Healthcare ... well, it could use some help. You can’t swing a stethoscope without knocking over piles of stories about frustrated patients, compassionate physicians who are burning out, nurses (the champions of moment-to-moment clinical care) who are leaving the profession in droves, and health systems that teeter on the brink of financial doom (even as some others are thriving). Nobody designed it that way, of course. People are drawn to healthcare specifically as it is the most human of all endeavors. As Nordic Consulting CEO Jim Costanzo has said, “Healthcare represents humanity at its best: people caring for others in need.” We (the authors of this article) wrote a book outlining some of the principles that health systems can follow to bring intentional, human-centered design to the entire health enterprise, in the hopes of inspiring and providing some practical advice for healthcare leaders. It is called “Designing for Health: The Human-Centered Approach.”

Sharp HealthCare, based in San Diego, has teamed up with the local incubator EvoNexus to assess advanced medical technology, The San Diego Union Tribune reported Oct. 25. 

Abridge, an artificial intelligence-powered clinical documentation company, raised $30 million in a series B financing round that saw participation from CVS Health Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Lifepoint Health and Mayo Clinic.

As the integration of AI is expected to rapidly increase in healthcare, Mike Thompson, vice president of enterprise data intelligence at Cedars-Sinai, said there needs to be a checks and balances system from innovators, healthcare institutions and regulatory entities.

Healthcare Technology Report has named its top 100 health tech companies of 2023.

The chief executives of Microsoft and Google parent company Alphabet touted their health system partnerships in the Big Tech firms' Oct. 24 earnings calls.

Moderna is partnering with artificial intelligence-focused precision medicine company Caris Life Science to support Moderna's oncology initiatives. 

Cleveland Clinic has secured leadership in a quantum computing project spearheaded by nonprofit company Wellcome Leap and is set to make substantial contributions to a separate initiative in collaboration with Algorithmiq.

Healthcare-focused investment firm OrbiMed has raised over $4.3 billion in its three latest funds, The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 24.

Although hospitals and health systems continue to face financial headwinds, the challenges and problems spawn new opportunities on where they can innovate, David Sylvan, Cleveland-based University Hospitals' new chief strategy and innovation officer, told Becker's.   

Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System collaborated with Microsoft to organize the multitudes of health data from sources including fitness trackers and phones.

David Sylvan, University Hospitals' new chief strategy and innovation officer, said health systems cannot think about innovation in a vacuum. Rather, they must think about when and how innovation has the ability to solve their organization's most pressing needs.

Pair Team, a virtual care company that partners with health centers to treat Medicaid patients, raised $9 million in series A financing.

When Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital CIO Scott Arnold took on innovation duties Oct. 12, he joined a growing club of health system IT chiefs with the dual role.

Global investment firm KKR announced an agreement to buy a minority stake and invest in Catalio Capital Management, an investment firm focused on biomedical technology.

While hospitals collect massive amounts of data, 97% of it goes unused, according to Microsoft.

Artificial Intelligence-supported digital applications (AI applications) are expected to transform radiology. With more than 300 AI applications cleared by the FDA, they have a broad range of use cases in radiology1. AI applications for image interpretation are generating excitement within radiology with potential to aid in image processing and interpretation with greater accuracy and sensitivity. In addition, non-interpretative AI applications have the potential to play important roles in improving efficiency, safety, and quality. 

As the inaugural chief data and analytics officer of Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare, Joe Depa told Becker's that entering this uncharted territory "isn't merely a technological challenge — it's about evolving mindsets, processes and operations."

St. Louis-based Mercy said numerous uses for AI will be launched in 2024, The Oklahoman reported Oct. 17. 

Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health is employing generative artificial intelligence from Google to create marketing materials and document encounters on both its provider and payer sides.