Module 1: What is AI?Welcome to Intro to AI, a mini course designed to help gastroenterologists gain a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence. Over the next eight modules, we’ll explore the basics of AI, its practical uses, and its transformative potential in medicine and beyond. Through insights from leading experts and curated resources, this series will give you a structured introduction to the evolving landscape of AI. Module One concentrates on the fundamentals—key terms and concepts that will lay the groundwork for understanding the technology behind AI and its applications in healthcare and gastroenterology.
Author: Abhay Panchal
A recent West Health and Gallup poll highlights significant dissatisfaction with U.S. healthcare direction, with 46% of Americans believing the country is heading in the wrong direction regarding healthcare costs and 41% expressing similar views about prescription drug costs. Political affiliation strongly influences these perceptions: nearly 75% of Republicans feel the country is on the right track, while over 80% of Democrats disagree.
In this week’s episode of StartUp Health NOW, Jeff Glueck, CEO & Co-founder of Salvo Health, and Swathi Arulguppe, CEO & Founder of BetterMeal AI, discuss the burgeoning field of gut health innovation. Historically under-supported, conditions like IBS and Crohn’s disease left millions without effective solutions. However, with growing awareness of the gut’s role in overall and mental health, transformative care is emerging.
A recent analysis from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center highlights that nearly half of patients prescribed multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) tests for colorectal cancer (CRC) do not complete them, revealing critical gaps in compliance that disproportionately affect certain populations. The study reviewed 91,664 mt-sDNA orders from 2017 to 2021 and found an overall completion rate of 54.7%, with lower rates among Black patients (38.8%) compared to White (54.1%) and Asian patients (56.9%). Repeat test orders also correlated with decreased completion, dropping to 32% for patients with three or more orders.
This partnership brings tailored nutrition plans, educational programs, and ongoing counseling into comprehensive GI treatment plans. Dr. Geogy Vennikandam, COO of GI Partners of Illinois, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “With Sylvan Health’s expertise, we are poised to offer unparalleled support to our patients through integrated, patient-centered care.” Sylvan Health CEO Rhodes Amaker emphasized the synergy between the two organizations, noting, “This partnership enables us to empower patients with personalized nutrition services that complement their medical treatments and improve their quality of life.”
Latica (formerly Lynx.MD), a leader in medical data intelligence, has announced a strategic partnership with Capital Digestive Care, the largest gastroenterology (GI) practice in the Mid-Atlantic region. This collaboration integrates Capital Digestive Care’s extensive patient data into Latica’s growing GI data ecosystem, which now includes over 10 million patients and 400 million encounters nationwide. Through this partnership, Latica enhances its role as a hub for GI research and innovation, providing de-identified data insights from electronic medical records, clinical notes, and imaging. The collaboration aims to advance clinical research, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate the development of next-generation GI therapies and…
Guardant Health has announced that its Guardant Reveal test, a blood-based assay for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, is now covered by Medicare for monitoring colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence following curative intent treatment. Unlike traditional tumor-informed MRD tests, Guardant Reveal uses a tissue-free approach, leveraging circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via epigenomic analysis. This method addresses the challenge faced by over 12 million U.S. cancer patients lacking available tissue specimens for testing. By integrating this non-invasive test with standard care such as CT scans and CEA testing, clinicians can detect molecular recurrence earlier, guiding therapeutic decisions and improving outcomes.
Oshi Health, the first national multidisciplinary virtual gastroenterology (GI) medical practice, has secured $60 million in Series C funding, with notable support from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) GI Opportunity Fund, and a group of individual physician investors. This renewed investment highlights the growing demand for comprehensive, whole-person GI care and acknowledges Oshi’s success in delivering evidence-based, hybrid virtual and local care models.
Locum tenens work is increasingly popular among healthcare providers, including advanced-practice providers (APPs), due to its flexibility, higher pay, and freedom from administrative burdens. Amanda Berg, PA-C, began taking on locum jobs to pay off student loans but found the promised flexibility elusive as she juggled patient care in clinics with high turnover. Providers like Berg often become de facto primary caregivers for patients without regular doctors, highlighting the challenges of filling gaps in care in understaffed systems.
Exact Sciences reported preliminary 2024 revenue of $2.76 billion (10% YoY growth), driven by strong performance in Screening ($2.1B, +13%) and Precision Oncology ($655M, +4%). The company plans to launch three cancer diagnostics in 2025: Cologuard Plus, an advanced colorectal cancer screening test; Oncodetect, a molecular residual disease test; and Cancerguard, a multi-cancer early detection blood test. With over 18 million patients screened by Cologuard since launch, the FDA-approved Cologuard Plus aims to further improve outcomes with reduced false positives. Exact Sciences’ precision oncology portfolio, including Oncotype DX and OncoExTra, continues to drive innovation in personalized cancer care, positioning the…