Literature Review

AI-generated draft replies integrated into health records and physicians’ electronic communication JAMA Network; by Ming Tai-Seale, PhD, MPH; Sally L. Baxter, MD, MSc; Florin Vaida, PhD; et al; 4/15/24Objective: To investigate the association between GenAI-drafted replies for patient messages and physician time spent on answering messages and the length of replies.Conclusions and Relevance: In this QI study, GenAI-drafted replies were associated with significantly increased read time, no change in reply time, significantly increased reply length, and some perceived benefits. 

Remote access technologies expose home care firms to cybersecurity vulnerabilities, experts sayMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 4/18/24 Some of the most commonly used technologies in home care are also among the easiest for criminals to exploit. ... Remote access systems include any technology that allows users to connect to and access a computer, server or network remotely. Within home care, this could be tools such as remote patient monitoring devices, secure messaging apps, telehealth platforms, cloud-based applications or systems that allow users to remotely access patient data, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. And while these technologies bring efficiency, they can also expose providers and their patients to risk.

UnitedHealth posts $1.4B loss in Q1 following Change cyberattack Becker's Payer Issues, by Jakob Emerson; 4/16/24 UnitedHealth Group posted a $1.4 billion net loss in the first quarter of 2024 following the sale of its Brazil operations and the unprecedented cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary in late February. Despite the losses, the company beat investor expectations and shares rose more than 6% to above $474, the Wall Street Journal reported. ... To date, the company has provided over $6 billion in advance payments to providers.

VR off a smartphone? Tech breakthrough could allow seniors to do away with clunky headsets McKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 4/11/24 Virtual reality is becoming more and more popular among older adults. Could the next innovation allow them to experience VR from their smartphone? A full-color, three-dimensional display can be generated off of a smartphone screen, according to new research. Such a breakthrough would make it even easier, and cost-effective, for senior living providers to offer VR and augmented reality content for residents or allow for new telehealth opportunities. The technology would involve only a smartphone screen and a second screen called a “spatial light modulator” to create the multi-layered image

AI in palliative and end-of-life care: "How new technology makes us feel is important" Marie Curie, by Dr. Ami Nwosu, Research Lead at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool, UK; 4/11/24... People who require palliative and end of life care require specific physical, emotional, psychological and social needs, which requires holistic assessment and support. Although there are more opportunities to use AI technologies in palliative care, there may be concern from family caregivers that technology may be unable to provide the person-centered, human connection which may be desired when people are at their most vulnerable.

Why home-based healthcare could invite cyberattacks Modern Healthcare, by Diane Eastabrook; 3/29/24 Cybersecurity experts warn that as more healthcare is provided in patients’ homes, the flow of data between those locations, vendors and providers raises the risk for ransomware attacks. In the wake of the Change Healthcare attack, cybersecurity consultants are scrutinizing home-based care — particularly the storage and transfer of data through telehealth, remote patient monitoring and wearable devices. 

Insurers’ response to the Change breach failed providers Modern Healthcare, by Chip Kahn and Dr. Bruce Siegel; 4/8/24 ... The Feb. 21 attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum unit, severed the electronic ties that connect patients, providers and insurance companies. The attack robbed patients of the certainty they could seek and receive care, and it robbed physicians, pharmacists and hospitals of the resources necessary for patient care. ... Overlooked in this crisis, is that insurance companies failed to act decisively and collectively to protect patients and providers. ... Here’s what should have happened immediately when the threat facing patient care became painfully obvious. 

Northwell, Memorial Hermann and others join Aegis consortiumModern Healthcare, by Gabriel Perna; 4/2/24 Nine health systems, including Northwell Health and Memorial Hermann Health, System joined a digital consortium led by startup studio Aegis Ventures. Aegis, which creates, invests and operates digital health companies, said Tuesday the consortium will develop, invest in and deploy digital health solutions. 

How Large Language Models will improve the patient experience MedCity News, by Piotr Orzechowski; 4/4/24 An LLM [Lare Language Model] is a form of artificial intelligence that can generate human-like text and functions as a form of an input – output machine, according to Stanford Medicine. The input is a text prompt, and the output is represented by a text-based response powered by an algorithm that swiftly sifts through and condenses billions of data points into the most probable answer, based on available information. LLMs bring great potential to help the healthcare industry center care around patients’ needs by improving communication, access, and engagement. However, LLMs also present significant challenges associated with privacy and bias that also must be considered.

Telehealth effective in supporting rural caregivers Hospice News, by Jim Parker; 4/3/24Palliative care delivered via telehealth is effective at improving access to caregiver support. Moreover, these services can also be cost-effective, recent research has found. ... “[Technology-enhanced transitional palliative care] is a feasible, low cost and sustainable strategy to enhance [family caregiver] support in rural areas,” researches indicated in the study. “Potential reimbursement mechanisms are available to offset the costs to the health system for providing transitional palliative care to caregivers of patients recently hospitalized.”

9 health systems join digital startup venture with Northwell HealthBecker's Health IT, by Giles Bruces, 4/2/24 Nine health systems are partnering with a venture studio aiming to launch digital health startups. The systems will work with Aegis Ventures, a startup incubator that has built four companies over the past three years with New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health. John Noseworthy, MD, emeritus president and CEO of Rochester, MN-based Mayo Clinic, will serve as chair of the new Digital Consortium. The group says its goal is to develop solutions "built for health systems by health systems." The nine founding members of Aegis Ventures' Digital Consortium are:

Sutter Health Partners with Abridge on generative AI solution to improve patient, physician experienceBusiness Wire Press Release, by Jill O'Brien and Liz Madison; 3/27/24Abridge and Sutter Health announced they will make Abridge’s generative AI platform for clinical documentation available to groups of its physicians across California. ... For physicians and advanced practice clinicians, Abridge generates a draft note in real-time based on the clinical conversation that flows directly into the electronic health record. Once clinicians review and verify the note, their paperwork is complete. 

Disruptions to endure even as Change Healthcare fixes systems Modern Healthcare, by Lauren Berryman; 3/28/24 Providers and health insurance companies see a long road ahead that stretches past whenever UnitedHealth Group declares Change Healthcare is fixed. Full restoration of claims, billing and other processes won't mark the end of the mess that began with a cyberattack last month, which forced UnitedHealth Group to take Change Healthcare systems offline and plunged the healthcare sector into disarray. Healthcare organizations anticipate operational and financial effects even when Change Healthcare is up and running again.