A telehealth pilot program led by Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam (MNGI Digestive Health) and Dr. Russ Arjal (WovenX Health) successfully diverted 90% of gastrointestinal-related emergency visits, demonstrating significant cost savings and improved access to care. Conducted in the Seattle/Tacoma area from January to April 2024, the study connected patients with advanced practice providers supervised by board-certified gastroenterologists, with a median wait time of under six minutes.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Novo Nordisk has successfully integrated Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet AI into drafting regulatory drug documents, significantly reducing errors and slashing the process from 15 weeks to under 10 minutes. Previously requiring over 50 writers, the task is now handled by just three, thanks to AI-assisted workflows. The company employs retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to enhance accuracy, ensuring AI-generated content aligns with expert-approved definitions. Despite cost savings—less than a single writer’s salary—Novo Nordisk says it won’t cut staff but will slow hiring. This shift marks an unprecedented acceleration in AI adoption within the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Olivera Finn, an immunology professor at the University of Pittsburgh, is pioneering a vaccine targeting the MUC1 protein to prevent colorectal cancer. The vaccine trains the immune system to recognize MUC1’s altered sugar patterns found in precancerous and cancerous cells, allowing for early immune responses before tumors develop. Early clinical trials showed promising immune activation, and a phase III trial demonstrated a 38% reduction in adenoma recurrence, though not statistically significant. Researchers are refining the vaccine’s timing and countering immune suppression to improve efficacy. Meanwhile, the Human Tumor Atlas Network is mapping molecular changes in colorectal cancer, offering new…
This document is an update to the 2014 recommendations for optimizing the adequacy of bowel cleansing for colonoscopy from the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, which represents the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The US Multi-Society Task Force developed consensus statements and key clinical concepts addressing important aspects of bowel preparation for colonoscopy. The majority of consensus statements focus on individuals at average risk for inadequate bowel preparation. However, statements addressing individuals at risk for inadequate bowel preparation quality are also provided. The quality of a bowel preparation is defined as adequate…
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine is raising both excitement and concern among physicians. AI-driven diagnostic tools have demonstrated remarkable accuracy, sometimes outperforming human doctors, where AI provided quicker and more precise diagnoses than multiple specialists. While AI has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and serve underserved populations, it also challenges the traditional role of physicians. As AI continues to evolve, the medical profession faces a crucial decision: embrace and integrate this technology to enhance patient care or resist a shift that could redefine the future of medicine. Will AI be a tool…
Dr. Peter Senatore, a colorectal surgeon at Inspira Health, highlights the alarming rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) cases among younger individuals, with rates increasing by up to 185% in those aged 20-24. Despite CRC being highly treatable when detected early, 38% of Americans over 45 have never undergone screening, often due to fear, anxiety, or lack of awareness. While colonoscopy remains the gold standard, newer blood-based tests offer a less invasive alternative, though their accuracy is still evolving.
The management of large colorectal polyps has significantly advanced with the rise of endoscopic techniques such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), minimizing the need for surgical intervention. Drs. Moamen Gabr and Jeffrey Mosko highlight the safety, cost-effectiveness, and precision of endoscopic resection, emphasizing that most polyps can be removed endoscopically with low recurrence rates. However, Dr. Ira Leeds, a colorectal surgeon, urges caution, particularly for rectal and cecal lesions, where surgical approaches such as transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) or laparoscopic colectomy may offer advantages in specimen quality, risk stratification, and long-term surveillance. The discussion…
Walgreens has announced a $10 billion deal with private equity firm Sycamore Partners to take the struggling drugstore chain private, ending its nearly century-long run as a public company. The deal, expected to close in Q4 2025, includes an $11.45 per-share cash offer with potential additional payouts, bringing the total transaction value up to $23.7 billion, including debt. Facing significant challenges such as declining retail pharmacy profitability, competition from CVS and Amazon, and a faltering healthcare expansion strategy, Walgreens has been closing stores and restructuring operations.
Accolade, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACCD) has partnered with Oshi Health, a virtual clinic specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, to enhance access to high-quality digestive health care. This partnership, alongside Accolade’s existing collaboration with Cylinder, addresses a critical gap in employer benefit designs, as GI diseases impact up to 70 million Americans annually and contribute to $136 billion in healthcare costs. Oshi’s multidisciplinary team—including GI specialists, dietitians, and psychologists—offers telehealth-based, whole-person care that accelerates diagnosis and improves symptom management, with 92% of patients achieving control within 10 weeks.
The HIMSS 2025 conference in Las Vegas featured major healthcare technology announcements. Epic is expanding beyond EHRs by developing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to compete with Oracle and Workday. Baxter introduced a wearable AI-powered communication device for care teams. Microsoft launched Dragon Copilot, an AI assistant with voice dictation and ambient listening. InterSystems unveiled IntelliCare, an AI-driven EHR designed for digital transformation.