possibly severe side effects to the environment thanks to AI’s high power consumption
Walmart expands virtual primary care for its employees nationwide
Retail giant is rolling out its virtual care program across the country after a successful test run
Survey shows need for better IT and physician alignment to improve outcomes and reduce burnout
IT leaders acknowledge that physicians are spending too much time dealing with technology issues instead of spending time with patients
Your Medicare patients are probably struggling more than you realize
Report shows that almost 20% of older adults on Medicare are underinsured and sometimes choosing between medical care and rent.
Hospital financials show signs of stabilizing
Increasing August revenue helps boost performance
The future of medicine
What will being a physician look like in the future, and how will health care change?
Most older adults: Cancer screening guidelines are trash
Poll shows majority of older adults are against the idea of incorporating life expectancy into screening guidelines
New COVID vaccine receives mixed response
Republicans are more likely to say they are not getting the vaccine and that it isn’t safe
Costco offering $29 primary care telehealth visits
Warehouse-style retailer is the latest big name to jump into health care
Inflation is up and so is medical debt
Doctor visits are playing a big role in patient debt
Cigna faces second class-action suit over automated claims denials
Suit focuses on Cigna’s use of claims automation software
HHS resumes providing home COVID tests
Biden administration announces $600 million in funding for at-home tests that will be mailed to those requesting them
Federal Reserve declines interest rate hike after latest meeting
Benchmark range stays in the 5.25% - 5.5% range
Want a better workplace culture? Focus on the positive, not what went wrong
Mass General Brigham researchers found that sharing what went right instead of what went wrong can go a long way toward building a better workplace culture
25% of low-income older Americans lack health insurance
Despite the fact that most would be eligible for Medicare, many lack any coverage at all
Next to be replaced by AI: Emergency doctors
Study found AI outperformed doctors in assessing patients and was correct 97% of the time.
First combined MD/artificial intelligence degree program launched
Program aims to train doctors to apply artificial intelligence to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes
Best Buy expands its home care presence
Electronics retailer partnering with health system for chronic care management in the home
Primary care telehealth visits coded lower than in-office visits
Specialists followed a similar pattern of lower coding for telehealth visits
Walgreens expands its push into primary care
Pharmacy chain partnering with Pearl Health to expand value-based care to more primary care physicians
EHRs with poor usability more likely to miss medical errors
Report shows the importance of ease-of-use for physicians
The 10 states with the most medical debt
Residents in these states are facing collections for bad medical debt.
Online AI test outperforms primary care physicians in assessing Parkinson’s disease
AI test offers quick and remote diagnosis that could ultimately help primary care physicians
Primary care physicians that are part of large health systems lead to increased spending and specialist visits
Patients in study had 22.4% higher specialist visits than the control group
Health leaders devoting more money to defend against cyber attacks
Attacks are having an effect on care delivery
One in six patients face collections over medical debt
In some areas of the U.S., 40% of the population has medical debt in collections