Almost weekly, we see headlines about cyber incidents disrupting patient care, compromising patient privacy, or both. The growing interconnectedness of the healthcare ecosystem, combined with heavy reliance on third-party providers, is amplifying the impact of these incidents. This interconnectedness is not only expanding the attack surface but also increasing vulnerabilities across the entire sector, as seen in recent high-profile attacks on UnitedHealth Group's Change Healthcare and Ascension.
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Health IT & Digital Health-Opinion | Op-Eds | Guest Columns | Analysis, Insights - HIT Consultant
Transforming Insurance Verification and Authorizations with AI
Across many healthcare organizations, front-office staff face a significant dilemma: patients seeking help only to be told that their health insurance verification and authorization process could take several days or even months. According to a study by the AMA, more than nine in ten physicians recently surveyed said that prior authorization negatively impacts patient clinical outcomes and, often, leads to treatment abandonment.
This issue mainly arises because current, manual insurance
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Advancing Drug Discovery with Quantum Computing and Supercomputer Tech
McKinsey & Company estimates it takes up to 12 years to introduce a new drug to the market – a lengthy timeline comprised of many factors including technology limitations, regulatory requirements, and patient recruitment and retention. Scientific innovation and clinical trials are increasingly complex, generating more data than ever. Researchers are facing difficulties managing the volume and variety of data, turning to artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced data architecture
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Bioinformatics: Why Life Sciences Must Adopt Open Science
Today's biomedical research can be complex and time-consuming, as researchers grapple with the challenging task of managing and analyzing ever-growing volumes of complex scientific data. Leveraging advanced bioinformatics tools and techniques is crucial for transforming this data into meaningful insights. Standardization and collaboration within the bioinformatics space is the solution enabling researchers to meet the demands of today. Sharing such analyses and findings across the
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The Vital Role of Hybrid Unified Communications in Healthcare Organizations
Hospitals and healthcare clinics are among the most complex technological ecosystems to manage. Staff and patients demand timely, secure, and dependable communication, while administrators often face shrinking budgets and increased regulatory oversight.
Today’s hybrid unified communications (UC) platforms are uniquely positioned to address these challenges. They allow healthcare organizations to optimize their infrastructure and investments while maintaining data security. Modern
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Navigating 2024 Healthcare Challenges: Policy, AI, and the Road Ahead
Now that we’re halfway through 2024, we’ve gained significant insights into the most pressing healthcare issues facing our industry and how they might shape the future. From regulatory hurdles to technological advancements, our sector is at a pivotal juncture, and understanding these dynamics will be crucial for all stakeholders involved.
Here are some of these key challenges and explore the strategies that could help guide us through the rest of the year.
Challenges on the Horizon:
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From TikTok to the Frontline: The Unsung Heroes of Healthcare Strike Management
Last summer, Mireya Bustamante, BSN, RN, had more than 51,000 TikTok followers and 4.4 million likes across her videos when she posted a TikTok about her time as a travel nurse. The 35-second clip showed Ms. Bustamante flying into an unspecified city where staff nurses were striking. In the clip, Ms. Bustamante said, "Strike contracts are a pretty quick turnaround, so you must be ready to go. You also have to be extremely adaptable and flexible."
A quick, seemingly innocuous video that you
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How Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) Can Revitalize Healthcare Teams
The safety and well-being of patients and staff have become one of the main challenges in the healthcare industry, as high-quality patient care depends on variables such as organizational processes, system implementation, accuracy of data insights, and support for health professionals. Studies have shown that these factors significantly influence patient safety and outcomes. The industry has been striving to recognize and address these challenges in recent years by pursuing the Triple Aim (the
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The Evolution of Prenatal Monitoring: How AI and Remote Monitoring Can Improve the Provision of Care
Prenatal monitoring technology has advanced considerably over the last decade. High-resolution sonograms now offer unprecedented clarity, enabling detailed insights into fetal development. Meanwhile, innovations have transformed previously cumbersome and uncomfortable equipment into more portable and user-friendly devices, enhancing accessibility and patient comfort. However, for essential insights into fetal health and development, clinicians still rely primarily on legacy in-clinic systems and
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5 Ways Tech is Enhancing Patient Engagement in Clinical Trials
Patient engagement is critical on several levels. It helps inform updates to trial design and processes, it ensures critical data is collected to determine the safety and efficacy of an investigational product, and it supports patient retention for the duration of the trial. That’s why biopharma sponsors and research sites are leaning into technology to facilitate this engagement. It’s important for physicians and other healthcare professionals to be aware of this technology and how it can
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