The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a profound transformation within the healthcare sector, revealing an urgent need to modernize and enhance the way care is delivered. Amidst the global crisis, healthcare providers were compelled to swiftly adapt and integrate new technologies, striking a balance between ensuring medical accessibility and adhering to social distancing mandates. This period of accelerated digital adoption has provoked hope regarding the potential of cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies—capable of generating outputs ranging from poetry to complex computer programs with near-human fluency—to revolutionize healthcare.

There’s no room for error in medicine, so while the whimsical errors of generative AI are often harmless in other contexts, they can bear serious implications in a field where stakes are invariably high. So, the question remains – how do we improve nurses’ experiences with technology without invoking further trouble?

The Need for Merger

The healthcare sector continues to face the issue of burnout among workers. The extensive paperwork required for electronic health records (EHR) is notably frustrating, especially for nurses who depend on technology for precise documentation of patient interactions. 

Surveys from Canada in 2022 indicate that nearly 70% of nurses thought about changing their jobs, with more than 40% considering exiting the profession due to various factors, including staffing shortages, salary reductions, and workplace hazards. Additionally, the ageing baby boomer generation is contributing to a demographic shift, increasing the demand for nursing care and heightening the risk of burnout among nurses of all ages.

Conversely, the adoption of technology offers significant opportunities to transform nursing practices. Real-time location services (RTLS) and AI show potential for enhancing the capabilities of existing digital tools like EHR and nurse call systems. Industry specialists suggest that RTLS and AI could address the challenges of handling large patient volumes by simplifying crucial daily operations, thereby organizing, and streamlining patient care. Hospitals that have embraced these technologies report notable improvements, including a 94% increase in task management efficiency and a 31% reduction in response times for services.

Technology Education

Introducing new practices into any healthcare discipline is by no means easy. Disrupting existing standards that work can cause more damage than benefit, hence the need for appropriate training around the new health technologies awaiting integration into the industry. Educational technologies, including simulations and virtual environments, have become indispensable in developing nurses’ competencies, deeply embedding principles of quality and safety into their professional ethos. 

Looking forward, the Future of Nursing Report 2020–2030 envisions a healthcare system supported by nurses proficient in these digital innovations, leveraging them to address social determinants of health and bridge health equity gaps. This shift signifies a broader movement in nursing education toward utilizing technology not only as a teaching tool but as an essential component of modern medical practice, aimed at enhancing patient care efficiency and efficacy.

The Technologies Driving Change

Despite the considerable strides made in recent years, the integration of digital technology within nursing continues to encounter significant hurdles. A persistent issue has been the profession’s struggle to stay abreast of the swift advancements in digital technologies and their profound influence on society at large. This gap has, in turn, constrained the potential advantages these innovations could offer to both nursing practice and patient care. In response to these persistent challenges and in anticipation of future demands, there’s a pressing need for nursing to undergo a comprehensive digital transformation. Below are just a few of the technologies driving this change.

Telehealth Programs

Telehealth programs and digital advancements have drastically reshaped nursing, breaking the barriers of traditional healthcare environments to provide remote monitoring, coaching, and triage for patients, especially those with chronic conditions. Additionally, nursing call systems have become essential in improving communication between healthcare providers and patients. These systems alert staff to urgent patient needs or dangers, like fall risks, enabling swift action to enhance care efficiency in critical moments. Patient data management has now become streamlined through the use of ERHR systems as they offer a unified, easily accessible database that facilitates simple documentation and data exchange among professionals. 

The integration of mobile technology, RTLS, and “smart systems” through EHRs and nurse call systems has led to significant improvements in healthcare delivery, with some hospitals noticing a 94% improvement in overall task volume and 31% reduction in service response time. These technologies, allow nurses to anticipate service provider arrival times, enhancing patient communication and preparation. They also support services like patient transport and meal delivery, streamlining operations and allowing nurses to concentrate on core healthcare needs. Despite the benefits, this shift introduces challenges in policy, ethics, and adaptation, particularly for seasoned nurses unfamiliar with digital tools. Addressing these hurdles requires comprehensive training and support from healthcare systems to ensure nurses are proficient and comfortable with these technologies, ultimately improving their work experience and retaining skilled staff.

Putting it All Together

Nursing leadership at every level is urged to champion and meaningfully invest in the integration of nursing practices with digital health technologies. The imperative to adapt and incorporate digital innovations, from data analytics to virtual care models and the collaborative creation of digital health tools, is undeniable. Notwithstanding is the urgency behind the matter: delay or inaction could significantly set back the nursing profession, compromising its ability to deliver superior patient care in an increasingly digital future.

The current challenges facing nurses worldwide—intense workloads, staff shortages, and skill mismatches—underscore the urgent need for a transformative approach that prioritizes systemic support and technological empowerment. Embracing digital advancements offers a path to alleviating these pressures, enabling nurses to achieve a balance between their well-being and professional responsibilities. 

About Connie Moser

Connie Moser is a serial entrepreneur with several successful exits to her credit and more than 30 years of experience building healthcare information technology organizations. Connie is known industry wide as a true leader who relentlessly pursues growth through realized customer value, all while building loyal teams that routinely follow her to new opportunities. Connie’s success is data-driven, accomplished through validated growth metrics gained via strategic acquisitions, effective sales bundles, and business process streamlining through automation. As the Chief Executive of Navenio, a UK-based technology company focused on logistical intelligence in healthcare, she is validating her leadership skill with successful revenue transactions as she did as the CEO of Verge Health (now RLDatix) and building a strong presence in the US and global healthcare market. Team empowerment and mentoring younger employees has been a constant throughout her lengthy career and a source of deep satisfaction. Her mentorship extends to her work as a long-time board member of her alma mater Ripon College since 2013.   

– Enable Injections, Inc. (“Enable”), a leader in wearable drug delivery technology, today announced an expanded partnership with Roche. 

– The collaboration leverages Enable’s expertise in the enFuse® platform to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative treatment options.

EnFuse Technology: Revolutionizing Drug Delivery

The enFuse platform is a groundbreaking wearable device designed for:

• Subcutaneous Delivery of Large Volumes: Unlike traditional methods, enFuse delivers large volumes of medication subcutaneously, eliminating the need for intravenous (IV) administration.
• Simplified Treatment Experience: enFuse offers a simpler and potentially more comfortable injection experience for patients compared to IV treatments.

Roche Gains Exclusive Rights to Combine enFuse with Specific Molecules

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche receives a worldwide, exclusive license to develop and commercialize combinations of the enFuse technology with specific drugs from their portfolio. Enable will take responsibility for the clinical and commercial manufacturing and supply of the enFuse system.

“IV infusions can be inconvenient and time-consuming for both patients and providers. This is especially true when treating chronic disorders, which require longer-term treatment and frequent trips to the clinic,” said Mike Hooven, Chairman and CEO of Enable Injections. “enFuse was designed to overcome IV infusion shortcomings through fast, simple and convenient delivery, bringing efficiency and value to the entire spectrum of healthcare, including patients, providers, and payers, with the ability for at home self-administration.”

What You Should Know:

–       Ciba Health, a cutting-edge digital health company simplifying healthcare with a personalized, whole person-care approach to prevent and reverse chronic diseases through root-cause treatment, today announced rapid growth and an expansion to its leadership team on the heels of its $10M Series A funding.

–       Ciba Health raised an oversubscribed $10M Series A funding round led by DigiTx Partners, with participation from E12 Ventures, 3CC Capital, Plug and Play Ventures and angel investors. 

Ciba Health Elevates Leadership Team to Drive Innovation in Whole Person-Care Revolution

Ciba Health, a pioneer in whole person-care disrupting traditional healthcare with a root-cause approach, has announced key appointments to its leadership team. Nwamaka Imasogie, formerly a Principal Software Engineer on the healthcare AI team at Microsoft, joins as Chief Technology Officer, while Roger Chahine has been promoted from Chief Strategy and Operating Officer to President. Imasogie and Chahine bring with them extensive technology and healthcare expertise, fortifying Ciba Health’s position as an industry leader.

The company’s innovative approach combines expert care teams, advanced lab testing, and a root-cause methodology to revolutionize the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and digestive health issues. With a focus on accelerating product development and scaling operations to meet burgeoning market demand, Ciba Health bridges gaps between primary providers and specialists to deliver personalized, comprehensive care programs. Its onboarding process, including a thorough questionnaire and extensive clinical tests identifying over 300 lab markers, surpasses traditional methods by a significant margin.

Ciba Health’s services extend to both employer-based benefits and individual adults and dependents, currently serving over 97,000 individuals with an impressive provider retention rate of 98%. Since its inception in 2020, the company has experienced remarkable growth, boasting a 100% revenue increase year over year and a 300% surge in platform patients.

Imasogie, previously Chief Technology Officer at an AI medical software company, brings a track record of rapid product development to her new role, where she will drive scalability through algorithmic implementation and streamlined processes. Chahine, with experience as a Founding Partner at Day223 Ventures, will lead business development efforts and international expansion as President of Ciba Health.

Recent initiatives include the launch of a Pediatric Metabolic Program in March, catering to children aged five and older, and strategic partnerships with Instacart Health and Solera Health to enhance nutrition services and expand employer offerings. Ciba Health plans to further revolutionize the digital health sector by fostering high-touch, technology-driven solutions and expanding collaborations with third-party administrators and health plans.

“We are thrilled to have secured this investment from such a respected group of investors,” said Dr. Innocent Clement, CEO of Ciba Health. “Their support validates our vision and commitment to creating a healthcare system with no gaps, so patients and their providers have all the information needed to treat and reverse chronic diseases with a more holistic approach. We will leverage this funding to drive the growth of our platform and make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients worldwide through a root-cause medicinal approach.”

What You Should Know:

–              Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) with OncoHealth®, the leading platform for managing the cost and complexity of cancer, will provide supportive cancer care services to GHP’s more than 550,000 members.

–              GHP will implement OncoHealth’s market-leading software and services platform, which combines oncology value management services with virtual cancer care to be sure people with cancer get the most appropriate treatment and support throughout the duration of their treatment. Services include 24/7 oncology nursing, mental health, nutrition, and resource navigation.

Empowering Oncology Care: OncoHealth’s Innovative Solution for GHP Members

OncoHealth’s specialized oncology value management solution, fully delegated, leverages the company’s oncology expertise to collaborate with providers and align with GHP’s policies. This collaboration aims to ensure optimal treatment for GHP members, encompassing both medical and pharmacy anticancer drugs as well as radiation oncology services. As an integral component of this solution, GHP gains access to OncoHealth’s real-time dashboards, utilizing both the health plan’s data and OncoHealth’s proprietary benchmarking data. These dashboards enable the identification of trends and the development of proactive policies to effectively manage oncology drug spending while maintaining high-quality member care.

With over a decade of experience, OncoHealth has been a leading provider of comprehensive cancer support solutions, earning trust from 18 health plans nationwide and serving 12 million members. GHP’s implementation of OncoHealth is scheduled to commence in May 2024.

“Our goal is to prioritize the needs of our members going through treatment,” said Jamie Miller, associate vice president of pharmacy at GHP. “They have received a life-threatening diagnosis, and the last thing we want is to make that treatment harder than it should be. With the help of OncoHealth, we’re able to create a more collaborative process so we can work closely with our providers and health system to make sure members receive the white-glove care they deserve.”

What You Should Know: 

– Vivalink, a frontrunner in digital healthcare solutions, today announced the launch of a comprehensive technology solution for Mobile Cardiac Telemetry (MCT) and Holter monitoring. 

– The innovative offering addresses the rising demand for efficient ambulatory ECG monitoring, streamlining deployment and enhancing patient care.

Efficiency with a Unified Approach

Vivalink’s solution integrates Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technologies and advanced arrhythmia detection algorithms. This unification offers significant advantages:

• Simplified Deployment: Partners can leverage a single solution for both MCT and Holter monitoring, reducing complexity and cost.
• Enhanced Patient Care: Streamlined workflows ensure faster diagnosis and treatment for patients with cardiac concerns.

Designed for Enhanced Patient Care

The solution boasts a range of features designed to optimize the ambulatory cardiac monitoring experience:

• Long-lasting Convenience: A reusable ECG patch with a 14-day rechargeable battery and 30-day data storage capacity minimizes patient burden.
• Seamless Data Transmission: A mobile gateway integrated with a patient app facilitates effortless data transmission and keeps patients engaged in their monitoring process.
• Advanced Arrhythmia Detection: The solution can identify over 15 common arrhythmias and ectopic beats, empowering clinicians with crucial insights.
• Clinician-Centric Design: A dedicated clinician portal allows for over-reading, annotation, and generation of customized final ECG reports tailored to specific needs.

“Bringing together cutting-edge technology and medical expertise, Vivalink’s turnkey technology solution is changing the landscape of ambulatory cardiac monitoring,” said Jiang Li, CEO of Vivalink. “Our integrated solution simplifies the deployment of remote cardiac monitoring services, offering a seamless implementation for our partners.”

What You Should Know; 

– Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) today announced the launch of BMF Biotechnology Inc., a dedicated subsidiary focused on developing and commercializing innovative BioChips – advanced microfluidic platforms that mimic human organs. 

– By leveraging BioChip technology, BMF Biotechnology aims to accelerate breakthroughs in drug development, improve cosmetic safety and efficacy testing, and ultimately, contribute to the development of more effective treatments for patients.

BMF: A Legacy of Precision Microfabrication

BMF has established itself as a leader in high-precision micro-printing solutions for various industries, including medical devices, electronics, and life sciences. Their expertise in creating features with exceptional resolution and dimensional tolerance is a cornerstone of their success.

Expanding Beyond Printing: The Rise of BMF Biotechnology

In late 2022, BMF embarked on a strategic expansion. This initiative included the establishment of the San Diego Research Institute, dedicated to pioneering microfluidic BioChip technology for drug discovery and cosmetic testing. The initial phase of research has yielded highly promising results.

BioChips: A Powerful Platform for Advanced Research

BMF Biotechnology’s BioChips offer a revolutionary approach to studying human health and disease. By meticulously replicating the body’s physiological conditions, these platforms enable researchers to:

• Investigate biological mechanisms of health and disease
• Evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs and cosmetics
• Predict patient responses to treatment

A key advantage of BioChips is their integrated “vascular-mimetic” network. This intricate system mimics the human body’s blood vessels, allowing for the delivery of nutrients, removal of waste products, and distribution of compounds throughout the entire tissue sample. This innovation has the potential to yield:

• More precise testing results
• Enhanced prediction of compound sensitivity compared to traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models

BMF Biotechnology Partner Program: Fostering Collaboration and Innovation

To fully unlock the potential of BioChips, BMF Biotechnology is actively recruiting collaboration partners. The BMF Biotechnology Partner Program provides a framework for joint development and validation of innovative devices and biological models. Industry, research institutions, and academia are all encouraged to reach out and explore potential partnerships.

“Building on success that BMF has had with other self-driven innovations such as the UltraThineer veneers, the launch of BMF Biotechnology Inc. represents a significant leap forward in our ability to harness the potential of 3D BioChip technology,” remarked Dr. Jennifer Sun, Chief Scientific Officer of BMF Biotechnology Inc. “With our innovative technology and approach, we aim to empower researchers with the tools they need to translate scientific discoveries into tangible therapeutic solutions that improve patient outcomes.”

What You Should Know: 

– Blue Earth Diagnostics, a Bracco company and leader in innovative PET radiopharmaceuticals, announced a data-sharing agreement with Siemens Healthineers. 

– This collaboration focuses on anonymized data from Blue Earth’s Phase 3 LIGHTHOUSE trial of POSLUMA® (flotufolastat F 18) injection, used for imaging prostate cancer.

Optimizing AI for Improved Prostate Cancer Detection

Siemens Healthineers will leverage the anonymized clinical data and images from the LIGHTHOUSE trial to enhance its AI-powered analytics for prostate cancer. This will lead to:

• More Precise Image Quantification: AI algorithms will be refined to provide more accurate measurement of prostate cancer lesions detected by POSLUMA PET scans.
• Enhanced Image Interpretation: Advanced AI tools will be developed to assist healthcare professionals in interpreting PET scans, potentially leading to earlier and more precise diagnoses.

About POSLUMA®

POSLUMA, previously known as 18F-rhPSMA-7.3, is a recently approved radiopharmaceutical for PET imaging of prostate cancer. It targets the Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA), a protein often overexpressed by prostate cancer cells. This targeted approach allows for more effective detection of prostate cancer compared to traditional imaging methods.

Details of the LIGHTHOUSE Trial

The LIGHTHOUSE trial was a large-scale clinical study involving over 350 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. It evaluated the safety and effectiveness of POSLUMA PET imaging in identifying prostate cancer lesions.

Blue Earth Diagnostics: A Leader in rhPSMA Technology

Blue Earth Diagnostics holds exclusive worldwide rights to the radiohybrid Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (rhPSMA) diagnostic imaging technology. This technology has the potential to revolutionize prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“Blue Earth Diagnostics is committed to helping men with prostate cancer across the care continuum, and we recognize the importance of AI in advancing healthcare,” said David Gauden, D.Phil., Chief Executive Officer, Blue Earth Diagnostics. “AI-based algorithms have the potential to streamline the PET/CT analytical workflow for hospitals and imaging centers by efficiently providing physicians with information critical to patient management and care. Blue Earth Diagnostics has a long-standing relationship with Siemens Healthineers, a leading medical technology company pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare.”

What You Should Know: 

– CentralReach, the leading provider of Autism and IDD Care Software for ABA and multidisciplinary organizations, unveiled CR ClaimCheckAI, an artificial intelligence solution designed to streamline and revolutionize the claims process.

– With the launch of CR ClaimCheckAI, CentralReach continues its mission to empower healthcare providers with powerful, user-friendly tools that seamlessly integrate into daily workflows. 

Transforming Accuracy, Compliance, and Speed

CR ClaimCheckAI stands out as the industry’s first fully-integrated, proprietary AI solution for claims management. It empowers providers with:

• Enhanced Accuracy: Automatic analysis of claims against payer rules and comprehensive compliance checks minimize errors and denials.
• Improved Speed: Submission times are accelerated by automatically fixing common issues like mismatched names, locations, and service times.
• Boosted Compliance: Pre-submission quarantining of non-compliant claims allows for corrections before submission, reducing audit risk.

Optimizing the Entire Workflow

Unlike third-party solutions, CR ClaimCheckAI seamlessly integrates within the CentralReach platform, eliminating the need for:

• Logging into separate systems
• Transferring files
• Performing cumbersome manual tasks

This streamlined approach empowers providers to:

• Reduce Administrative Burden: Automatic error correction frees up valuable staff time for patient care.
• Increase Clean Claim Rates: Fewer errors lead to faster reimbursements and improved cash flow.
• Minimize Audit Risk: Proactive compliance checks ensure claims meet regulatory standards.

A Significant Leap Forward

Traditionally, many autism and IDD care providers struggled with limited resources for claims review. Manual checks often covered only 5-10% of claims, leaving a significant portion vulnerable to errors and delays.

CR ClaimCheckAI addresses this challenge by:

• Automating Comprehensive Reviews: AI analyzes every claim in seconds, a task requiring multiple full-time staff members traditionally.
• Prioritizing Accuracy: Complete claim reviews ensure all submissions meet payer and regulatory requirements.

High Demand for Groundbreaking Solution

Due to the immense demand for CR ClaimCheckAI, access is currently waitlisted. Providers are encouraged to sign up today to secure their spot.

“With increasing compliance mandates and payer scrutiny, improving claims performance is top of mind for all providers in the Autism and IDD Care market. Current solutions like ad hoc manual checks or  the use of clunky, disconnected 3^rd party tools do not enable providers to materially improve performance without significant manual processing that they can ill afford to do. CR ClaimCheckAI solves these issues and represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to leveraging technology to improve healthcare administration,” said Chris Sullens, CEO of CentralReach. “By fixing a multitude of issues automatically and embedding the quarantine process within a provider’s current workflow, CR ClaimCheckAI will greatly enhance clean claims rates from the outset, accelerate reimbursements, and reduce operational burdens, that will in turn allow providers to scale their services faster and more effectively. It’s the first step toward our vision of creating the only fully integrated real time clean claims workflow in the industry, so stay tuned for more enhancements in the coming year.”  

In the evolving landscape of the healthcare industry, technology advancements play a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and helping reduce the workload on overburdened staff. Despite significant progress in interoperability, traditional methods, such as faxing, continue to be a cornerstone of document exchange in healthcare organizations. However, the industry is now turning to Intelligent Document Capture and automated data extraction solutions to propel healthcare workflows into the next generation.

Next Generation Faxing enables Data Extraction

While faxing may seem like a relic of the past, it has evolved to accommodate the demands of the digital era. Many healthcare organizations still rely on faxing due to its trusted security and the familiarity it offers to healthcare professionals. However, as the industry struggles to connect to the myriad of interoperability standards, there is a growing need for next generation faxing functionality.

Secure cloud faxing has emerged as a game-changer in the quest to modernize healthcare workflows. This technology goes beyond the traditional fax machine by leveraging faxing in the cloud, converting analog faxes into a secure exchange network.  Moving to a digital document delivery system, also enables new capabilities that are not available to those on an analog (or POTS) fax line, such as OCR and data extraction.

Improving Efficiency, Accuracy, and Interoperability 

One of the primary benefits of automated data extraction solutions in healthcare is the significant improvement in efficiency and accuracy.  With digital faxes over the cloud, it is easy to convert handwritten or printed text from faxed documents into machine-readable data. This capability not only streamlines data entry processes but also opens the door to a myriad of possibilities for data interpretation and integration.  

By extracting data from faxed documents, healthcare professionals can minimize manual data entry errors and reduce the time spent on administrative tasks. This newfound efficiency allows both clinical and clerical staff to redirect their focus towards value-added tasks and patient care, improving overall healthcare delivery.

The seamless integration of extracted data extracted into Electronic Health Records (EHR) is a significant step towards achieving comprehensive interoperability in healthcare. By populating EHR systems with accurate and contextually rich data, healthcare providers can access a more complete and up-to-date patient history. This integration facilitates improved care coordination, reduces errors, and enhances overall patient outcomes. 

Considerations When Evaluating Solutions 

Despite the promising advantages of secure cloud and digital faxing, challenges such as data security and regulatory compliance still exist. Data extraction processes must also adhere to standardized formats, ensuring compatibility and coherence in information exchange.  

Healthcare organizations must carefully evaluate and implement solutions that align with industry standards and regulations to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of patient information. The ideal solution should also have the scalability and adaptability required to accommodate future regulatory shifts. Most importantly, healthcare organizations should ask their cloud fax providers for third-party attestations of compliance – it is the only way to ensure privacy of your patients’ PHI. 

Overall, in the relentless pursuit of advancing healthcare, secure cloud faxing and data extraction solutions stand out as transformative technologies. By harnessing the power of these solutions, healthcare organizations can move beyond the limitations of traditional faxing, ushering in an era of enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and data-driven decision-making. As the industry continues to embrace innovation, the integration of digital faxing into healthcare workflows is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of patient care.

About Ben Manning

As Director of Product Management at etherFAX, Ben Manning helps to guide the mission and vision of etherFAX by aligning the product roadmap to the long-term strategy. Ben has a proven track record of driving profitable growth for products and services across healthcare IT, pharmaceutical market research, and HR consulting firms. Previously, Ben was Vice President of Product Management at Vyne.

What You Should Know: 

– Keith Jones has been appointed as the permanent chief information officer (CIO) at Cone Health after serving in an interim capacity since September. With over a decade of experience at Cone Health, Jones has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives to align with the organization’s strategic goals and enhance healthcare experiences.

– During his tenure, Jones played a pivotal role in developing Cone Health’s initial strategy for data warehousing, business intelligence, and analytics. He successfully led the implementation of Cone Health’s enterprise data warehouse framework and established an enterprise analytics function, laying the foundation for data-driven decision-making across the system.

Keith Jones Bio/Background

Jones’s expertise extends to digital health incubation and transformation, driving innovation aimed at improving patient care, provider experiences, and overall operational efficiency within Cone Health. He is known for his passionate advocacy for a metrics-driven approach, which has contributed to Cone Health’s leadership position in value-based care delivery.

Before joining Cone Health, Jones held key positions, including director of business intelligence at Europa Sports Products and director of information technology at Inmar Enterprises. He holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Pfeiffer University and a bachelor’s degree in information systems/operations management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

What You Should Know: 

– Paytient, the leading innovator in health plan affordability solutions, today announced the appointment of Joe Gabler as its Chief Growth Officer (CGO). 

– Mr. Gabler brings nearly two decades of experience in building successful companies and pioneering healthcare consumer payment solutions. He will play a pivotal role in driving Paytient’s expansion as the company forges strategic partnerships with leading employers, payers, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).

A Proven Track Record of Success

Mr. Gabler boasts an impressive career trajectory. He spent the first 13 years at SPS Commerce (SPSC), contributing to its transformation from a fledgling business into a powerhouse with a successful IPO and multi-billion dollar market valuation. During his tenure, he held diverse leadership positions encompassing operations, strategy, and growth management.

For the past six years, Mr. Gabler has focused on revolutionizing the healthcare benefits landscape. At Solutran (acquired by Optum), he spearheaded innovative consumer payment strategies. His leadership resulted in the creation of a market-leading payment network serving over half of the Medicare Advantage market, processing billions of dollars in annual consumer benefit payments.

Scaling Partnerships to Expand Healthcare Access

Paytient is a trusted partner to over 5,000 enterprise partners, impacting the lives of nearly 25 million individuals. With Joe Gabler at the helm of growth initiatives, Paytient aims to further scale its partnerships. This includes building relationships with mid-market employers, large commercial groups, prominent payers, and Medicare plan sponsors. The ultimate goal: making healthcare more accessible and affordable for millions more Americans in the coming years.

“The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan in 2025 means that smoothing out-of-pocket costs over time is becoming a standard of care for healthcare in the United States. Paytient is well positioned to serve as the leading platform giving Americans a better ability to access and afford care,” said Brian Whorley, Founder and CEO of Paytient. “As we prepare for the growth this will bring, Joe’s proven ability to scale teams and operations with winning cultures is a fantastic and critical addition to our leadership team.” 

What You Should Know: 

– Rad AI, a leader in generative AI for healthcare, announced today it has raised $50M in Series B financing, bridging its total capital raised to over $80M. 

– The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from prominent investors including WiL (World Innovation Lab), ARTIS Ventures, OCV Partners, Kickstart Fund, and Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI-focused fund).

Revolutionizing Radiology Reporting

Rad AI’s solutions are already making waves in the healthcare industry. Used by over a third of US health systems and 9 of the 10 largest radiology practices, their technology saves physicians significant time and improves patient care.

Pioneering generative AI in healthcare since 2018, Rad AI automates report generation, allowing radiologists to customize reports with their own language and style. This frees them from the burden of dictation, a task that consumes 75% of their time, often for reports on over 100 patients daily.

Leading the Way in AI-powered Reporting

Today, Rad AI offers cutting-edge solutions like Rad AI Reporting, the industry’s leading AI-powered tool for radiology reporting workflow. Additionally, Rad AI Continuity simplifies patient follow-up, with adoption by many of the nation’s largest health systems. Combined, these solutions positively impact nearly 50 million patients annually.

Reduced Burnout, Improved Care

Rad AI’s AI models take over repetitive tasks like dictation and follow-up management. This frees up valuable time for physicians, reduces burnout, and allows them to focus on what matters most – providing exceptional patient care. Hospitals using Rad AI’s solutions have seen:

• A dramatic increase (from 30% to over 85%) in patient follow-up rates for critical findings, ensuring timely diagnoses and treatment, especially for new cancers.
• Doubled report creation speed, often with a 90% reduction in dictated words, leading to less fatigue and burnout for radiologists.
• A near 50% reduction in report errors for complex cases, ultimately improving the quality of care provided.

“At Rad AI, we’ve built the most widely adopted generative AI solutions in healthcare, saving physicians time and improving patient care. Rad AI has become a mission-critical part of health system workflows over the past five years. This strategic funding round further cements our position as the leading AI-driven workflow platform in healthcare.”-Doktor Gurson, co-founder and CEO of Rad AI

What You Should: 

– Blackwell Security, a leading provider of specialized cybersecurity solutions designed for the healthcare industry raises $13M in funding co-led by General Catalyst and Rally Ventures.

– The funding will be strategically directed towards two key areas. Firstly, it will fuel the expansion of Blackwell’s Managed Healthcare Extended Detection and Response (MHXDR) offering. This purpose-built solution addresses the unique complexities of healthcare data security and patient care defense.

Addressing Healthcare’s Urgent Cybersecurity Needs

The ever-evolving threat landscape and growing regulatory pressure have made robust cybersecurity initiatives paramount for healthcare organizations. However, a lack of resources often hinders their ability to effectively safeguard patient data. Blackwell’s MHXDR solution is specifically designed to address these challenges.

HIPAA-Compliant Security for Patient Data

Blackwell’s MHXDR offering prioritizes HIPAA compliance, ensuring healthcare delivery and assurance settings benefit from enhanced security operations. This solution goes beyond traditional methods by significantly reducing the burden of security alerts for analysts. Instead, it focuses on accurately identifying and prioritizing genuine threats to patient data and healthcare delivery systems.

Expansion of Capabilities and Early Adopter Program

The funding will also support the development and expansion of Blackwell’s offerings within the US market. This includes further refining features like healthcare threat intelligence and automated response functionalities. Blackwell is inviting early adopters to experience the power of MHXDR.

Collaboration for Continuous Improvement

Blackwell actively collaborates with design partners, including health systems and General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Network. Through this collaboration, they refine healthcare threat detection and response processes. This ongoing partnership fosters continuous improvement of Blackwell’s MHXDR solution, ultimately increasing access to high-quality cybersecurity for healthcare providers and strengthening the overall security posture of the healthcare industry.

Blackwell Welcomes New CEO, Geyer Jones

As part of this growth trajectory, Blackwell Security has appointed cybersecurity expert and business leader Geyer Jones as its first Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Jones brings a wealth of experience in scaling operations, driving business growth, and executing successful go-to-market strategies. His impressive background includes leadership positions such as Chief Operating Officer at Cylera, a healthcare IoT cybersecurity company, and Chief Strategy Officer at RSA. Mr. Jones joins a seasoned team led by President and COO Jaclyn Miller and CIO Jason Lee. Together, they offer decades of combined expertise and a deep understanding of the healthcare sector’s specific security needs.

“It's a privilege to join Blackwell Security and collaborate with General Catalyst and Rally Ventures in tackling the significant challenges of healthcare cybersecurity,” said Jones. “From navigating intricate regulations, to managing vendor risks and integrating legacy systems, our path ahead is clear but challenging. Blackwell's acknowledgment of these realities highlights the importance of our innovative Pulse platform, crafted by Jaclyn, Jason, and their teams. Together, alongside our healthcare practitioners, we’re able to confront these issues head-on. I eagerly anticipate leading Blackwell through its next phase of growth, ensuring continued innovation and the safeguarding of healthcare cybersecurity.”

What You Should Know: 

– BrightInsight, Inc., a provider of compliant digital health solutions, today announced its collaboration with Google Cloud to leverage cutting-edge generative AI (gen AI) technology. 

– The enhanced partnership aims to optimize BrightInsight’s research and development efforts and significantly enhance its Disease Management Solution for both patients and healthcare providers.

Addressing Challenges in the Patient Journey

Across various therapeutic areas, patients often face hurdles throughout their treatment journey. These challenges include navigating access and financial barriers, transitioning between treatment options, managing complex treatment schedules, and tracking symptoms and treatment effectiveness.

Improving Patient Education and Support with AI

BrightInsight is tackling these challenges head-on by integrating Google Cloud’s Gemini and MedLM gen AI models within its Disease Management Solution. This integration offers several key benefits:

• AI-powered Chatbot: A chatbot powered by Gemini provides patients with improved access to approved educational content. Patients can receive immediate answers to their questions by leveraging a vast library of clinically validated information, eliminating the need to search through multiple documents.
• Enhanced Patient Support: The chatbot also serves as a first-line support system, offering quick and specific answers to patient inquiries regarding app usage.

Optimizing BrightInsight’s Internal Operations

BrightInsight is also utilizing Gemini Code Assist to streamline its internal R&D processes in three ways:

• Developing and Operating Google Cloud Components: Gemini Code Assist helps BrightInsight’s development team work more efficiently when building and managing Google Cloud components.
• Improved Troubleshooting: The technology assists in troubleshooting issues more effectively, saving valuable time and resources.
• Enhanced Analytics and Insights: By leveraging gen AI, BrightInsight can generate more insightful data analytics for its customers.

Leveraging MedLM for Improved Patient Data Management

Furthermore, BrightInsight is utilizing MedLM to summarize, analyze, and make patient data from companion apps more usable for clinicians. This allows for more impactful and data-driven conversations between patients and providers. For example, healthcare professionals can quickly identify missed medication doses or abnormal readings, enabling them to have focused discussions with their patients.

Prioritizing Security and Compliance

As BrightInsight advances its gen AI-based solutions, the company remains steadfastly committed to responsible implementation. Their platform and Disease Management Solution adhere to the highest security, privacy, and compliance standards, achieving certifications against global regulations. The integration of AI will follow the same rigorous approach, ensuring patient data protection.

“We have invested a lot in building best-in-class technology and hiring top engineering talent,” said Ashish Agrawal, chief technology officer, BrightInsight. “Partnering with Google Cloud and leveraging its AI technologies will enable BrightInsight to supercharge its solutions to achieve our vision of transforming patient outcomes through digital technologies.”

What You Should Know:

–              Suki, the leader in voice artificial intelligence (AI) technology for healthcare, today announced it has been awarded a national group purchasing agreement for AI scribes with Premier, Inc.

–              Effective May 1, 2024, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms for Suki pre-negotiated by Premier for AI scribes.  

Empowering Premier Members: Introducing Suki Assistant for Streamlined Clinical Documentation

Premier members now have access to Suki Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to alleviate administrative burdens for clinicians. Utilizing generative AI technology, Suki passively listens to conversations between patients and clinicians, automatically drafting clinical notes. Additionally, it simplifies other time-consuming tasks such as ICD-10 and HCC coding, providing answers to queries, and facilitating dictation. Suki seamlessly integrates with major EHR systems like Epic, Cerner, Meditech, and Athena, ensuring support for all documentation workflows by synchronizing note content in real-time. Clinicians have the flexibility to either pre-chart within the EHR and finalize notes with Suki or commence note-taking with Suki and incorporate pertinent information, such as vitals, from the EHR. Upon completion, the note content is transmitted back to the EHR, updating relevant sections accordingly. On average, clinicians complete notes 72 percent faster with Suki, while health systems witness up to 9X ROI due to enhanced efficiency, increased reimbursements facilitated by detailed documentation, and heightened encounter volumes, among other benefits.

Premier stands as a prominent healthcare improvement organization, bringing together an alliance of approximately 4,350 U.S. hospitals and 300,000 other providers to revolutionize healthcare delivery. Through integrated data and analytics, collaborative efforts, supply chain solutions, consulting services, and more, Premier facilitates superior care and outcomes at reduced costs. The provider selection process at Premier is rigorous, evaluating candidates based on various criteria including quality, capacity to deliver value, and the level of service and support offered.

This announcement marks the latest in a series of achievements and partnerships that solidify Suki’s position as a leader in the AI assistant category. Notably, Suki received a remarkable rating of 93.2/100 in a KLAS assessment and has established collaborations with industry leaders such as Amwell and MEDITECH. Currently deployed across 30+ specialties and all clinical settings, including ambulatory care, telehealth, skilled nursing facilities/home health, and inpatient facilities, Suki continues to expand its reach and impact.

“We are thrilled to work with Premier as their exclusive solution for AI scribes,” said Heather Miller, VP of Partnerships for Suki. “Premier’s mission to improve the health of communities is very much aligned with Suki’s goal of making healthcare technology invisible and assistive so clinicians can focus on what matters most: their patients.  We look forward to helping Premier’s members reduce their administrative burden with the quality and value they expect from Premier-selected solutions.”