/ en Mon, 28 Apr 2025 21:08:28 -0500 Thu, 24 Apr 25 12:41:52 -0500 /04/2025/mobilizing-technology-and-innovation-support-rural-health <div> </div>header.jumbotron {display:none} <div> /* center_body */ .center_body { /*margin-top:50px;*/ /* margin-bottom: 50px;*/ } .center_body h3 {} .center_body p { font-size: 16px } p.center_Intro { color: #002855; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 30px; margin: 10px 0 25px 0; font-weight: 700; font-size: 2em; } @media (max-width:768px) { p.center_Intro { line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 23px; font-size: 1.45em; } } .center_body .center_Lead { color: #63666A; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.4; font-size: 21px; } /* center_body // */ /* Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar */ .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar { position: relative; display: block; overflow: hidden; max-width: 1170px; margin: 0px auto 25px auto; } .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { position: absolute; bottom: 40px; color: #003087; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .8); width: 100%; padding: 20px 40px; font-size: 3em; box-shadow: 0 3px 8px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, .6); } @media (max-width:991px) { .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 2.5em; } } @media (max-width:767px) { .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { font-size: 2em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; padding: 10px 20px; } } @media (max-width:530px) { .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { position: relative; background-color: #63666A22; } } /* Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar // */ <header class="Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/VED_Microsoft_banner_1170x250.png" alt="Microsoft Banner Image" width="1170" height="250"><div><h1>Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health</h1></div></header>/* CntMenuSub */ .CntMenuSub{ margin:20px 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; color: #afb1b1; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-weight: 400; font-size: .7em; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuBar{ border-bottom: 1px solid lightblue; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuBar a:after{ content: "|"; padding: 0 3px 0 6px; color: #555; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuBar a:last-child:after{ content: ""; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubHome, .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubParent{ text-transform: uppercase; color: #555; opacity: .9; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubParent{ } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubChild{ } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubCurrent{ opacity: .7; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubHome:hover, .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubParent:hover{ text-transform: uppercase; color: #d50032; } /* CntMenuSub // */ <div class="container CntMenuSub"><div class="col-md-1"> </div><div class="col-md-10 row CntMenuBar"><a class="CntMenuSubHome" href="/education-events/aha-virtual-executive-dialogues">AHA Knowledge Exchange</a> <span class="CntMenuSubChild" id="CntMenuSubChild">Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health</span></div><div class="col-md-1"> </div></div><div class="row spacer"><div class="col-sm-3"><div><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/ke-microsoft-mobilizing-tech-to-support-rural-health.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/VED_Microsoft_cover_910x1220.jpg" alt="AHA Knowledge Exchange | Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health" width="100%" height="100%"></a></div></div><div class="col-sm-9 center_body">.sponsortype { color: #9d2235; font-size: 1.5em; margin: 0px; font-weight: 700; } <p class="sponsortype">AHA Knowledge Exchange</p> Intro.............. </p> --> xxxxxx </p> --><h2>Mitigating gaps in rural health resources and the workforce</h2><p>Rural residents’ top three health concerns are mental health, substance-use disorders and health care access, according to the Rural Healthy People 2030 survey. Geographical isolation, inadequate health infrastructure and a shortage of health professionals can result in poor health outcomes in rural settings. These challenges impact rural communities and residents’ well-being both physically and emotionally. Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) can bridge these gaps in innovative ways to make health care services more accessible in rural communities and support economic stability. This Knowledge Exchange e-book provides insights on how rural health care leaders envision using technology and innovation to address these issues, as well as transform their organizations and community engagement.</p><div class="row">@media (min-width:768px){ .EDsponsorFloat{ float:right; } } @media (max-width:767px){ .EDLinkFloat{ position:relative; left:27%; } .EDsponsorFloat { text-align:center } } <div class="col-sm-6"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary EDLinkFloat" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/ke-microsoft-mobilizing-tech-to-support-rural-health.pdf" title="AHA Knowledge Exchange | Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health" data-view-context="top-level-view">Download the Report</a></div><div class="col-sm-6"><div class="EDsponsorFloat"><strong>Sponsored by: </strong><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/Logo_Microsoft_834x313.jpg" alt="Microsoft Logo" width="100%" height="100%"></a></div></div></div></div></div>.sp_CTA5_holder { margin-top:0px; border-bottom: solid 1px #555; padding-bottom: 50px; } .sp_CTA5_holder_last { border-bottom: solid 0px #555; } .sp_CTA5_holder >div{ overflow: auto; } .sp_CTA5_holder ul { list-style: none; /* Remove default bullets */ padding-left: 0px; /*width: calc(100% - 15%);*/ /*margin: 50px auto 0;*/ margin:auto 50px; } .sp_CTA5_holder ul li{ margin-bottom:7px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size:16px; } .sp_CTA5_holder ul li::before { content: " "; font-size: 1em; margin-right: 10px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; background-color: #9d2235; width: 12px; position: relative; top: 0px; -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); -moz-transform: rotate(45deg); -o-transform: rotate(45deg); } .sp_CTA5_holder ul li{ padding-left:23px; text-indent:-23px; } .body ol>li, .body ul>li{ font-size:16px: } .sp_CTA5_holder h2 { color: #002855; /*! line-height: 2em; */ font-size: 2.15em; margin: 0 0 15px 0; /*! font-size: 30px; */ } .sp_CTA5_holder h3 { /*color: #002855;*/ line-height: 1em; /*font-size: 1.5em;*/ margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top:5px; font-size: 28px; } .sp_CTA5_section{ margin-top: 25px } .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow { /*background-color:green;*/ /* just a visual */ text-align: center } .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow { padding-bottom:75px; /* must match the padding on the img*/ margin: 0px; } .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow img{ width: calc(100% - 35px - 15px); -webkit-box-shadow: 50px -75px 0px 0px rgba(185, 217, 235, 1); -moz-box-shadow: 50px -75px 0px 0px rgba(185, 217, 235, 1); box-shadow: 50px -75px 0px 0px rgba(185, 217, 235, 1); position: relative; top: 75px; max-width: 490px; } @media (max-width:990px){ .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow img{ max-width: 350px;} } @media (max-width:990px){ .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow { padding-bottom:75px; /* must match the padding on the img*/ margin: 0px; margin-right: 40px } } <div class="row spacer sp_CTA5_holder sp_CTA5_holder_last"><div class="col-md-12"><h3>10 strategies and technology investments rural health leaders prioritize to attract clinicians and expand health services in their communities</h3><div class="sp_CTA5_section"><ul><li>Communicate and commit to a <strong>digital health vision</strong> in the hospital strategic plan and educate the community on specifics being implemented and the big picture.</li><li>Form an <strong>interdisciplinary digital health and AI steering committee</strong> with an executive sponsor to vet technology and look at each solution for security, ethics and operational issues.</li><li><strong>Partner with specialty programs</strong> such as teleneonatal intensive care, teleneuro and telepharmacy. Collaborate with other hospitals and emergency medical service providers.</li><li>Work on <strong>processes that can be repeatable and scalable</strong> for clinical workflows and claims processing.</li><li><strong>Select AI technology designed to fit easily into clinical teams’ day-to-day workflows</strong> inside the electronic health record and does not detract from patient-clinician interactions.</li><li><strong>Address nursing shortages with virtual integrated nursing care models</strong>. Use team models for inpatient rounding to improve patient experience.</li><li><strong>Create a telepsychiatry hub</strong> for perinatal patients. Offer virtual medical and behavioral health services in schools.</li><li>Develop patient education materials and videos using AI tools to <strong>address the health literacy gap</strong>.</li><li><strong>Pilot AI programs</strong> like MindUP, Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid to expand access to vital assessments.</li><li>Use Findhelp or Unite Us to <strong>connect the hospital and clinics to community-based organizations</strong>.</li></ul></div></div></div><h2>Participants</h2>/* people */ .people { margin-top: 50px; } .people img:nth-child(1) { border-radius: 200px; -moz-border-radius: 200px; -webkit-border-radius: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; max-width:200px; /* for Transformation Talks */ display:block; /* for Transformation Talks */ margin:auto; /* for Transformation Talks */ } .people img:nth-child(1):hover { opacity: .7 } @media (max-width:991px) { .people { margin: auto; } .people p { text-align: center } } .ci_profile { margin-bottom: 30px; display: block; text-align:center /* this is for the "Executive Dialogue" page */ } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_profile { text-align: center } } .ci_profile p { margin: 0 0 7px 0 } .ci_profile_name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 20px; } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; line-height:1.2em; margin-top:10px } .ci_profile_title { font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em } .ci_profile_company { font-size: 1em; } p.ci_profile_award { font-size: .8em; text-align:center; color:#55555599; font-weight: 700 } .ci_profile_social { width: auto; } .ci_profile_social i { padding-right: 25px; font-size: 20px } .ci_profile_social a:last-of-type i { padding-right: 0px; } #ci_footer-social { font-size: 1.5em; padding-top: 0px; width: 100%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_logo { margin-top: 25px } .ci_social p { text-align: center !important; } #ci_footer-social { text-align: center } } @media (min-width:769px){ .people .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .people .rowEqual_768>[class*='col-'] { -ms-flex: 3; /* IE 10 */ flex: inherit; /*flex*/ width: calc((100% / 3) - 2px) /*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/; } } @media (max-width:767px) and (min-width:361px){ .people .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .people .rowEqual_768>[class*='col-'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: auto; width: calc((100% / 2) - 2px) /*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/; } } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; line-height:1.2em; margin-top:10px } .people .ci_profile_combined{ font-size:14px; line-height: 18px; } .people .ci_profile_combined span{ font-style: italic; } .people .ci_profile_combined:before{ content:""; border-bottom: solid 1px #55555522; display: block; clear: both; width: 85%; margin: 5PX auto 10px; } <div class="people"><div class="row rowEqual_768"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Bourland_Trent_300x300.jpg" alt="Trent Bourland" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Trent Bourland</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Coal County General Hospital</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Boyd_Melanie_300x300.jpg" alt="Melanie Boyd" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Melanie Boyd</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Clarke County Hospital</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Davis_Jeremy_300x300.jpg" alt="Jeremy P. Davis" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Jeremy P. Davis, MHA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">President and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Dybdal_Landon_300x300.jpg" alt="Landon M. Dybdal" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Landon M. Dybdal</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Lake Health District</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Kreofsky_Laura_300x300.jpg" alt="Laura Kreofsky" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Laura Kreofsky</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director, Rural Health Resiliency</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Microsoft</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lively_Corey_300x300.jpg" alt="Corey G. Lively" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Corey G. Lively</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Great Plains Regional Medical Center</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lutz_Carrie_300x300.jpg" alt="Carrie Lutz" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Carrie Lutz, R.N.</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Holton Community Hospital</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Mallet_Teresa_300x300.jpg" alt="Teresa Mallett" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Teresa Mallett, MHA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Madison Regional Health System</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/McCormack_Holly_300x300.jpg" alt="Holly McCormack" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Holly McCormack, DNP, R.N.</p><p class="ci_profile_title">President and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Cottage Hospital</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Mills_Dora_300x300.jpg" alt="Dora Anne Mills" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Dora Anne Mills, M.D., MPH, FAAP</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief health improvement officer</p><p class="ci_profile_company">MaineHealth</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Pitcher_Gratia_300x300.jpg" alt="Gratia L. Pitcher" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Gratia L. Pitcher, M.D., MBA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief medical officer and Patient experience dyad leader</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Essentia Health</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Sweetnam_Olivia_300x300.jpg" alt="Olivia Sweetnam" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Olivia Sweetnam, MPH, MSN, ACNP-BC</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Torres_Tony_300x300.jpg" alt="Tony Torres" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Tony Torres, M.D., FACP</p><p class="ci_profile_title">President and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Ward_Josiah_300x300.jpg" alt="Josiah Ward" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Josiah Ward, D.O., FAAP</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief medical officer</p><p class="ci_profile_company">La Esperanza Clinic</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Weeks_Bill_300x300.jpg" alt="Bill Weeks" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">William (Bill) Weeks, M.D., PhD, MBA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director, AI for Health</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Microsoft</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Wehrman_Doug_300x300.jpg" alt="Doug Wehrman" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Doug Wehrman, PT, DPT</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief operating officer</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Brodstone Healthcare</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Hoppszallern_Suzanna_300x300%20%281%29.png" alt="Suzanna Hoppszallern" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Moderator:</p><p class="ci_profile_name">Suzanna Hoppszallern</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Senior Editor, Center for Health Innovation</p><p class="ci_profile_company">���������� Association</p></div></div></div>@media (min-width:768px){ .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual_768>[class*='col-'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: auto; width: calc(33.3% - 2px) /*Safari Fix*/; } } .center_callout_3invert { background-color: #f6f6f6; text-align: center; /*margin-bottom:25px;*/ margin-top:30px; } .center_callout_3invert h4 { color: #002855; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 30px; margin: 10px 0 30px 0; } .center_callout_3invert h3 { margin: 25px 0 0 0; color: #555; 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reduce disparities.</div> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-page-title-background"> <div class="field-content sed-thumb"> <a href="/2024-10-30/aligning-payers-and-partners-value-based-care" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_200x200/public/2024-10/KnowEx_CorroHealthh_Medicaid_620x381.jpg?itok=HS9Y48c8" width="200" height="123" alt="KnowEx_CorroHealth_Medicaid" /> </a> </div> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <span class="field-content"><time datetime="2024-10-29T15:17:14-05:00">Oct 29, 2024</time> </span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/2024-10-30/aligning-payers-and-partners-value-based-care" hreflang="en">Aligning Payers and Partners for Value-based Care</a></span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-body"> <div class="field-content">As value-based care models grow, hospitals, providers and payers need to align goals and incentives to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.</div> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-page-title-background"> <div class="field-content sed-thumb"> <a href="/2024-09-26/transforming-behavioral-health-journey" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_200x200/public/2024-09/Iris-Telehealth-banner-620x381.jpg?itok=QQ9C-7Mp" width="200" height="123" alt="Iris-Telehealth-banner-620x381" /> </a> </div> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <span class="field-content"><time datetime="2024-09-25T14:49:38-05:00">Sep 25, 2024</time> </span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/2024-09-26/transforming-behavioral-health-journey" hreflang="en">Transforming the Behavioral Health Journey</a></span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-body"> <div class="field-content">Transforming the behavioral health journey with strategic initiatives to build a sustainable and coordinated behavioral health services continuum.</div> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="more-link"><a href="/aha-knowledge-exchange-archive">View All: AHA Knowledge Exchange</a></div> </section> </div> </div></div> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:41:52 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-22-how-unleash-power-health-related-social-needs-data <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/How-to-Unleash-the-Power-of-Health-Related-Social-Needs-Data_0.png" data-entity-uuid="721ea50f-f258-434c-98ff-41f6690b032f" data-entity-type="file" alt="How to Unleash the Power of Health-Related Social Needs Data. Trailblazers report. Driving the Drivers: How hospitals and health systems can leverage technology and workflow optimization to address health-related social needs. Download the report." width="100%" height="100%"><p>Capturing health-related social needs (HRSN) data effectively and efficiently helps provider organizations leverage these data to meet the Quadruple Aim objectives: enhancing the patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs and improving the work life of health care providers.</p><p>Connecting patients with the resources they need to experience better health outcomes is a vital part of the HRSN screening process. With the right technology and resources, hospitals and health systems can identify inefficiencies and close gaps that could challenge the successful conclusion of that journey.</p><p>A new AHA Market Scan Trailblazers report, <a href="/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-21-driving-drivers">“Driving the Drivers,”</a> explores how providers can leverage technology and workflow optimization to improve HRSN screening and connect patients with resources to address their health-related social needs.</p><h2>Personalize Care Connections</h2><p>Deploying enterprise technology that scales across the entire health system can connect patients with the right social network programs and resources and aid in tracking low-risk, rising-risk and high-risk populations. Key benefits of this approach include:</p><ul><li><strong>Send and track closed-loop referrals from start to finish to see whether patients obtained services.</strong></li><li><strong>Share personalized resource lists with patients, giving them easy access to the support they need.</strong></li><li><strong>Find and share tailored resources that meet each patient’s unique care needs.</strong></li></ul><p>By integrating HRSN data into electronic health records (EHRs), providers can identify patterns and trends at scale across communities that may not be immediately evident when considering individual medical data alone.</p><p>Overall, EHR and HRSN data integration support a holistic approach to health care. This empowers organizations across the care continuum to address population health challenges at a systemic level. By recognizing and responding to HRSN efficiently, proactively and at scale, providers can reduce health care costs and better manage population health outcomes.</p><h2>Standardize HRSN Data Management</h2><p>New Mexico-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services (PHS) has standardized its approach to automating HRSN screening, reaping multifold benefits in the process.</p><p>Toni Grinstead, health equity consultant and senior program manager for community health, oversees Presbyterian’s initiatives to address social drivers of health, including an automated health-related social needs screening workflow. Leigh Caswell, vice president for community and health equity, oversees the network’s community health worker team and its social needs screening and referral work.</p><p>Before automating the HRSN screening process, Grinstead and Caswell describe the health system’s approach as “scattershot.”</p><p>Some of PHS’ clinic sites still used paper, rather than their EHR tool, to screen patients. That created a twofold data entry problem. Clinicians or support staff sometimes would enter data inaccurately into the EHR system or not at all if paper screens went missing. Other challenges included the lack of standardized workflows to screen all patients across all settings and the lack of integrated screening results into the EHR system and each patient’s EHR.</p><h2>Harness the Power of HRSN Data</h2><p>With PHS conducting more than 1.5 million HRSN screenings annually across nine hospitals, 40 primary or specialty clinics and five urgent care centers, effectively managing these data became critically important.</p><p>In early 2024, PHS migrated to an automated approach to managing HRSN screening data. Three systems — HRSN screening, EHR and portal — now work in concert to power the HRSN screening process as part of routine health care. This approach eliminated paper screenings, standardized screening workflows across care sites and integrated patients’ HRSN screening data into their EHRs and patient portals.</p><p>“Having technology support our [HRSN] efforts is really powerful. We know a lot more about what our communities need. We know a lot more about what resources exist in our communities. Now we can use those data to influence policy and investment at the state level and at the local level,” Caswell says.</p><p>Patients now can answer HRSN screening questions through the patient portal before scheduled visits, eliminating that responsibility from busy clinicians and clinical support staff. Screening workflows now are standard across all sites of care.</p><p>PHS asks 12 questions in eight HRSN domains: housing, food, transportation, utilities, interpersonal violence, alcohol use, substance use and tobacco use. Screening results now appear directly in patients’ records, enabling the care team to determine if patients are experiencing a social need. If so, the system automatically generates a list of recommended resources in patients’ after-visit summaries directly within the EHR.</p><p>“Because everything is interoperable, the technology allows us to screen patients every six months, and every person who interacts with that patient has access to those data,” Grinstead says. “Patients [and caregivers] don’t have to answer the same questions over and over again during an episode of care. That improves the patient experience and the caregiver experience.”</p><p><a href="/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-21-driving-drivers"><strong>Download the full Trailblazers report</strong></a> to learn more about the power of automating the HRSN screening and data management process and explore how Yale New Haven Health has improved its workflow efficiency.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:15:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-01-innovative-rural-hospitals-think-beyond-tradition-improve-access-care <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Innovative-Rural-Hospitals-Think-Beyond-Tradition-to-Improve-Access-to-Care.png" data-entity-uuid="e778c7ba-7645-47e7-92fc-159ef664d4dd" data-entity-type="file" alt="Innovative Rural Hospitals Think Beyond Tradition to Improve Access to Care. Drones fly over fields in a rural community in Virginia to deliver lifesaving medications with a computer monitor in the foreground displaying radiology images that AI is helping radiologists provide faster diagnoses." width="100%" height="100%"><h2>AI Helps to Improve Speed of Radiology Reviews</h2><p>Last year, <a href="https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/how-mercy-is-using-ai-to-improve-patient-care" target="_blank" title="Chief Healthcare Executive: https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/how-mercy-is-using-ai-to-improve-patient-care">Mercy</a> — a large health system serving many rural communities across Missouri and surrounding states — expanded its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve patient access and outcomes in radiology. By integrating Aidoc, an AI-powered clinical decision-support platform, into its imaging workflow, Mercy now can provide faster diagnosis of life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary embolisms and brain bleeds across its network of more than 50 hospitals, many of them in rural or underserved areas.</p><p>The AI platform reviews scans in real time and automatically flags critical findings for radiologists and emergency teams. This reduces turnaround times for high-risk cases and helps to ensure that patients in rural facilities receive the same rapid care available in larger urban centers. According to Mercy leaders, the AI implementation has enhanced clinical efficiency and supported more timely interventions — particularly in emergency departments (EDs) where staffing can be stretched thinly.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Artificial intelligence can be a vital force multiplier for rural hospitals. AI helps to improve diagnostic speed, enhance care team coordination and ensures that patients with high-acuity conditions receive timely attention.</p><h2>Drones Deliver Lifesaving Medications in Virginia</h2><p>In partnership with Zipline, a logistics drone company, Wise County, Virginia, launched a pilot program with <a href="https://cardinalnews.org/2024/12/26/nearly-a-decade-after-historic-drone-test-in-wise-county-drone-scare-shows-need-for-drone-identification/" target="_blank" title="Nearly a decade after historic drone test in Wise County, drone scare shows need for drone identification">Cardinal News: Remote Area Medical</a> to deliver essential medications to remote communities. Using autonomous drones, the health department now can transport insulin, antibiotics and other critical supplies across rugged terrain in less than 30 minutes — a journey that otherwise might take hours by car.</p><p>The program, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, has grown into a model for how unmanned aerial vehicles can support rural health equity. Because the drones are not hindered by poor roads, weather or distance, they help to ensure continuity of care for patients who manage chronic conditions or need urgent medications.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Explore logistics innovations like drones to reduce delays and transportation costs in rural care delivery. Investing in or partnering with drone logistics providers can help eliminate last-mile delivery challenges, particularly for pharmacy and lab services, and enhance health equity in hard-to-reach communities.</p><h2>Nurse-Run Telehealth Hubs in North Dakota</h2><p><a href="https://www.trinity-health.org/newsroom/press-releases/trinity-health-revolutionizes-nursing-practice-through-virtual-connected" target="_blank" title="Trinity Health: Trinity Health Revolutionizes Nursing Practice Through a TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™ Delivery Model">Trinity Health</a> in Minot, North Dakota, operates mobile nurse-run telehealth hubs in converted vans that travel to underserved towns across the state. Equipped with diagnostic tools, mobile internet and tablets connecting to remote physicians, these vans serve as a lifeline for patients in areas that lack nearby clinics.</p><p>Staffed by advanced practice nurses, the vans provide on-site assessments, collect vitals, administer vaccines and facilitate virtual consults with physicians at Trinity’s main facilities. This hybrid care model bridges the gap between virtual and hands-on services.</p><p>The program has improved appointment adherence and helped to identify serious conditions sooner, reducing ED usage and supporting chronic disease management.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Mobile, nurse-led clinics are a scalable solution to rural provider shortages. Leveraging nurses and physician extenders in mobile units allows systems to reach new populations, increase care continuity and reduce unnecessary ED visits at a relatively low capital cost.</p><h2>Digital Front Doors in Rural Ohio</h2><p>Memorial Health System in Marietta, Ohio, accelerated its digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a <a href="https://www.trinity-health.org/newsroom/press-releases/trinity-health-revolutionizes-nursing-practice-through-virtual-connected" target="_blank" title="Trinity Health: Trinity Health Revolutionizes Nursing Practice Through a TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™ Delivery Model">comprehensive patient intake platform</a>. This initiative enabled patients to complete appointment scheduling, registration and billing processes remotely, enhancing convenience and safety.</p><p>The digital system streamlined front-end operations, reducing the need for manual data entry and minimizing lobby congestion. Patients now can check in and complete necessary forms from their homes, decreasing errors and enhancing privacy. This transformation not only improved operational efficiency, but also strengthened infection control measures by reducing in-person interactions. Memorial Health System's experience underscores the importance of digital solutions in enhancing patient engagement and streamlining health care delivery, particularly in rural settings where access to care can be challenging.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Prioritize digital inclusion alongside digital transformation. Implementing a digital front-door strategy can significantly enhance patient access, satisfaction and operational efficiency in rural health care settings.</p><h2>The Future of Access: Innovation with Intent</h2><p>Whether it’s drones delivering medications or nurses driving virtual care on wheels, rural hospitals are innovating to close the gap between providers and patients. These creative solutions are designed to keep patient needs, geographic barriers and economic realities top of mind.</p><p>As workforce shortages, financial constraints and care disparities persist in rural America, hospital leaders must think beyond traditional infrastructure. Strategic investment in technology — paired with thoughtful implementation — can transform how care is delivered and experienced, regardless of ZIP code.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /role-hospitals-bethesda-hospital-west-game-changing-ar-spine-surgery-performed-first-time-florida <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-03/ths-bethesda-spine-surgery-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Bethesda Hospital West. Illustration of an augmented reality spinal surgery" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>Timothy O’Connor, M.D., director of minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Bethesda Hospital West in Boca Raton, Fla., on Feb. 10 performed the first next-generation augmented reality (AR) spinal surgery in the state.</p><p>“While performing this procedure, we can see the patient’s anatomy in high definition, with their imaging superimposed directly in our field of vision to allow real-time guidance when wearing the AR headset during surgery,” <a href="https://baptisthealth.net/newsroom/press-release/marcus-neuroscience-institute-performs-first-next-generation-augmented-reality-spinal-surgery">O'Connor said</a>. In an AR spinal surgery, a three-dimensional, computer-generated virtual model of the patient’s spine is overlaid onto their actual anatomy. The AR headset allows surgeons to guide instrument placement and assists in surgical navigation, all while keeping their eyes on the patient. Even 3D stereoscopic displays of surgical instruments are superimposed on the surgical field, which offers the benefit of improved hand-eye coordination.</p><p>AR surgery not only allows for more accuracy during the surgery, but the less-invasive approach also leads to less surgical time and less cutting of tissue, which minimizes both pain and recovery time for the patient.</p><p>“The future of spine surgery is here,” O’Connor said. “It’s a testament to our commitment at Baptist Health to lead the way and improve the lives of those we serve.”</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://baptisthealth.net/newsroom/press-release/marcus-neuroscience-institute-performs-first-next-generation-augmented-reality-spinal-surgery" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:26:50 -0500 Leveraging Technology /role-hospitals-baptist-health-uams-utilizes-new-therapy-to-treat-obstructive-sleep-apnea <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/TTHS-Baptist-Health-UAMS-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid="cce6a917-9014-4129-ab1e-f3c2d34cefbd" data-entity-type="file" alt="Baptist Health UAMS Utilizes New Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A clinician reviews information on a clipboard with a patient suffering from experiencing obstructive sleep apnea." width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>Baptist Health UAMS Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in Little Rock, Ark., is aiming to help patients struggling with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) get a good night sleep if they are unable to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The clinic began offering Inspire therapy, a small implant that stimulates the airway muscles. Patients use a small handheld remote to turn the implant on before going to bed and off when they wake up.</p><p>OSA affects 22 million Americans, causing workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, and contributing to stroke and heart attacks. Using Inspire therapy has allowed UAMS patients to experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and see improvements in their everyday quality of life.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.baptist-health.com/news/baptist-health-uams-ear-nose-and-throat-clinic-offering-latest-inspire-therapy-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:34:20 -0500 Leveraging Technology /role-hospitals-st-davids-medical-center <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-03/ths-st-david-liver-cancer-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="St. David’s Medical Center. Stock image shows a physician sitting at a patient bedside talking." width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>St. David's Medical Center in Austin has become the first hospital in Central Texas to offer histotripsy, a new noninvasive treatment for liver cancer. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023, this innovative therapy uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to destroy liver tumors without the need for incisions or probes, often resulting in lower recovery time and less harm to the patient’s liver.</p><p>"We were so excited with what we saw and ... the early data," said Dr. Shaun McKenzie, the medical director of surgical oncology at St. David's Medical Center, in <a href="https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/health-care/2025/02/11/st-davids-becomes-first-central-texas-hospital-to-offer-new-liver-cancer-therapy/" target="_blank">an interview with Community Impact</a>.  “We felt that we needed to be part of the cutting-edge component of treatment for liver tumors.” Histotripsy doesn’t replace other cancer treatments but can be used alongside them, such as ablation therapies or radiation, and it is particularly effective for tumors wrapped around blood vessels, which were previously difficult to treat.</p><p>Patients undergoing histotripsy at St. David's Medical Center have experienced quick recoveries, often returning to their normal activities within days. “I've had patients that had treatment on Friday and went back to work on Monday,” McKenzie said. “That's unusual for a procedure that actually will destroy tumor tissue.”</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.stdavids.com/locations/st-davids-medical-center">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:05:26 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-03-04-3-ways-robotic-surgery-changing-health-care-year <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/3-Ways-Robotic-Surgery-Is-Changing-Health-Care-This-Year.png" data-entity-uuid="a55e5600-d8cb-4c22-abdf-91b71ab988b9" data-entity-type="file" alt="3 Ways Robotic Surgery Is Changing Health Care This Year. Robot arms in a surgery room." width="1200" height="751"></p><p>About four months ago, the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital expanded their <a href="https://www.tgh.org/news/tgh-press-releases/2024/november/tampa-general-usf-health-bring-world-most-precise-robotic-surgical-technology-florida" target=" title=" tampa general and usf health to bring most precise robotic surgical technology>partnership</a> with Medical Microinstruments Inc. (MMI) to bring the company’s Symani Surgical System to the academic medical center.</p><p>MMI states that the robotic surgical device pushes the limits of soft-tissue open surgery, giving surgeons greater precision and control. It also gives surgeons the chance to restore the quality of life for more patients, including those with cancer-related lymphedema (swelling of body tissues due to lymph fluid buildup) who need microvascular and lymphatic repair.</p><p>Cleveland Clinic, New York University, the University of Pennsylvania and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles also are using the system.</p><h2>The Expanding Reach of Surgical Robotics</h2><p>Specialized uses like this illustrate the ever-expanding applications of robotic surgery platforms as health care providers continue to leverage the technology to reduce surgical complications, improve safety, shorten recovery times for patients, reduce length of stay and more.</p><p>At the same time, robotic surgery platforms like Intuitive Surgical’s pioneering da Vinci system and its latest offering, da Vinci 5, competing systems from Stryker, Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson are broadening their capabilities in operating rooms.</p><p>Since gaining the first FDA clearance nearly 25 years ago, da Vinci robots now are routinely used in many laparoscopic soft-tissue procedures, including cardiac, urologic, gynecologic and general surgeries. The company reports that about 2.63 million surgical procedures were performed in the U.S. last year using da Vinci systems — a 17% increase from 2023.</p><p>Artificial intelligence (AI) also is being integrated into robotic surgery devices to automate surgical tasks like suturing or tissue dissection. These systems aim to improve consistency and reduce surgeon workload, notes an August 2024 <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11374272/#:~:text=Current%20AI%2Ddriven%20robotic%20surgical%20systems%20incorporate%20various%20functionalities%2C%20including%20image%20recognition%20and%20segmentation%3A%20AI%20algorithms%20can%20analyze%20surgical%20field%20images%20in%20real%2Dtime%20to%20identify%20critical%20structures%2C%20blood%20vessels%2C%20and%20tumors%2C%20aiding%20surgeons%20in%20decision%2Dmaking11%2C12." target="_blank" title="NIH National Library of Medicine: Artificial intelligence: revolutionizing robotic surgery: review">NIH report</a>.</p><h2>3 Ways The Robotic Surgery Market Will Change This Year</h2><h3><span>1</span> <span>|</span> Competition will heat up.</h3><p>After long enjoying an overwhelming market share, Intuitive is facing more competitors this year. Not only is the competition coming from well-established medtech companies like Stryker, Medtronic and J&J, but also from new market entrants with specialty applications and modular concepts with smaller devices that are easier to move around.</p><p>In October, CMR Surgical received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing approval for its <a href="https://us.cmrsurgical.com/news/cmr-receives-fda-marketing-authorization-for-versius" target="_blank" title="CMR Surgical: CMR Surgical receives U.S. FDA Marketing Authorization for next-generation Versius Surgical System">Versius Surgical System</a> to be used in gall bladder removal cases in adults.</p><p>Other surgical robotics companies to receive FDA authorization over the past year include <a href="https://www.distalmotion.com/" target="_blank" title="Distalmotion homepage">Distalmotion</a>, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240408359797/en/MMI-Receives-FDA-Authorization-to-Commercialize-Symani%C2%AE-Surgical-System-in-the-U.S" target="_blank" title="Business Wire: MMI Receives FDA Authorization to Commercialize Symani® Surgical System in the U.S.">Medical Microinstruments</a>, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moon-surgical-receives-second-fda-clearance-covering-its-commercial-maestro-robotic-surgery-system-302164186.html" target="_blank" title="PR Newswire: Moon Surgical receives second FDA clearance, covering its commercial Maestro™ Robotic Surgery System">Moon Surgical</a>, <a href="https://ir.procept-biorobotics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/procept-biorobotics-announces-fda-clearance-hydrostm-robotic" target="_blank" title="PROCEPT BioRobotics: PROCEPT BioRobotics Announces FDA Clearance of the HYDROS™ Robotic System, the Next-Generation, AI-Powered Platform for Aquablation® Therapy">Procept BioRobotics</a> and <a href="https://virtualincision.com/virtual-incision-receives-fda-authorization-for-the-mira-surgical-system-as-the-first-miniaturized-robotic-assisted-surgery-device/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Incision: irtual Incision Receives FDA Authorization for the MIRA Surgical System as the First Miniaturized Robotic-Assisted Surgery Device">Virtual Incision</a>.</p><h3><span>2</span> <span>|</span> Look for expanded use of surgical robots in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).</h3><p>There has been a rush to install orthopedic robots in ASCs, and that trend will continue this year as large-joint replacement continues to grow, Morningstar analyst Debbie Wang recently told MedTech Dive. Stryker and Zimmer Biomet are adding shoulder features to their surgical robots, the report notes. Spine surgery also has the potential to benefit from an expanding focus on robotics, according to Wang.</p><p>Jeffrey Brand, executive director at global architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman, recently told ASC News that his firm established a 16-surgical-suite ambulatory center focused on robotic surgery for cancer patients. And Saum Sutaria, M.D., CEO of Tenet Health, said on a recent earnings call that he sees significant room for expansion of services that can be offered in the ambulatory surgery setting and that robotics will be part of that shift.</p><h3><span>3</span> <span>|</span> AI will continue to play a larger role in surgical robots.</h3><p>Stryker's Mako Shoulder robotic surgical assistant for shoulder replacement and Mako Spine for spine-replacement surgeries use an AI technology called Blueprint that helps surgeons better understand shoulder deformities and their patients’ pathology to predict potential challenges and evaluate different implant options.</p><p>Intuitive Surgical has an AI tool for the da Vinci 5 called Case Insights that can analyze surgical procedures and provide surgeons with post-surgical feedback on the part of the procedure that takes the longest and the areas where the movements aren’t as smooth or fluid.</p><p>In the future, the company wants to provide surgeons with feedback in real time, Brian Miller, executive vice president and chief digital officer at the company, recently told Modern Healthcare.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:15:00 -0600 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-02-25-3-takeaways-about-apples-new-mental-and-physical-health-study <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/3-Takeaways-about%20Apples-New-Mental-and-Physical-Health-Study.png" data-entity-uuid="05e4905a-1173-4558-80c3-c17f9e1ba061" data-entity-type="file" alt="3 Takeaways about Apple’s New Mental and Physical Health Study. Three iPhones with the middle phone displaying the Apple Health Study homepage against a background with Apple logos." width="100%" height="100%"><p>The world of health care disruption and innovation often seems like a sprint, but it is a marathon.</p><p>Apple is a perfect illustration. The tech giant recently announced its new wide-ranging <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/new-holistic-apple-health-study-launches-today-in-the-research-app/" target="_blank" title="Apple Newsroom: New holistic Apple Health Study launches today in the Research app">Apple Health Study</a>. The longitudinal research aims to further understand how technology can play a role in improving physical and mental health and overall well-being.</p><p>The company stated that the study may take at least five years before its full impact is realized and will build on previous research from the <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/apple-womens-health-study/" target="_blank" title="Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Apple Women's Health Study">Apple Women’s Study</a>, <a href="https://sph.umich.edu/applehearingstudy/" target="_blank" title="University of Michigan School of Public Health: Michigan Public Health Apple Hearing Study">Apple Hearing Study</a> and the <a href="https://appleheartandmovementstudy.bwh.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" title="Brigham and Women's Hospital: Apple Heart & Movement Study">Apple Heart and Movement Study</a>. Even with that lag time, results from the study have the potential to be groundbreaking, the company notes.</p><p>Consumers can volunteer for the latest study through the Research app in the company’s iPhone and can opt out at any time. De-identified data from the study will explore relationships within various areas of health, such as mental health’s impact on heart rate or how sleep can influence exercise. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a research hospital and teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Boston.</p><h2>3 Things to Know about the Study</h2><h3><span>1</span> <span>|</span> This is Apple’s most expansive health study yet.</h3><p>Unlike prior Apple health studies that focused on specific areas, this research will gather data from iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods to try to discover new relationships within different areas of health, both physical and mental.</p><h4>Takeaway</h4><p>Much like its previous health studies, Apple will use the findings from this research to learn and inform its product development and potential features to add in the future. The hearing test offered through Apple’s AirPods is an example of how previous studies impacted product development. Other advances that came out of Apple research studies include the Vitals app on the AppleWatch and the Walking Steadiness app on the iPhone.</p><p>Changes in health can affect one or more parts of the body, and others may affect well-being overall, so helping to identify these changes earlier can help offer a more proactive approach to health. For example, early detection of a change in hearing health could reduce the risk for cognitive decline.</p><h3><span>2</span> <span>|</span> Survey tools will add important data to the research.</h3><p>Study participants not only will contribute data but also will be prompted to answer questions periodically about their at-home life and habits. The study spans many health and disease areas, including activity, aging, cardiovascular health, circulatory health, cognition, hearing, menstrual health, mental health, metabolic health, mobility, neurologic health, respiratory health, sleep and more.</p><h4>Takeaway</h4><p>The longitudinal, virtual study data can be used to predict, detect, monitor and manage changes in participants’ health, Apple states. Additionally, researchers will explore connections across different areas of health.</p><h3><span>3</span> <span>|</span> Scale will be an important factor in this study.</h3><p>It’s impossible to predict how many consumers will participate in the new Apple Health Study, but the company previously has had great success in recruiting participants for its research. More than <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2018/11/stanford-apple-describe-heart-study-with-over-400000-participants.html" target="_blank" title="Stanford Medicine News Center: Stanford, Apple describe heart study with over 400,000 participants">400,000 people</a> participated in the first Apple Heart Study. Broadening the scope and scale of this study has the potential to reveal previously unknown connections between lifestyles and different areas of health.</p><h4>Takeaway</h4><p>Access to a huge and diverse cohort (Apple device users) could help accelerate discovery and progress. “We anticipate we will likely find some signals that have previously just been missed because we haven’t had studies that are this broad, or we haven’t had studies that are this continuous. We haven’t looked longitudinally or at this level of granularity,” Calum MacRae, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, who will serve as principal investigator on the Apple Health Study, noted in a recent <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/610308/apple-health-study-wearables-iphone-apple-watch-airpods" target="_blank" title="The Verge: Apple launches wide-ranging health study to help develop future features">interview</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } h4 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:15:00 -0600 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-02-18-4-signs-might-be-stronger-year-digital-health-funding <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/4%20Signs-That-This-Might-Be-a-Stronger-Year-for-Digital-Health-Funding.png" data-entity-uuid="0afaa22e-e387-4df8-8d30-862f9e65eadc" data-entity-type="file" alt="4 Signs That This Might Be a Stronger Year for Digital Health Funding. A tablet computer with a brain scan displayed on the screen and a stethoscope wrapped around it." width="100%" height="100%"></p><p>Investments in digital health startups have whipsawed in recent years. After record-breaking investments in 2020 and 2021, sharp dips followed the next two years. For 2025, a rebound may be in store, according to a recent <a href="https://www.summithealth.io/insights/digital-health-go-to-market-report-news-release" target="_blank" title="Summit Health Advisors: Digital Health Go-to-Market Report: Four-in-Five Companies to Raise Capital in 2025">survey report from Summit Health Advisors</a>.</p><p>The survey, conducted in September, of 103 senior leaders whose companies sell digital health products, found that 81% have a positive outlook or are cautiously optimistic about investment prospects for this year. Nearly the same percentage (79%) said that their organizations will pursue new investment capital in the next 12 months.</p><p>And if digital health company funding rounds early this year are any indication, it could be a bounce-back year for startups. Here are some of the more significant digital health funding rounds announced in Q1, according to <a href="https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/biggest-rounds-january-2025-ai-data-infinite-anthropic/" target="_blank" title="Crunchbase News: The 10 Biggest Rounds Of January: Infinite Reality Tops Busy Month">Crunchbase News</a>, which reports on the business of technology, startups and venture capital.</p><h2><a href="https://www.retro.bio/" target="_blank" title="Retro Bioscience homepage"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Retro-Biosciences.png" data-entity-uuid="8f88b5db-2df9-4823-bcf3-6849591a8b58" data-entity-type="file" alt="Retro Biosciences. Human cells." width="524" height="612" class="align-left">Retro Biosciences</a></h2><p>The biotech firm that focuses on cellular reprogramming, autophagy (the body’s process of reusing old and damaged cell parts) and plasma-inspired therapeutics designed to help people live longer raised a $1 billion round led by Italian financier Sandro Salsano. The capital will be used to back clinical trials for drugs that battle age-related diseases.</p><h2><a href="https://www.truveta.com/" target="_blank" title="Truveta homepage"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Truveta.png" data-entity-uuid="d14d0b1d-0612-4aeb-a744-0f4fbea295a4" data-entity-type="file" alt="Truveta. Strands of human DNA." width="524" height="612" class="align-left">Truveta</a></h2><p>The medical data research company scored a $320 million investment from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Illumina and 17 U.S. health systems as it continues to build what is billed as the world’s largest genetic data base. The deal values privately held Truveta at more than $1 billion. The company aggregates medical records data from its partner institutions to link treatments with outcomes and other health information.</p><h2><a href="https://www.kardigan.bio/" target="_blank" title="Kardigan homepage"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kardigan.png" data-entity-uuid="2c75bacb-1f5e-461d-8138-f738b868809c" data-entity-type="file" alt="Kardigan. A scan of a human body with the cardiovascular system highlighted." width="524" height="612" class="align-left">Kardigan</a></h2><p>The San Francisco-based startup that develops cardiovascular drug treatments launched with $300 million Series A financing led by Arch Venture Partners, Perceptive Advisors and Sequoia Heritage. The company’s platform leverages a proprietary set of cardiac-specific tools that help analyze therapeutic candidates as well as patients’ individualized responses to treatment.</p><h2><a href="https://innovaccer.com/" target="_blank" title="Innovaccar Inc. homepage"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Innovaccer-Inc.png" data-entity-uuid="ac8b7119-cf3e-42e0-8c54-676c0c258ca8" data-entity-type="file" alt="Innovaccer Inc. A data cloud raining on a microchip." width="524" height="612" class="align-left">Innovaccer Inc.</a></h2><p>The health care data company that increasingly has been focused on artificial intelligence (AI) to support its value-based care programs announced a $275 million Series F funding round. The investment will fuel Innovaccer’s efforts to expand its collaboration with existing customers, introduce new AI and cloud capabilities, and scale a developer ecosystem on the platform. The company plans to add multiple co-pilots and agents to its offerings, including utilization management, prior authorization, clinical decision support, clinical documentation, care management and a contact center.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 18 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0600 Leveraging Technology /role-hospitals-memorial-sloan-kettering-rectal-cancer-disappears-after-experimental-use-immunotherapy <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-02/ths-memorial-sloan-rectal-cancer-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Memorial Sloan Kettering. Doctor holds a blue memorial ribbon up next to a medical model colon" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>A clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City has achieved groundbreaking results in treating rectal cancer using the immunotherapy drug Jemperli. The trial targeted patients with tumors characterized as mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI). The trial's success led to the FDA granting Jemperli "Breakthrough Therapy Designation" in late 2024 to expedite its development and review.</p><p>So far, 42 people have completed treatment, and all of them have no evidence of disease. Side effects were quite mild and well tolerated.</p><p>“This new treatment is also proving very durable,” said Andrea Cercek, M.D., one of the two oncologists who led the trial. “Most people on the trial have been free of cancer for at least a year, and the original participants have been healthy for up to four years and counting. The success rate remains 100%.”</p><p>The trial's approach of using immunotherapy alone allowed patients to avoid the standard treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which often come with severe side effects. The results were presented at major conferences and published in leading medical journals, influencing cancer treatment guidelines and practices worldwide.</p><p>This breakthrough has not only improved patients’ outcomes, but it also preserved their quality of life by avoiding life-altering side effects.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.mskcc.org/news/rectal-cancer-disappears-after-experimental-use-immunotherapy"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:28:11 -0600 Leveraging Technology