A new initiative remotely connects cancer patients in India to oncologists and clinical trials at New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

A technology used by more than 3,000 hospitals across the globe for delivering medications, blood and other lab samples is at a significant risk of being hacked, CyberScoop reported Aug. 3. 

Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., entered contract negotiations with LCMC Health to join the New Orleans-based system's Epic EHR platform, according to an Aug. 3 Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. 

Patients who had an appointment at their physician's office after a flu patient had visited the same practice were 31.8 percent more likely to catch the illness than unexposed patients, according to research published in the August edition of Health Affairs.

The following hospital and health system executive resignations have been reported since June 22:

Anita Jenkins, the CEO of Washington, D.C.-based Howard University Hospital, has been fighting tirelessly to inform vaccine-hesitant Americans in her community the shot is safe, even at the risk of being called a sellout by some community members.

Job recovery for men in healthcare continues to outpace recovery for their female counterparts. To return to levels before the pandemic, about 24,000 healthcare jobs for men need to return, compared to 470,000 for women, according to an Aug. 2 report by consulting firm Altarum. 

David Vawdrey, chief data and informatics officer at Danville, Pa.-based Geisigner, joined the podcast to talk about how data management and information sharing is changing the healthcare landscape.

Ash Goel, MD, senior vice president and CIO of Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Bronson Healthcare, joined the Becker's Healthcare podcast to discuss the differences in healthcare systems across the world and his perspective on using technology to bridge gaps in care.

San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp, Calif., signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations on a long-term affiliation agreement with CommonSpirit Health's Dignity Health, the California hospital announced Aug. 2. 

The Valley Health System, a six-hospital system in Las Vegas owned by King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services, acquired a seventh hospital, according to an Aug. 2 news release. 

Oklahoma City-based OU Health is launching several new incentives to address an ongoing nurse shortage, reports NBC affiliate KFOR-TV.

Federico "Fred" Martinez, the former CEO of St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, La., died July 26 at the age of 70, according to an Aug. 2 obituary published in St. Charles Herald Guide.

Bill Gassen was promoted to president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health in November, replacing Kelby Krabbenhoft at the helm of the 46-hospital system.

After the CDC released new guidance July 27 recommending fully vaccinated Americans resume wearing masks indoors in certain regions of the U.S., several states and areas have implemented mask mandates once again. 

In the first two weeks after the onset of COVID-19, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases significantly, according to findings published July 29 in The Lancet.

The chief medical officers for Natchitoches (La.) Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, La., on Aug. 2 said the state's COVID-19 surge is placing a large strain on their hospitals and hindering their ability to provide high-quality care for other intensive care patients.

Cigna's call center employees have demanded the company improve its working conditions, The Guardian reported Aug. 3.

Atlanta-based Northside Hospital has solidified a new contract agreement with UnitedHealthcare, effective Aug. 1. 

Walmart has named John Wigneswaran, MD, a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, as its new chief medical officer, Bloomberg reported.