Hi, Kevin McDonnell here. Thank you for reading my latest newsletter. Every week I share my round-up of the most interesting stories from the world of Digital Health I've been reading so you can find the ideas, people, innovations and technologies that are shaping the future of healthcare. I hope you enjoy them! Happy reading! Don't forget to follow me or our page for more insights every day.
- NHS to Begin Delivering Critical Medical Supplies by Drone - The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is launching a drone delivery scheme across 30 medical facilities in Northern UK. Partnering with Apian and Zipline, this initiative aims to streamline the delivery of medical supplies like blood samples and chemotherapy drugs, enhancing service to hundreds of thousands of patients. The scheme, set for the second half of 2024, promises cost reduction, improved efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
- Can an AI Large Language Model Transform Health Care? - Med42, a clinical large language model (LLM) developed by M42 in Abu Dhabi, aims to revolutionise healthcare by assisting patients and professionals. Trained on a curated medical dataset and evaluated for accuracy, Med42 scored 72% on US medical licensing exam questions. It's designed to understand English and soon Arabic, enhancing medical consultations and decision-making. While still in testing, Med42's potential in healthcare is significant, promising safer, more efficient patient care.
- 25 Suppliers Named in NHS SBS ￡250m Framework for Intelligent Automation - NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) has established a ￡250 million procurement framework with 25 suppliers to enhance intelligent automation in the NHS. This initiative aims to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the quality of healthcare services. The framework, running until November 2025, will allow NHS organisations and public sector bodies to adopt, develop, and implement intelligent automation solutions, marking a significant step towards modernising healthcare infrastructure.
- Healthcare Organizations Shouldn’t Delay Addressing Technical Debt - Healthcare IT leaders are urged to address technical debt—a delay in IT system maintenance that impacts operations. This debt, often involving legacy software and devices, must be balanced against new digital investments. The shift to cloud-native platforms and microservices offers a solution, reducing total ownership costs and enhancing efficiency. Effective communication and strategic planning are vital to managing tech debt, ensuring it doesn't hinder innovation or patient care.
- Toku's AI Platform Predicts Heart Conditions by Scanning Inside Your Eye - Toku's AI-powered retina scan, CLAiR, innovatively predicts cardiovascular risks and diseases like stroke and type 2 diabetes by analysing retinal images. This non-invasive technology integrates withl cameras and existing retina can assess heart disease risk in just 20 seconds. Granted "breakthrough device status" by the FDA, CLAiR is poised to revolutionise routine eye exams and cardiovascular disease detection, aiming for market entry by the end of 2025.
- Reports Urge Delivery of UK Medtech Industrial Strategy - New reports by CPI highlight the urgent need for a UK MedTech industrial strategy to keep pace in the growing health tech sector. With over 4,353 businesses generating ￡30 billion and employing 145,600 people, the industry faces challenges like complex manufacturing and regulatory landscapes. Many UK companies consider moving overseas for competitive pricing and flexible manufacturing. The reports emphasise the need for government support to maintain and grow the UK's healthtech industry, crucial for tackling health challenges and boosting the economy.
- CVS, Oscar Health and Geisinger Join 25 Other Payers, Providers to Sign AI Safety Pledge - Over two dozen healthcare organisations, including CVS, Oscar Health, and Geisinger, have committed to the White House's AI safety, security, and transparency principles. This pledge follows an Executive Order on AI, emphasising that AI in healthcare should be fair, appropriate, valid, effective, and safe. The organisations will inform users about AI-generated content and adhere to a risk management framework, focusing on health equity, access, affordability, and improving patient care. This initiative marks a significant step towards responsible AI use in healthcare.
- Employer Direct Healthcare Secures $92M, Boosting Valuation to $1B - Employer Direct Healthcare, a network company for self-funded healthcare coverage, has raised $92 million from Insight Partners, elevating its valuation to $1 billion. The investment will expand its Cancer Care Direct platform and partnerships. The company offers digital health services like SurgeryPlus and Cancer Care Direct, focusing on quality care and cost reduction. This funding marks a significant growth phase, aiming to enhance speciality care accessibility and affordability.
- 2024 Will See Massive Growth in Generative AI – But Also More Regulation - Generative AI is expected to continue its rapid growth in healthcare in 2024, with more applications and early adopters. However, increased regulation is anticipated following President Biden's Executive Order to regulate AI. This regulation aims to protect patient safety and provider liability, requiring AI systems to be tested for bias, accuracy, and safety. Health systems will likely face challenges adapting to these regulations, necessitating a proactive approach to compliance and vendor consolidation due to financial pressures.
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Kevin McDonnell, the founder and CEO of Datalla and author of "The Future Health' is an advisor, coach and consultant who helps HealthTech, MedTech, and Digital Health CEOs, Founders, and Entrepreneurs unlock potential, grow faster, and scale themselves and their companies.
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