Suki, a leading voice AI technology provider for healthcare, has announced an enhancement for Cerner, building on its previous introduction of bi-directional ambient sync for Epic. This latest version of Suki Assistant enables Cerner users to quickly create clinical documentation with increased efficiency. The tool uses ambient note-taking, dictation, and intuitive commands to produce documentation that integrates seamlessly into the system of record, updating relevant sections automatically. With the bi-directional sync feature, users can effortlessly transition between Cerner and Suki to initiate and finalize their documentation. This provides flexibility in their workflow. Additionally, users can now reference essential patient chart…
Author: Abhay Panchal
The global digital health market, which was previously a favorite among venture capital investors, has seen a decline in funding. According to a report by CB Insights, the second quarter of 2023 witnessed the lowest funding level since Q3 2017, amounting to $3.4 billion. The total digital health funding for the first half of the year was $6.9 billion, which is only half of the previous year’s total. The number of deals was also at its lowest since Q2 2015. The U.S. contributed to nearly two-thirds of the digital health funding in Q2, but this was an 80% decrease compared…
Generative AI is making significant strides in the healthcare sector. Rich Birhanzel, Accenture’s global health industry lead, discusses the transformative potential of generative AI in healthcare. Here are the key points: Harmonizing Humans and Machines: The healthcare industry has seen a surge in technological advancements that have doubled life expectancy over the past century. The challenge now is to harmonize the way humans and machines collaborate. The primary concern in global healthcare is patient access due to a shortage of physicians and nurses. Generative AI can help address this by reducing administrative burdens, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on…
Epic and Microsoft have announced an extended collaboration aimed at integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools into Epic’s electronic health records (EHR) system. The partnership aims to swiftly introduce a variety of AI technologies, such as clinical note summarization, medical coding suggestions, and data exploration tools. These tools are designed to address gaps in clinical evidence using real-world data. The primary goal of this expanded collaboration is to expedite the development and deployment of AI tools in the healthcare sector. Eric Boyd, the corporate vice president of AI platform at Microsoft, emphasized the importance of introducing this technology as swiftly…
The American Foregut Society has issued new guidance on best practices for transoral incisionless fundoplication for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. TIF, which reestablishes and augments the gastroesophageal flap valve to restore its function, is a “great option to treat GERD, with an excellent safety profile and high level of patient satisfaction,” said Olaya Brewer Gutierrez, MBBS, the director of endoscopy at Sibley Memorial Hospital, in Washington, D.C., and a lead author of the white paper. TIF and concomitant TIF (cTIF), in which TIF is combined with laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair in patients with a hiatal hernia larger than…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed several coding changes in its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that are crucial for anesthesia leaders, as highlighted in a blog post by Rita Astani, the president of anesthesia for Coronis Health. Key changes include:
Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Over the past two decades, there has been a notable rise in early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) cases, defined as those diagnosed before the age of 50. This increase accounts for about 10% of CRC mortalities. The rise in EO-CRC is alarming and has led to global efforts to understand its trends, diagnostic challenges, and potential future interventions. Several factors, such as Western dietary patterns, smoking, and obesity, have been suggested as potential causes. Additionally, the gut microbiota’s role in influencing obesity, immunity, and inflammation is being explored as…
Proteins, often perceived as static 3D structures, can change their shapes based on biological needs, acting like biological transistors. While AI has previously been used to predict and even generate novel protein structures, a new study in Science has introduced flexibility to these AI-designed proteins. These proteins can stabilize into two distinct forms, similar to a hinge being open or closed, based on an external biological “lock.” Dr. Florian Praetorius from the University of Washington highlighted the potential applications of these dynamic proteins. The proteins were designed using a combination of AI tools, including AlphaFold and Rosetta. The ultimate goal…
Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A concerning rise in early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), defined as diagnosis before the age of 50, has been observed globally over the past two decades. This form of CRC now accounts for about 10% of all CRC deaths. The article delves into the increasing incidence of EO-CRC and its potential causes, including Western dietary patterns, smoking, obesity, and changes in gut microbiota. The delay in diagnosis due to lack of awareness among both patients and providers is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of early recognition. Genetic factors,…
The Core Quality Measures Collaborative (CQMC) has unveiled new core quality measures along with implementation guidelines for specific core sets. These measures, shaped by over 75 healthcare entities, span 10 specialties, with eight of them undergoing updates. The updates encompass patient outcomes measures, evaluating care coordination and transitions quality. Some measures were removed either because they were no longer evidence-based or didn’t significantly boost performance. These alterations will influence clinicians aiming to enhance care quality and might also impact CMS recommendations. Michelle Schreiber from CMS and Danielle A. Lloyd from AHIP emphasized the importance of alignment across federal, state, and…