The AI Revolution in Healthcare Is Here to Stay, NHS to record harm created by doctors’ strikes and more.

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• The AI Revolution in Healthcare Is Here to Stay - This article discusses the enduring impact of AI in healthcare, emphasising the need for regulation, patient trust, and accountability. It highlights the Biden administration's executive order on AI, aiming to make healthcare more democratic. The article outlines four key areas: an innovation-first approach by the government, strengthening consumer trust, regulatory attention to AI misuse, and the importance of accountability for consumer trust.
• NHS will record harm created by doctors’ strikes - The NHS is set to formally record the impact of doctors' strikes on patient care. This move comes amid growing concerns over the number of critical incidents and 'black alerts' in hospitals. Health officials aim to strengthen safety protocols by cataloguing 'near misses' that could have been avoided, highlighting the consequences of the ongoing strikes on patient safety.
• a16z says AI can make healthcare human - Jay Rughani of Andreessen Horowitz discusses how AI and advancements in large language models (LLMs) can humanise healthcare. He emphasises that AI can alleviate administrative burdens faced by providers, who must navigate complex coverage schemes while caring for patients. This shift could potentially reduce burnout among healthcare professionals and improve patient care.
• Congress and White House Press Ahead on AI in Health Care & Life Sciences - Last year saw a significant increase in focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, particularly in healthcare and life sciences. Key congressional committees explored AI's implications, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) advanced initiatives under President Biden’s AI executive order. The article discusses various actions, including hearings, strategic plans for AI deployment, and the establishment of principles to guide AI development, emphasising the need for responsible AI use and addressing potential biases.
• Many patients want more streamlined texting experience with their providers, survey finds - A survey by Artera, involving over 2,000 patients, revealed significant communication challenges in healthcare. 43% reported that these challenges negatively impacted their health, and nearly 60% would switch doctors due to poor communication. Patients expressed a desire for more engaging, conversational text interactions with providers, with many experiencing frustrations like error messages and repetitive, simplistic exchanges. The survey underscores the need for improved, human-centric digital communication in healthcare.
• Health technology in 2024: Projections for AI, digital health, and more - Health technology leaders predict significant advancements in AI and digital health for 2024. They foresee AI playing a more important role in healthcare, from improving patient care to enhancing operational efficiency. The focus is on using AI responsibly, with strong guardrails for safety. Other projections include more effective use of data, e-prescribing, and addressing healthcare worker shortages through technology. The emphasis is on strategically integrating technology to serve patients better and improve healthcare systems.
• Healthcare IT Hits a Speed Bump - Despite a slowdown in dealmaking in 2023, healthcare IT remains attractive to private equity investors. The sector is seen as a bridge between healthcare's resilience and IT's high returns. Key areas of focus include revenue cycle management, clinical workflow optimisation, patient engagement, and digitalisation of clinical trials. The rise of generative AI and platform-based solutions is reshaping healthcare IT. Investors are advised to consider the role of large tech companies, the integration of IT solutions, and comprehensive due diligence in this evolving landscape.
• Opinion | Emotional Intelligence Must Guide Artificial Intelligence - Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA, argues that emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial in guiding artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. He emphasises that AI cannot replace the human aspects of healthcare, such as empathy and effective communication. AI's limitations in understanding and responding to human emotions highlight the need for EI in patient care. The article suggests that while AI can enhance efficiency and precision, EI is essential for empathetic patient interactions and effective clinical decision-making, ensuring quality and holistic patient care.
• 10 AI ML In Personal Healthcare Trends To Look Out For In 2024 - This article outlines ten key trends in AI and ML for personal healthcare in 2024. These include personalised treatment plans using AI for individual health data analysis, AI-driven mental health platforms, wellness and lifestyle management through data from wearables, enhanced health data security, remote patient monitoring with AI-powered devices, AI-powered virtual health assistants, advancements in genomic medicine, predictive healthcare analytics, accelerated drug discovery using ML, and improved radiological diagnostics through AI. These trends highlight the growing integration of AI and ML in enhancing diagnostics, treatment, and overall wellness in personal healthcare.

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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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