Attend a healthcare conference or pick up any trade publication and you're sure to come across an impassioned discussion on AI. However, it is not always clear what the most immediate applications of this emerging technology are. This leaves many executives asking two key questions: What exactly is AI and how can it help my hospital? By Leo Vartorella - 1/8/19

Professional basketball teams are turning to a bioanalytics company that uses blood analysis to make personalized recommendations for athletes' workloads and diets, according to The New York Times.  By Megan Knowles - 1/7/19

Few healthcare executives would be surprised to see that improving the patient experience has been called “the next frontier in health tech.” It’s a frontier they’ve been exploring for years.  By NRC Health - 1/7/19

According to a Hughes-Cromwich & Wallace report, approximately 3.6 million adults miss or delay non-emergency medical care annually due to transportation barriers, and these patient no-shows result in serious financial consequences for health systems each year.  By Alexandre Theoharidis, President and CEO, Acuity Link - 1/7/19

A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care found adoption of advanced health IT capabilities among U.S. health systems is variable.  By Anuja Vaidya - 1/7/19

David Lehr, CIO at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md., shares initiatives the hospital has taken to learn more about its patient population as well as his efforts to help foster a culture innovation.  By Jackie Drees - 1/7/19

Lynn Carroll, chief of strategy and operations for health IT support company HSBlox in Alpharetta, Ga., discusses his predictions for blockchain in 2019 and how the technology will be used in value-based reimbursement programs.  By Jackie Drees - 1/7/19

Brad Pedrow, director of compliance risk at Chicago-based Grant Thornton's healthcare and life sciences practice, discusses areas of healthcare where blockchain has helped to advance, from managing clinical trials' data and EMRs to supply chain tracking and revenue management.  By Jackie Drees - 1/7/19

Apple shook up the digital health world in September when it announced the newest Apple Watch would offer a direct-to-consumer electrocardiogram app. Now, it looks like the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant has some competition.  By Jessica Kim Cohen - 1/7/19

Robert Musiala, blockchain counsel for Cleveland-based law firm BakerHostetler, discusses how blockchain will affect healthcare technology in the coming years, including its potential to help streamline pharmaceutical supply chains.  By Jackie Drees - 1/7/19

Allscripts and Microsoft have joined forces to design a new clinical research model that leverages the EHR and other technologies clinicians use when providing treatment.  By Jessica Kim Cohen - 1/7/19

The National Federation of the Blind claims Epic's software isn't suitable for blind and low-vision users, according to a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts and reported by the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

GE Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., entered into a five-year partnership to develop artificial intelligence tools aimed at improving cancer immunotherapy treatments.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

Ed Kopetsky, CIO of Palo Alto, Calif.-based Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and Stanford Children's Health, was named CIO of the Year by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

Vocera, a provider of clinical communication and workflow solutions, has launched the Vocera Smartbadge. The wearable communication device combines smartphone usability with hands-free technology, allowing providers to receive information without disrupting workflow.  By Laura Dyrda - 1/7/19

The Senate confirmed James Gfrerer as CIO and assistant secretary of IT at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Jan. 3, according to the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

Livongo Health named former Allscripts President Lee Shapiro CFO, effective February 2019.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

2018 was the year many technology giants — Uber, Apple and Amazon, to name a few — solidified their place in the healthcare space.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

Best Buy acquired mobile device and emergency call service GreatCall for $800 million in 2018, marking the start of its foray into healthcare. The technology retailer has since quietly built up its efforts in the space, according to a StarTribune blog post.  By Julie Spitzer - 1/7/19

To successfully navigate the volume-to-value marketplace shift, today’s healthcare organizations are sharpening focus on closing care gaps and reducing the negative health impact of social risk factors.  By Dr. Virginia Gurley - 1/4/19