Industry Watcher’s Digest

Buzzworthy developments of the past few days.

• In the minds of healthcare executives who ruminate on management risks, AI and other emerging technologies occupy a considerable parcel of real estate. For 2024, at least. So found the consultancy Kodiak Solutions when it queried the leadership and conducted risk assessments at hundreds of hospitals and other provider orgs in 2023. Rounding out the mix of top-of-mind concerns: competition, cybersecurity, financial performance and workforce instability. Report downloadable here.
   
• Generative AI has catapulted technology to the top of agendas at businesses and organizations across the land. As a result, CEOs are in the hot seat for AI itself. Axios observes as much and backs up its take in a Jan. 25 post. Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda tells the outlet he believes CEOs are “not going to be able to palm the blame onto someone else” if they stay on the AI sidelines. “There’s nowhere to hide,” Maggioncalda says. “If you’re the board, you’re going to ask whether you can trust [the CEO]. You’re going to ask, ‘Why are we still observers?’” Full post here.
   
• The Department of Justice is taking a hard look at the use of medical AI to sway physicians toward one course of clinical action over another. For example, they’re interested in how algorithms come to match certain patients with certain drugs or devices. DOJ seems to be boomeranging the fresh effort off its prior investigation into Purdue, the big pharma outfit that got into big trouble over painkiller distribution. Two anonymous sources tell Bloomberg Law that DOJ attorneys are “asking general questions suggesting they may still be formulating a strategy.” News article here.
   
• This year, data breaches will continue to frustrate the healthcare industry, with the average cost of a healthcare breach exceeding those of all other industries. The prediction is from Heather Randall, chief compliance officer of Sphere, a financial technology company that works with health systems. Randall is one of a handful of healthcare thought leaders who spoke with the Journal of AHIMA on what they think 2024 will bring to healthcare IT. More here.
   
• Meanwhile the good guys are always getting better at cyber cat-and-mouse games too. Witness the Russian national who was sentenced Jan. 24 to more than five years in prison for helping create and dispatch a notably nasty bit of malware. Called Trickbot, the code was used to attack numerous businesses and organizations, including hospitals. “This sentencing demonstrates the [U.S. Department of Justice’s] ability to place cybercriminals behind bars, no matter where they are located,” says Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in a news release. “In cooperation with our partners around the world, we will continue to bring cybercriminals to justice.”
   
• Generative AI is being paired with immersive virtual reality to provide ‘helpful and safe’ support for patients with mental health challenges. The technique was developed at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Called Xaia for eXtended-Reality Artificially Intelligent Ally, the avatar is gentle and empathetic enough with patients to have said to one, in a clinical trial, “There’s no need to apologize for crying. These feelings are valid.” Details here.
   
• ‘The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well. Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.’ That’s how Elon Musk let the world know his brain-implant company had pre-treated its first patient. Musk’s Jan. 29 tweet—or what are tweets called now that Musk changed Twitter to X?—has inspired lots of coverage. Musk has been suggesting the implant will initially be used to help paralyzed individuals gain muscle control while the company, um, brainstorms ways it might be used in otherwise healthy people. (Gulp.)
   
• From AIin.Healthcare’s news partners:
   
  • Health Imaging: Collaboration brings triage AI to chest X-rays for prompt emergency care
  • Cardiovascular Business: HeartFlow’s AI-powered CAD offering receives new CPT code with improved reimbursement rate
  • Radiology Business: International radiology societies share 4 key considerations when purchasing AI
  • Health Imaging: Cloud and AI are key to teleradiology success in post-COVID resurgence, expert says
  • Radiology Business: Only 21% of healthcare leaders say they’ve implemented AI in medical imaging