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With pressure increasing on healthcare systems globally and many countries still struggling to clear the backlog from the pandemic, Microsoft believes AI holds the key to addressing both administrative burdens and improving the clinician-patient experience. A new study from the company of 13,500 patients across 11 countries, including 2,000 from the UK, found patients are prepared to let AI handle some of their clinicians' work to free up more interpersonal time, seeing it as a natural progression of existing digitalization efforts. Currently, two in five (39%) UK respondents are concerned that their doctor does not give them their full attention during treatment, thanks to the computer-based administrative work that goes hand-in-hand with consultations. AI is a gamechanger for healthcare From the patient’s point of view, artificial intelligence is simply an extension of existing systems. Half of the UK participants in Microsoft’s study already have access to private or health insurance-provided online platforms where documents and prescriptions are shared. For the clinician, an injection of AI represents a considerable time saving – the extra hours typically put in by a doctor to tackle medical documentation have fuelled widespread job dissatisfaction and burnout. Dr Simon Wallace, Chief Clinical Information Office at Microsoft Health and Life Sciences UK, highlighted the significant effect that AI could have on patient care: “The role of digital technology is to support the clinician to return to the art of practicing medicine and give back time both for patients and their personal well-being.” Mr Markus Vogel, Chief Medical Information Officer for Microsoft, commented on AI’s role in personalizing healthcare for patients: “With automated processes and patient-driven chatbots providing assistance, AI becomes a catalyst for enhanced participation, language translation and personalized treatment modalities.” With its continued emphasis on safe and responsible AI, Microsoft is calling for education, training, and communication about the benefits, impact, and even risks of artificial intelligence in healthcare. It has also become clear that international and multi-sector collaboration play an important role in ensuring that communities are served. Looking forward, it’s clear that time-saving technologies like artificial intelligence and automation play a pivotal part in how nations address some of the most pressing social issues, and Microsoft’s findings regarding public sentiment surrounding the technology spell out a pretty positive outlook. As for the challenges, industry experts have expressed concerns that practitioners may not be so keen to adapt to yet another new technology. However, speaking about the clinician-led nature of NHS England, National Digital Primary Care Nurse Lead Helen Crowther affirmed: “If you give us a new product and tell us that it’s going to transform and change our lives for ourselves, colleagues, and patients, we’re more than happy to adapt to it.” As healthcare and artificial intelligence become increasingly entwined, Crowther noted the importance of involving nurses at all levels of digital transformation in order to ensure that they are clinically focused from concept. This sentiment aligns with the broader feeling that collaboration in all aspects of technology can only be beneficial, both for the customer and for competition. More from TechRadar Pro Ready for your own productivity boost? Check out the best AI tools and best AI writersHealthcare workers are ready (and keen) for an AI revolutionWe’ve rounded up the best electronic health record software View the full article

With more than a decade of experience building AI and machine learning models, Google Cloud understands both the benefits and challenges that await those looking to take advantage of these new technologies. Organizations around the world are now looking to AI solutions to solve some of their thornier problems, and to do so they need a safe, secure way when testing or developing products using important data. In healthcare and life sciences in particular, generative AI has shown how it can have a significant impact. This includes improving access to information and insights, reducing administrative burdens for clinicians, and accelerating the pace of drug discovery and clinical trials. Today at Google Cloud Next, we are announcing the availability of Isolator, a solution for secure infrastructure and data processing that adds a vital layer of protection to healthcare data used in collaborations between parties. Isolator can enable multi-party collaboration on work that involves handling raw and unprocessed, sensitive, and regulated data in an isolated, private, and compliant environment on Google Cloud. Isolator can empower multiple parties to partner on sensitive data collaborations much more easily than before, and we expect cross-industry interest in how Isolator can help spur creative technology solutions. Some examples that Isolator can help with include: Building custom models: Isolator can help develop custom models using Vertex AI and our foundational models that automate high-toil, administrative tasks such as writing discharge summaries. Leverage complex data: Isolator can advance adoption of our Medical Image Suite, giving researchers and data scientists the efficiencies to improve workflows, and at a lower cost than keeping data on-premise. Discovering new treatments: Isolator can be used with our Multiomics Suite to simplify drug discovery and clinical trials by streamlining workflows, enabling safe multi-party collaboration, and cutting development timelines. Scaling advanced data analytics: Isolator can assist in reducing costs and improving results by moving and transforming data from siloed, on-premise databases to feature-rich and massively scalable analytic and data processing services such as Healthcare Data Engine and BigQuery. Collaborating on research: Isolator is especially good at helping to build, package, and share data sets for use in model development and research. It can assure the integrity of data, and it can bring transparency into all actions taken against a data set. Available through Google Cloud’s Consulting Services, customers and their partners can use Isolator to set up an isolated instance within their IT environment that allows them to work with sensitive healthcare data workloads while maintaining privacy, security, integrity and traceability. It also can aid our customers when migrating their workloads to Google Cloud, and can help establish the secure boundaries necessary to create strong AI and machine learning models by securing data end to end. At its core, Isolator is an environment built with Chrome Enterprise Premium, Google’s industry-first, widely-adopted Zero Trust technology. Coupled with other features built into Google Cloud, including VPC Service Controls, Chrome Enterprise, and encryption at-rest, in-use, and in- transit, Isolator can provide identity-based access that prevents data from leaving the secured Isolator environments — without requiring customers to set up and deploy special devices, data loss prevention controls, or VPN connections. Isolator can also work with technology such as Google Confidential Space, which offers encryption for data in use with strong hardware isolation and remote attestation capabilities for even greater control. Importantly, Isolator also comes built with detection and alerting capabilities that log data access activity, detect security misconfigurations, and report violations. This can help ensure customer security teams have full control over who is granted access to their sensitive healthcare data. In just a few clicks, customers can provide secure access to data and machine learning resources on Google Cloud for any collaborator, anywhere in the world, and from any device, as long as the customer organization’s security policies are continuously met. If the security of an environment protected with Isolator changes, access to data is suspended until the necessary protections are restored. Isolator is built on top of Google Cloud Services and inherits controls and assurances described on our Compliance page. At Google Cloud, we believe that sharing our knowledge and capabilities to build AI boldly and responsibly will benefit organizations and society as a whole. That approach helps drive our desire to create solutions such as Isolator. The power that safe and secure collaboration can provide to organizations working in healthcare (and beyond) is transformative and one of the main reasons why healthcare providers, payers, and researchers have put their trust in Google Cloud. For more information on how to get started with Isolator today, please contact a Google Cloud sales specialist through our Google Cloud Consulting Services View the full article

Looking at billing services’ impact on healthcare organizations Last week’s blog talked about the events that nearly brought Change Healthcare’s services to a halt. This week, we’re going to look Read More The post Navigating Third-Party Cyber Risks in Healthcare: Insights from Recent Events appeared first on Axio. The post Navigating Third-Party Cyber Risks in Healthcare: Insights from Recent Events appeared first on Security Boulevard. View the full article

Learn how HIPAA-compliant customer data platform, RudderStack, is easing the pain of data integration for data teams in healthcare.View the full article

Editor’s note: Today’s post is by Jason Mesenburg, Support and Endpoint Manager for Foundations Health Solutions (FHS), an Ohio-based long-term care company managing 60 nursing homes specializing in rehabilitation and skilled nursing care. FHS deployed ChromeOS devices to reduce IT workloads and to provide clinical teams with fast and easy-to-use devices. ChromeOS Flex saved the organization almost $1 million off its budget to equip its 60 facilities with easily managed ChromeOS devices. To ensure our clinical team can deliver the best possible care, their devices need to be fast and the interface should be user-friendly. Every minute saved on technology is a minute gained for patient interaction. When we adopted ChromeOS Flex to modernize our aging device fleet in 60 locations around Ohio, we knew we’d get devices that are secure, boot fast, update automatically in the background, and can be managed from the cloud. But there was another major benefit: we saved almost $1 million in software, hardware, and licensing costs. Searching for simple to manage, stable, and secure user technology At FHS, the goals of being both exemplary caregivers and exemplary employers are intertwined. By giving employees a supportive environment and tools to excel at their jobs, we improve the care they deliver. That’s why our IT strategy is about keeping technology simple, stable, and secure. With this strategy in mind, our plans to reduce our data center footprint were accelerating. Data centers are costly and need sysadmins to function properly. If we could move data and applications to the cloud, we’d reduce our hardware costs and find more time to focus on the caregivers’ technology needs. A few years ago, we had about 1,000 PC laptops and desktops that had reached end of life, and we were receiving an increased amount of tickets. Instead of repairing devices, our field technicians found it easiest to reimage. This got users back up and working quickly, but we knew it was just a matter of time before the machine would stop working again. A permanent solution was needed, so we began testing Chromebooks. Old computers made new with ChromeOS Flex From an IT perspective, we liked the ease of management and policies you could remotely set on ChromeOS devices via the Google Admin console. Our clinical team liked using managed guest sessions, which allow multiple users to use the same device without having to login each time. We knew ChromeOS was the solution, but we didn’t want to replace all 1,000 endpoints. That’s when we heard about ChromeOS Flex. We could install ChromeOS Flex on end-of-life devices and manage them side-by-side with our existing ChromeOS fleet. That idea took off like a rocket ship because we could simultaneously update laptops and desktops that would help our team be more productive and focus more time on patients—plus we could shift data and applications to the cloud. Our 1,100 ChromeOS and ChromeOS Flex devices give our clinical team fast, secure access to electronic health records via Chrome Enterprise Recommended partner PointClickCare. Speedy logins to shared devices and automatic updates lets our team provide uninterrupted care to patients. Since Microsoft Office 365 apps now run natively on ChromeOS, we expect even more people to want to switch to ChromeOS devices. For our team working with multiple patients in a day, fast and easy access to apps is key to working efficiently and providing the best possible care. 80% reduction in hardware incidents In IT, we know the ChromeOS laptops and desktops are easier to use because tickets are down by 80%. The only tickets we get now are for something like a dropped laptop. We no longer get questions about browser software crashing or where to find PointClickCare. We’ve seen at least an 80% reduction in hardware tickets since modernizing devices to ChromeOS Flex. —Jason Mesenburg Support and Endpoint Manager, Foundations Health Solutions With fewer tickets, our regional field technicians, who are each assigned several facilities to manage, spend a lot less time on the road. With the Google Admin console, the IT team can make policy and admin changes centrally. We now only have one user name, instead of 60 names for each FHS building. We no longer need management of our data center. With the time we’re saving in IT, we can take care of projects that help us grow the business, not just maintain it. Time is a precious commodity, and ChromeOS has given us much of that time back. Our focus is on empowering the clinical team. We invest strategically to provide the right tools for patient care. ChromeOS and ChromeOS Flex have proven the value of cloud migration with secure, easy to manage and easy to use devices so we can keep innovating to improve patient lives. View the full article

Tenet Healthcare: Selection and Interview process, Questions/Answers Tenet Healthcare is a major for-profit healthcare services company in the United States. Here’s a quick look: Hospital Network: They operate a vast network of hospitals and outpatient facilities across the United States, with a focus on the Southern region. Diverse Services: Their services encompass various healthcare specialties, from surgery and emergency care to rehabilitation and outpatient services. Focus on Community Care: Tenet strives to provide accessible and compassionate healthcare services within the communities they serve. What are the selection and Interview process of Tenet Healthcare? The selection process at Tenet Healthcare can vary depending on the specific role, location, and level of experience. Here’s a general breakdown of what you might encounter: 1. Application: Submit your resume and cover letter through Tenet’s careers website. 2. Screening and Review: Recruiters will carefully screen applications to assess your fit for the role based on the qualifications and experience outlined in the job description. 3. Interview Stages: If shortlisted, prepare for a series of interviews, which can include: Phone Interview: An initial phone conversation with an HR representative or hiring manager to discuss your background, motivations, and interest in Tenet Healthcare. Video Interview(s): Tenet may utilize video conferencing platforms for some interview stages. In-Person Interview(s): These may involve multiple rounds with hiring managers, team members from relevant departments (e.g., nursing, administration, specific clinical areas), and potentially senior leadership depending on the role. Here, you might encounter: Clinical Skills Questions: For clinical roles (nurses, therapists), expect questions that assess your relevant clinical skills, knowledge of specific procedures, and patient care capabilities. Behavioral Interview Questions: Showcase your relevant skills and experiences through past situations using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Situational Judgment Questions: Be prepared to answer questions that assess your decision-making skills in scenarios related to patient care, teamwork within a healthcare setting, or resolving conflicts peacefully. 4. Additional Assessments: Some positions may involve online assessments to evaluate your clinical knowledge (for clinical roles) or cultural fit. 5. Offer and Background Check: Successful candidates will receive a job offer contingent on a background check. Tips for Success: Research Tenet Healthcare thoroughly, understanding their hospital network, service offerings, and their commitment to patient care. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences that demonstrate a strong fit for the specific role you’re applying to. Be prepared for clinical skills assessments or questions related to your specific healthcare field (depending on the role). Practice your behavioral and situational judgment interview skills using the STAR method. Show your passion for patient care, a collaborative spirit, and a willingness to contribute to a dynamic healthcare environment. By understanding Tenet Healthcare’s selection process and being well-prepared, you can increase your chances of landing a position and contributing to their mission of providing quality care within their communities. How many rounds of interview conducted in Tenet Healthcare? Here’s what you can expect for the interview process and salary for freshers at Tenet Healthcare: Number of Interview Rounds: While Tenet Healthcare doesn’t provide an exact number of interview rounds on their careers website [1], information gathered from job postings and employee reviews suggests: Possible Range: Two to four interview rounds after the initial application [2]. Here’s a possible breakdown of the interview stages: Initial Application: Submit your resume, cover letter, and you might encounter a web-based assessment about your skills or suitability for the role (often for clinical or technical roles). Phone Interview (possible): A recruiter might conduct a brief phone interview to discuss your experience and interest in Tenet Healthcare [2]. In-Person Interviews (one to three rounds): These could involve discussions with [2]: HR Representative or Recruiter: They assess your general qualifications, experience (if any), and fit for the company culture. Hiring Manager or Team Members: They assess your qualifications, experience (if any), and fit for the specific role (e.g., communication skills for patient-facing roles, technical skills for clinical or IT roles). Senior Management (possible for some roles): For leadership or higher-level positions, you might meet with senior-level managers to assess your potential for growth within Tenet Healthcare. What is the salary for freshers in Tenet Healthcare? Salary for freshers in Tenet Healthcare Publicly available information on exact salaries for freshers at Tenet Healthcare isn’t advertised on their careers website [1]. Here are ways to get a better idea of the range for entry-level positions: Salary Websites: Explore salary websites like Glassdoor or Indeed. Search for “Tenet Healthcare” and filter by “entry-level” or “freshers” positions in your target location to get a sense of the range for similar roles (e.g., medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, IT specialist). Salary Negotiation: Be prepared to discuss salary during the offer stage, especially if you have relevant experience or a strong educational background in healthcare or a related field. Research salary ranges beforehand and highlight your skills and willingness to learn to justify your desired compensation. Tips for Landing a Job at Tenet Healthcare: Research Tenet Healthcare: Learn about their areas of focus on healthcare delivery, their network of hospitals and clinics, and their mission to provide quality care. This demonstrates your genuine interest during the interview [1]. Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience: Tailor your resume to showcase skills and experiences relevant to the specific role you’re applying for. This could include clinical skills (for medical positions), communication skills, teamwork abilities, and a passion for serving others. Prepare for Behavioral and Situational Questions: Be prepared to answer questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced healthcare environment. By following these steps, you’ll gain a better understanding of the interview process and potential salary range for freshers at Tenet Healthcare. Remember, your specific skills, experience, and performance during the interview rounds can also influence your starting salary. Top questions Asked for freshers in Tenet Healthcare Tenet Healthcare offers opportunities for recent graduates (freshers) in various departments beyond clinical roles. Here are some general questions you might encounter during an interview, along with some specific examples depending on the role: General Skills and Healthcare Industry Knowledge (Basic Understanding is Okay): Tell me about yourself and your interest in Tenet Healthcare. (Highlight relevant skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking (if applicable to the role), and an interest in healthcare, the business of healthcare, or a specific department (e.g., IT, finance) you’re interested in. Mention what interests you about Tenet’s focus on patient care, their community involvement, or a specific area like data analytics (if applicable)). Describe a situation where you demonstrated excellent customer service skills. (Focus on how you went above and beyond to help someone and resolve an issue (applicable to most roles)). Explain a time you had to work effectively in a team on a project. (Showcase your teamwork abilities and communication skills). What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Be honest but highlight strengths relevant to Tenet or your desired role, like attention to detail, ability to follow instructions and work independently, willingness to learn quickly, and a strong work ethic). Why do you want to work at Tenet Healthcare? (Express interest in learning about the healthcare industry, a desire to gain experience in a large healthcare system, or an interest in Tenet’s specific areas of care or community service (if applicable)). Do you have any questions for us? (Always have thoughtful questions about the role, company culture, or training programs for freshers at Tenet). Additional Questions (May Vary by Role): (For IT Roles): Describe your experience with relevant software or programming languages (if applicable to your coursework). (For Finance Roles): Be prepared to discuss basic accounting principles (if applicable to your coursework). (For Data Analyst Roles): Describe a situation where you analyzed data and identified a trend or pattern (if applicable to your coursework). (For Administrative Roles): How would you approach prioritizing tasks and managing your time effectively in a fast-paced environment (if applicable to your experience). Tips: Show your enthusiasm and willingness to learn, even if your healthcare industry knowledge is basic. Tenet emphasizes quality care, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. Highlight your ability to work independently, follow instructions, and be a team player in a fast-paced environment (applicable to most roles). Demonstrate a problem-solving mindset and an interest in learning about the healthcare industry and Tenet’s contributions to patient care and the community (if applicable). How to apply for job in Tenet Healthcare? Apply for job in Tenet Healthcare Here’s a guide on applying for a job at Tenet Healthcare: Visit the Tenet Healthcare Careers Website: Head over to Tenet Healthcare Careers page. Search for Jobs: Utilize keywords related to your field or browse job categories (consider “Entry Level” or “Associate” positions). Look for titles that align with your skills and interests (e.g., IT Specialist, Finance Analyst, Data Analyst, Administrative Assistant). Find the Perfect Fit: Carefully read job descriptions and identify roles that align with your qualifications and aspirations. Consider your strengths and what kind of work environment you prefer (office setting, data analysis, patient interaction (depending on the role)). Apply Online: Submit your application electronically for the chosen position. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific role, highlighting relevant coursework, any prior experience (if applicable), and your eagerness to learn and contribute to Tenet’s mission of providing quality care. Prepare for Interview: If shortlisted, research Tenet Healthcare further, including their focus on patient care, their community service initiatives, and their national reach. Practice answering common interview questions and prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewer about the role, company culture, and development programs for freshers at Tenet. Demonstrate your professionalism, strong work ethic, and potential to excel in this important healthcare system. By showcasing your relevant skills, interest in healthcare, and willingness to learn, you can increase your chances of landing a job at Tenet Healthcare. The post Tenet Healthcare: Selection and Interview process, Questions/Answers appeared first on DevOpsSchool.com. View the full article

Healthcare providers have an opportunity to improve the patient experience by collecting and analyzing broader and more diverse datasets. This includes patient medical history, allergies, immunizations, family disease history, and individuals’ lifestyle data such as workout habits. Having access to those datasets and forming a 360-degree view of patients allows healthcare providers such as claim analysts to see a broader context about each patient and personalize the care they provide for every individual. This is underpinned by building a complete patient profile that enables claim analysts to identify patterns, trends, potential gaps in care, and adherence to care plans. They can then use the result of their analysis to understand a patient’s health status, treatment history, and past or upcoming doctor consultations to make more informed decisions, streamline the claim management process, and improve operational outcomes. Achieving this will also improve general public health through better and more timely interventions, identify health risks through predictive analytics, and accelerate the research and development process. AWS has invested in a zero-ETL (extract, transform, and load) future so that builders can focus more on creating value from data, instead of having to spend time preparing data for analysis. The solution proposed in this post follows a zero-ETL approach to data integration to facilitate near real-time analytics and deliver a more personalized patient experience. The solution uses AWS services such as AWS HealthLake, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Kinesis Data Streams, and AWS Lake Formation to build a 360 view of patients. These services enable you to collect and analyze data in near real time and put a comprehensive data governance framework in place that uses granular access control to secure sensitive data from unauthorized users. Zero-ETL refers to a set of features on the AWS Cloud that enable integrating different data sources with Amazon Redshift: Integration between Amazon Redshift and Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) via Amazon Redshift Spectrum and auto-copy features Integration between Amazon Redshift and Amazon Aurora, Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), and Amazon DynamoDB via the zero-ETL feature Integration between Amazon Redshift and streaming sources like Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) via streaming ingestion Solution overview Organizations in the healthcare industry are currently spending a significant amount of time and money on building complex ETL pipelines for data movement and integration. This means data will be replicated across multiple data stores via bespoke and in some cases hand-written ETL jobs, resulting in data inconsistency, latency, and potential security and privacy breaches. With support for querying cross-account Apache Iceberg tables via Amazon Redshift, you can now build a more comprehensive patient-360 analysis by querying all patient data from one place. This means you can seamlessly combine information such as clinical data stored in HealthLake with data stored in operational databases such as a patient relationship management system, together with data produced from wearable devices in near real-time. Having access to all this data enables healthcare organizations to form a holistic view of patients, improve care coordination across multiple organizations, and provide highly personalized care for each individual. The following diagram depicts the high-level solution we build to achieve these outcomes. Deploy the solution You can use the following AWS CloudFormation template to deploy the solution components: This stack creates the following resources and necessary permissions to integrate the services: A Kinesis data stream. You can send data from your streaming source to this resource for ingesting the data into a Redshift data warehouse. We use on-demand capacity mode. An Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition cluster version 8.0. This will be your online transaction processing (OLTP) data store for transactional data. To set up zero-ETL integration for ingesting transaction data to the Redshift data warehouse, see Getting started guide for near-real time operational analytics using Amazon Aurora zero-ETL integration with Amazon Redshift. The required parameter groups for source and target are already created as part of the CloudFormation stack. An Amazon Redshift Serverless workgroup and associated namespace. The CloudFormation stack also deploys a provisioned Redshift cluster. If you would like to work with Redshift Serverless, you can remove the provisioned cluster from the template and vice versa. An AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) role with required policies and trust relationships. Network components, including VPC, subnets, route table, and associations. You can customize these resources as per your organization’s rules. AWS Solution setup AWS HealthLake AWS HealthLake enables organizations in the health industry to securely store, transform, transact, and analyze health data. It stores data in HL7 FHIR format, which is an interoperability standard designed for quick and efficient exchange of health data. When you create a HealthLake data store, a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) data repository is made available via a RESTful API endpoint. Simultaneously and as part of AWS HealthLake managed service, the nested JSON FHIR data undergoes an ETL process and is stored in Apache Iceberg open table format in Amazon S3. To create an AWS HealthLake data store, refer to Getting started with AWS HealthLake. Make sure to select the option Preload sample data when creating your data store. In real-world scenarios and when you use AWS HealthLake in production environments, you don’t need to load sample data into your AWS HealthLake data store. Instead, you can use FHIR REST API operations to manage and search resources in your AWS HealthLake data store. We use two tables from the sample data stored in HealthLake: patient and allergyintolerance. Query AWS HealthLake tables with Redshift Serverless Amazon Redshift is the data warehousing service available on the AWS Cloud that provides up to six times better price-performance than any other cloud data warehouses in the market, with a fully managed, AI-powered, massively parallel processing (MPP) data warehouse built for performance, scale, and availability. With continuous innovations added to Amazon Redshift, it is now more than just a data warehouse. It enables organizations of different sizes and in different industries to access all the data they have in their AWS environments and analyze it from one single location with a set of features under the zero-ETL umbrella. Amazon Redshift integrates with AWS HealthLake and data lakes through Redshift Spectrum and Amazon S3 auto-copy features, enabling you to query data directly from files on Amazon S3. Query AWS HealthLake data with Amazon Redshift Amazon Redshift makes it straightforward to query the data stored in S3-based data lakes with automatic mounting of an AWS Glue Data Catalog in the Redshift query editor v2. This means you no longer have to create an external schema in Amazon Redshift to use the data lake tables cataloged in the Data Catalog. To get started with this feature, see Querying the AWS Glue Data Catalog. After it is set up and you’re connected to the Redshift query editor v2, complete the following steps: Validate that your tables are visible in the query editor V2. The Data Catalog objects are listed under the awsdatacatalog database. FHIR data stored in AWS HealthLake is highly nested. To learn about how to un-nest semi-structured data with Amazon Redshift, see Tutorial: Querying nested data with Amazon Redshift Spectrum. Use the following query to un-nest the allergyintolerance and patient tables, join them together, and get patient details and their allergies: WITH patient_allergy AS ( SELECT resourcetype, c AS allery_category, a."patient"."reference", SUBSTRING(a."patient"."reference", 9, LEN(a."patient"."reference")) AS patient_id, a.recordeddate AS allergy_record_date, NVL(cd."code", 'NA') AS allergy_code, NVL(cd.display, 'NA') AS allergy_description FROM "awsdatacatalog"."datastore_01_179674d36391d68926a8d74c12599306_healthlake_view"."allergyintolerance" a LEFT JOIN a.category c ON TRUE LEFT JOIN a.reaction r ON TRUE LEFT JOIN r.manifestation m ON TRUE LEFT JOIN m.coding cd ON TRUE ), patinet_info AS ( SELECT id, gender, g as given_name, n.family as family_name, pr as prefix FROM "awsdatacatalog"."datastore_01_179674d36391d68926a8d74c12599306_healthlake_view"."patient" p LEFT JOIN p.name n ON TRUE LEFT JOIN n.given g ON TRUE LEFT JOIN n.prefix pr ON TRUE ) SELECT DISTINCT p.id, p.gender, p.prefix, p.given_name, p.family_name, pa.allery_category, pa.allergy_code, pa.allergy_description from patient_allergy pa JOIN patinet_info p ON pa.patient_id = p.id ORDER BY p.id, pa.allergy_code ; To eliminate the need for Amazon Redshift to un-nest data every time a query is run, you can create a materialized view to hold un-nested and flattened data. Materialized views are an effective mechanism to deal with complex and repeating queries. They contain a precomputed result set, based on a SQL query over one or more base tables. You can issue SELECT statements to query a materialized view, in the same way that you can query other tables or views in the database. Use the following SQL to create a materialized view. You use it later to build a complete view of patients: CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW patient_allergy_info AUTO REFRESH YES AS WITH patient_allergy AS ( SELECT resourcetype, c AS allery_category, a."patient"."reference", SUBSTRING(a."patient"."reference", 9, LEN(a."patient"."reference")) AS patient_id, a.recordeddate AS allergy_record_date, NVL(cd."code", 'NA') AS allergy_code, NVL(cd.display, 'NA') AS allergy_description FROM "awsdatacatalog"."datastore_01_179674d36391d68926a8d74c12599306_healthlake_view"."allergyintolerance" a LEFT JOIN a.category c ON TRUE LEFT JOIN a.reaction r ON TRUE LEFT JOIN r.manifestation m ON TRUE LEFT JOIN m.coding cd ON TRUE ), patinet_info AS ( SELECT id, gender, g as given_name, n.family as family_name, pr as prefix FROM "awsdatacatalog"."datastore_01_179674d36391d68926a8d74c12599306_healthlake_view"."patient" p LEFT JOIN p.name n ON TRUE LEFT JOIN n.given g ON TRUE LEFT JOIN n.prefix pr ON TRUE ) SELECT DISTINCT p.id, p.gender, p.prefix, p.given_name, p.family_name, pa.allery_category, pa.allergy_code, pa.allergy_description from patient_allergy pa JOIN patinet_info p ON pa.patient_id = p.id ORDER BY p.id, pa.allergy_code ; You have confirmed you can query data in AWS HealthLake via Amazon Redshift. Next, you set up zero-ETL integration between Amazon Redshift and Amazon Aurora MySQL. Set up zero-ETL integration between Amazon Aurora MySQL and Redshift Serverless Applications such as front-desk software, which are used to schedule appointments and register new patients, store data in OLTP databases such as Aurora. To get data out of OLTP databases and have them ready for analytics use cases, data teams might have to spend a considerable amount of time to build, test, and deploy ETL jobs that are complex to maintain and scale. With the Amazon Redshift zero-ETL integration with Amazon Aurora MySQL, you can run analytics on the data stored in OLTP databases and combine them with the rest of the data in Amazon Redshift and AWS HealthLake in near real time. In the next steps in this section, we connect to a MySQL database and set up zero-ETL integration with Amazon Redshift. Connect to an Aurora MySQL database and set up data Connect to your Aurora MySQL database using your editor of choice using AdminUsername and AdminPassword that you entered when running the CloudFormation stack. (For simplicity, it is the same for Amazon Redshift and Aurora.) When you’re connected to your database, complete the following steps: Create a new database by running the following command: CREATE DATABASE front_desk_app_db; Create a new table. This table simulates storing patient information as they visit clinics and other healthcare centers. For simplicity and to demonstrate specific capabilities, we assume that patient IDs are the same in AWS HealthLake and the front-of-office application. In real-world scenarios, this can be a hashed version of a national health care number: CREATE TABLE patient_appointment ( patient_id varchar(250), gender varchar(1), date_of_birth date, appointment_datetime datetime, phone_number varchar(15), PRIMARY KEY (patient_id, appointment_datetime) ); Having a primary key in the table is mandatory for zero-ETL integration to work. Insert new records into the source table in the Aurora MySQL database. To demonstrate the required functionalities, make sure the patient_id of the sample records inserted into the MySQL database match the ones in AWS HealthLake. Replace [patient_id_1] and [patient_id_2] in the following query with the ones from the Redshift query you ran previously (the query that joined allergyintolerance and patient): INSERT INTO front_desk_app_db.patient_appointment (patient_id, gender, date_of_birth, appointment_datetime, phone_number) VALUES([PATIENT_ID_1], 'F', '1988-7-04', '2023-12-19 10:15:00', '0401401401'), ([PATIENT_ID_1], 'F', '1988-7-04', '2023-09-19 11:00:00', '0401401401'), ([PATIENT_ID_1], 'F', '1988-7-04', '2023-06-06 14:30:00', '0401401401'), ([PATIENT_ID_2], 'F', '1972-11-14', '2023-12-19 08:15:00', '0401401402'), ([PATIENT_ID_2], 'F', '1972-11-14', '2023-01-09 12:15:00', '0401401402'); Now that your source table is populated with sample records, you can set up zero-ETL and have data ingested into Amazon Redshift. Set up zero-ETL integration between Amazon Aurora MySQL and Amazon Redshift Complete the following steps to create your zero-ETL integration: On the Amazon RDS console, choose Databases in the navigation pane. Choose the DB identifier of your cluster (not the instance). On the Zero-ETL Integration tab, choose Create zero-ETL integration. Follow the steps to create your integration. Create a Redshift database from the integration Next, you create a target database from the integration. You can do this by running a couple of simple SQL commands on Amazon Redshift. Log in to the query editor V2 and run the following commands: Get the integration ID of the zero-ETL you set up between your source database and Amazon Redshift: SELECT * FROM svv_integration; Create a database using the integration ID: CREATE DATABASE ztl_demo FROM INTEGRATION '[INTEGRATION_ID '; Query the database and validate that a new table is created and populated with data from your source MySQL database: SELECT * FROM ztl_demo.front_desk_app_db.patient_appointment; It might take a few seconds for the first set of records to appear in Amazon Redshift. This shows that the integration is working as expected. To validate it further, you can insert a new record in your Aurora MySQL database, and it will be available in Amazon Redshift for querying in near real time within a few seconds. Set up streaming ingestion for Amazon Redshift Another aspect of zero-ETL on AWS, for real-time and streaming data, is realized through Amazon Redshift Streaming Ingestion. It provides low-latency, high-speed ingestion of streaming data from Kinesis Data Streams and Amazon MSK. It lowers the effort required to have data ready for analytics workloads, lowers the cost of running such workloads on the cloud, and decreases the operational burden of maintaining the solution. In the context of healthcare, understanding an individual’s exercise and movement patterns can help with overall health assessment and better treatment planning. In this section, you send simulated data from wearable devices to Kinesis Data Streams and integrate it with the rest of the data you already have access to from your Redshift Serverless data warehouse. For step-by-step instructions, refer to Real-time analytics with Amazon Redshift streaming ingestion. Note the following steps when you set up streaming ingestion for Amazon Redshift: Select wearables_stream and use the following template when sending data to Amazon Kinesis Data Streams via Kinesis Data Generator, to simulate data generated by wearable devices. Replace [PATIENT_ID_1] and [PATIENT_ID_2] with the patient IDs you earlier when inserting new records into your Aurora MySQL table: { "patient_id": "{{random.arrayElement(["[PATIENT_ID_1]"," [PATIENT_ID_2]"])}}", "steps_increment": "{{random.arrayElement( [0,1] )}}", "heart_rate": {{random.number( { "min":45, "max":120} )}} } Create an external schema called from_kds by running the following query and replacing [IAM_ROLE_ARN] with the ARN of the role created by the CloudFormation stack (Patient360BlogRole): CREATE EXTERNAL SCHEMA from_kds FROM KINESIS IAM_ROLE '[IAM_ROLE_ARN]'; Use the following SQL when creating a materialized view to consume data from the stream: CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW patient_wearable_data AUTO REFRESH YES AS SELECT approximate_arrival_timestamp, JSON_PARSE(kinesis_data) as Data FROM from_kds."wearables_stream" WHERE CAN_JSON_PARSE(kinesis_data); To validate that streaming ingestion works as expected, refresh the materialized view to get the data you already sent to the data stream and query the table to make sure data has landed in Amazon Redshift: REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW patient_wearable_data; SELECT * FROM patient_wearable_data ORDER BY approximate_arrival_timestamp DESC; Query and analyze patient wearable data The results in the data column of the preceding query are in JSON format. Amazon Redshift makes it straightforward to work with semi-structured data in JSON format. It uses PartiQL language to offer SQL-compatible access to relational, semi-structured, and nested data. Use the following query to flatten data: SELECT data."patient_id"::varchar AS patient_id, data."steps_increment"::integer as steps_increment, data."heart_rate"::integer as heart_rate, approximate_arrival_timestamp FROM patient_wearable_data ORDER BY approximate_arrival_timestamp DESC; The result looks like the following screenshot. Now that you know how to flatten JSON data, you can analyze it further. Use the following query to get the number of minutes a patient has been physically active per day, based on their heart rate (greater than 80): WITH patient_wearble_flattened AS ( SELECT data."patient_id"::varchar AS patient_id, data."steps_increment"::integer as steps_increment, data."heart_rate"::integer as heart_rate, approximate_arrival_timestamp, DATE(approximate_arrival_timestamp) AS date_received, extract(hour from approximate_arrival_timestamp) AS hour_received, extract(minute from approximate_arrival_timestamp) AS minute_received FROM patient_wearable_data ), patient_active_minutes AS ( SELECT patient_id, date_received, hour_received, minute_received, avg(heart_rate) AS heart_rate FROM patient_wearble_flattened GROUP BY patient_id, date_received, hour_received, minute_received HAVING avg(heart_rate) > 80 ) SELECT patient_id, date_received, COUNT(heart_rate) AS active_minutes_count FROM patient_active_minutes GROUP BY patient_id, date_received ORDER BY patient_id, date_received; Create a complete patient 360 Now that you are able to query all patient data with Redshift Serverless, you can combine the three datasets you used in this post and form a comprehensive patient 360 view with the following query: WITH patient_appointment_info AS ( SELECT "patient_id", "gender", "date_of_birth", "appointment_datetime", "phone_number" FROM ztl_demo.front_desk_app_db.patient_appointment ), patient_wearble_flattened AS ( SELECT data."patient_id"::varchar AS patient_id, data."steps_increment"::integer as steps_increment, data."heart_rate"::integer as heart_rate, approximate_arrival_timestamp, DATE(approximate_arrival_timestamp) AS date_received, extract(hour from approximate_arrival_timestamp) AS hour_received, extract(minute from approximate_arrival_timestamp) AS minute_received FROM patient_wearable_data ), patient_active_minutes AS ( SELECT patient_id, date_received, hour_received, minute_received, avg(heart_rate) AS heart_rate FROM patient_wearble_flattened GROUP BY patient_id, date_received, hour_received, minute_received HAVING avg(heart_rate) > 80 ), patient_active_minutes_count AS ( SELECT patient_id, date_received, COUNT(heart_rate) AS active_minutes_count FROM patient_active_minutes GROUP BY patient_id, date_received ) SELECT pai.patient_id, pai.gender, pai.prefix, pai.given_name, pai.family_name, pai.allery_category, pai.allergy_code, pai.allergy_description, ppi.date_of_birth, ppi.appointment_datetime, ppi.phone_number, pamc.date_received, pamc.active_minutes_count FROM patient_allergy_info pai LEFT JOIN patient_active_minutes_count pamc ON pai.patient_id = pamc.patient_id LEFT JOIN patient_appointment_info ppi ON pai.patient_id = ppi.patient_id GROUP BY pai.patient_id, pai.gender, pai.prefix, pai.given_name, pai.family_name, pai.allery_category, pai.allergy_code, pai.allergy_description, ppi.date_of_birth, ppi.appointment_datetime, ppi.phone_number, pamc.date_received, pamc.active_minutes_count ORDER BY pai.patient_id, pai.gender, pai.prefix, pai.given_name, pai.family_name, pai.allery_category, pai.allergy_code, pai.allergy_description, ppi.date_of_birth DESC, ppi.appointment_datetime DESC, ppi.phone_number DESC, pamc.date_received, pamc.active_minutes_count You can use the solution and queries used here to expand the datasets used in your analysis. For example, you can include other tables from AWS HealthLake as needed. Clean up To clean up resources you created, complete the following steps: Delete the zero-ETL integration between Amazon RDS and Amazon Redshift. Delete the CloudFormation stack. Delete AWS HealthLake data store Conclusion Forming a comprehensive 360 view of patients by integrating data from various different sources offers numerous benefits for organizations operating in the healthcare industry. It enables healthcare providers to gain a holistic understanding of a patient’s medical journey, enhances clinical decision-making, and allows for more accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans. With zero-ETL features for data integration on AWS, it is effortless to build a view of patients securely, cost-effectively, and with minimal effort. You can then use visualization tools such as Amazon QuickSight to build dashboards or use Amazon Redshift ML to enable data analysts and database developers to train machine learning (ML) models with the data integrated through Amazon Redshift zero-ETL. The result is a set of ML models that are trained with a broader view into patients, their medical history, and their lifestyle, and therefore enable you make more accurate predictions about their upcoming health needs. About the Authors Saeed Barghi is a Sr. Analytics Specialist Solutions Architect specializing in architecting enterprise data platforms. He has extensive experience in the fields of data warehousing, data engineering, data lakes, and AI/ML. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Saeed works with public sector customers in Australia and New Zealand. Satesh Sonti is a Sr. Analytics Specialist Solutions Architect based out of Atlanta, specialized in building enterprise data platforms, data warehousing, and analytics solutions. He has over 17 years of experience in building data assets and leading complex data platform programs for banking and insurance clients across the globe. View the full article

Molina Healthcare: Selection and Interview process, Questions/Answers Molina Healthcare is a Fortune 500 managed care organization in the United States. They focus on providing health insurance plans for low-income individuals and families through government-sponsored programs like Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Here are some key facts about Molina Healthcare: Founded in 1980 by Dr. C. David Molina Headquarters: Long Beach, California, USA Operates in over 21 states Focuses on Medicaid, SCHIP, and state insurance marketplaces What are the selection and Interview process of Molina Healthcare? The selection process at Molina Healthcare can vary depending on the specific role, location, and level of experience required. Here’s a general breakdown of what you might encounter: 1. Application: Submit your application through the Molina Healthcare careers website. 2. Application Review: Recruiters will screen resumes and applications to shortlist candidates who meet the qualifications for the position. 3. Interviews: Shortlisted candidates can expect one or more rounds of interviews: * **Phone Interview:** An initial phone interview with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss your background, interest in the role, and understanding of the healthcare industry (especially for non-clinical roles). * **In-Person Interviews:** If you progress further, you might have interviews with a panel that could include: * Hiring Managers and Team Members from the relevant department (care coordination, claims processing, etc.) * Clinicians (for clinical care-related roles) * HR Representatives These interviews will delve deeper into your experience, knowledge, and skills relevant to the specific position. Here are some areas they might explore: * Understanding of Medicaid and SCHIP programs (especially relevant for some roles). * Experience in healthcare administration, care coordination, or social services (depending on the role). * Strong communication and interpersonal skills, especially for roles involving patient interaction. * Ability to work in a fast-paced and compassionate environment. 4. Additional Assessments: Some positions, particularly those involving data analysis or claims processing, might involve assessments to evaluate your: * **Data Analysis Skills:** These could assess your proficiency in working with spreadsheets or data analysis tools used by Molina. 5. Background Check: Upon receiving an offer, a background check is standard procedure. Timeline: The interview process at Molina Healthcare can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the role and the number of candidates involved. Some additional tips for your Molina Healthcare interview: Research the company: Learn about Molina Healthcare’s mission of providing quality healthcare to underserved communities, their focus on government programs, and company culture, which emphasizes compassion and service. Tailor your resume and cover letter: Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the specific position you are applying for. Showcase your experience in healthcare administration, social services, or related fields (if applicable). Prepare for common interview questions: Research common interview questions in the healthcare industry and be ready to showcase your skills and knowledge. Be ready to discuss your passion for helping others and making a positive impact. Practice behavioral questions: Be prepared to answer questions about your past experiences and how they demonstrate your problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. Molina Healthcare emphasizes collaboration and a patient-centered approach. Follow up: Thank the interviewer(s) for their time after the interview and reiterate your interest in the position and your desire to contribute to Molina’s mission. By being well-prepared and demonstrating your qualifications, experience, and passion for serving low-income communities, you can increase your chances of success in the selection process at Molina Healthcare. How many rounds of interview conducted in Molina Healthcare? The number of interview rounds at Molina Healthcare can vary depending on the specific role, department, and location. Here’s a general estimate: Typical Range: One to two in-person interviews after an initial screening or phone interview [1, 2]. Possible Additional Stages: Initial Screening: This might involve submitting your resume and cover letter online, or a brief phone call to discuss your qualifications and suitability for the role. Online Assessments (possible for some roles): Expect online assessments to gauge your abilities in areas like problem-solving, basic math skills, or situational judgment tests (depending on the role). What is the salary for freshers in Molina Healthcare? Salary for freshers in Molina Healthcare Similar to the interview process, publicly available information on exact salaries for freshers at Molina Healthcare is limited. Here are ways to get a better idea: Molina Healthcare Careers Website: Search for specific job openings on the careers website. You might find salary ranges listed for some positions, especially for experienced roles. Salary Websites: Explore salary websites like Glassdoor or Indeed. Search for similar roles in the healthcare industry for entry-level positions. This can provide a general range. Job Postings: Look at job postings for similar roles in your target location. Salary ranges might be mentioned in some postings. Tips: During the interview process, if appropriate, you can inquire about the compensation structure for the role you’re applying for. However, it’s best to do this after you’ve expressed your qualifications and interest in the position. Research Salary Trends: Look for salary reports or surveys specific to the healthcare industry and your target location. This can give you insights into average starting salaries for freshers. By using these strategies, you can gain a better understanding of the interview process and potential salary range for freshers at Molina Healthcare. Remember, your specific skills, experience, and qualifications can also influence your starting salary. Top questions Asked for freshers in Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare, a Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace health plan provider, offers opportunities for recent graduates (freshers). Here are some common interview questions you might encounter: General Skills and Healthcare Industry Interest: Tell me about yourself and your interest in Molina Healthcare. (Highlight relevant skills like communication, customer service (if applicable), teamwork, problem-solving, and a willingness to learn. Mention what interests you about the healthcare industry or a specific area at Molina, like member services, data analysis, or program coordination). Describe a time you faced a challenge and how you overcame it. (Showcase problem-solving skills, resilience, and initiative). Explain a situation where you had to work effectively in a team on a project. (Demonstrate teamwork abilities and communication skills). What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Be honest but highlight strengths relevant to healthcare or the desired role, like strong work ethic, ability to learn quickly, and a desire to help others). Why do you want to work at Molina Healthcare? (Express your interest in healthcare, a specific aspect of their work (e.g., community outreach, digital health initiatives), or their mission of providing affordable healthcare, and how it aligns with your values). Do you have any questions for us? (Always have thoughtful questions prepared about the role, company culture, or training programs for freshers at Molina Healthcare). Additional Questions (May Vary by Role): (For Customer Service Roles): How would you approach handling a call from a member with a complex healthcare question? (For Data Analysis Roles): Do you have experience with any data analysis tools or software (if applicable to the role)? (For Program Coordination Roles): How would you stay organized and manage multiple tasks effectively? Tips: Research Molina Healthcare’s mission, values, and the specific healthcare plan types they offer (Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace). Be prepared for questions about your ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle sensitive healthcare information. How to apply for job in Molina Healthcare? Apply for job in Molina Healthcare Here’s a guide on applying for a job at Molina Healthcare: Visit the Molina Healthcare Careers Website: Head over to Molina Healthcare Careers page. Search for Jobs: Utilize keywords related to your field or browse job categories (e.g., Customer Service, Data Analysis, Program Coordination, Member Services). Look for “Entry Level” or “Associate” positions that align with your skills and interests. Find the Perfect Fit: Carefully read job descriptions and identify roles that align with your qualifications and aspirations within the healthcare industry. Consider your strengths and what kind of work environment you prefer (direct member interaction, data analysis, program coordination, or something else entirely). Apply Online: Submit your application electronically for the chosen position. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific role, highlighting relevant coursework, any prior experience in a healthcare setting (if applicable), and your eagerness to learn and contribute to Molina Healthcare’s mission of providing quality healthcare to all. Prepare for Interview: If shortlisted, research Molina Healthcare and the specific role further. Learn more about the healthcare industry (to the best of your ability, especially if it’s a new field for you). Practice answering common interview questions and prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewer about the role, company culture, and mentorship opportunities for freshers at Molina Healthcare. Demonstrate your professionalism, strong work ethic, and potential to excel in a dynamic and purpose-driven environment. By showcasing your relevant skills, interest in healthcare, and willingness to learn, you can increase your chances of landing a job at Molina Healthcare. The post Molina Healthcare: Selection and Interview process, Questions/Answers appeared first on DevOpsSchool.com. View the full article

In a fascinating adoption of technology, a surgical team in the UK recently used Apple’s Vision Pro to help with a medical procedure. It wasn’t a surgeon who donned the headset, but Suvi Verho, the lead scrub nurse (also known as a theater nurse) at the Cromwell Hospital in London. Scrub nurses help surgeons by providing them with all the equipment and support they need to complete an operation – in this case, it was a spinal surgery. Verho told The Daily Mail that the Vision Pro used an app made by software developer eXeX to float “superimposed virtual screens in front of [her displaying] vital information”. The report adds that the mixed reality headset was used to help her prepare, keep track of the surgery, and choose which tools to hand to the surgeon. There’s even a photograph of the operation itself in the publication. (Image credit: Cromwell Hospital/The Daily Mail) Verho sounds like a big fan of the Vision Pro stating, perhaps somewhat hyperbolically, “It eliminates human error… [and] guesswork”. Even so, anything that ensures operations go as smoothly as possible is A-OK in our books. Syed Aftab, the surgeon who led the procedure, also had several words of praise. He had never worked with Verho before. However, he said the headset turned an unfamiliar scrub nurse “into someone with ten years’ experience” working alongside him. Mixed reality support eXeX, as a company, specializes in upgrading hospitals by implementing mixed reality. This isn’t the first time one of their products has been used in an operating room. Last month, American surgeon Dr. Robert Masson used the Vision Pro with eXeX’s app to help him perform a spinal procedure. Again, it doesn’t appear he physically wore the headset, although his assistants did. They used the device to follow procedural guides from inside a sterile environment, something that was previously deemed “impossible.” Dr. Masson had his own words of praise stating that the combination of the Vision Pro and the eXeX tool enabled an “undistracted workflow” for his team. It’s unknown which software was used. However, if you check the company’s website, it appears both Dr. Masson’s team and Nurse Verho utilized ExperienceX, a mixed reality app giving technicians “a touch-free heads up display” Apple's future in medicine The Vision Pro’s future in medicine won’t just be for spinal surgeries. In a recent blog post, Apple highlighted several other medical apps harnessing visionOS Medical corporation Stryker created myMako to help doctors plan for their patients’ joint replacement surgeries. For medical students, Cinematic Reality by Siemens Healthineers offers “interactive holograms of the human body”. These two and more are available for download off the App Store, although some of the software requires a connection to the developer’s platform to work. You can download if you want to, but keep in mind they're primarily for medical professionals. If you're looking for a headset with a wider range of usability, check out TechRadar's list of the best VR headsets for 2024. You might also like Could the Apple Vision Pro actually be useful for work? The best Apple Vision Pro work apps around — Microsoft, Zoom, Webex, TeamViewer and more5 big features that the Apple Vision Pro is strangely missingApple Vision Pro is good for many things but drawing is not one of them View the full article

AI is making a powerful impact all around us, but few sectors stand to benefit as profoundly as healthcare. Doctors and nurses are already starting to use AI as a capable assistant — getting help with medical notes, for example, or using AI in medical imaging to help with disease detection. This is just the beginning of the transformational journey that will ultimately help all of us be healthier. From research to real-world applications: Google Cloud advances its healthcare AI tools At Google Cloud, we build AI that can lighten the load for healthcare professionals while transforming the patient experience, and to accelerate this mission, today, we announced three important advancements: the general availability of Vertex AI Search for Healthcare, now integrated with MedLM and Healthcare Data Engine (HDE); HDE international availability; and new capabilities in ​​MedLM for customers to test. What's new and why it matters: Healthcare search gets smarter, and saves time: Vertex AI Search for Healthcare significantly improves how healthcare professionals and other employees find critical information within health records and medical documents. Medical information is traditionally hard to search, given complex vocabulary and abbreviations. With this tool, those nuances are understood – it's there in one intelligent search. Plus, thanks to integration with MedLM, Google Cloud’s family of models fine-tuned for the healthcare industry, Vertex AI Search for Healthcare can generate answers to questions about the patient record, making the information easier to find and digest. With healthcare workers stretched thin, imagine all that time saved when AI summarizes records and pinpoints exactly what a clinician needs to know. Less time wasted means more time focused on patients. (Vertex AI Search for Healthcare is integrated today with HDE, and MedLM integration is available for select early access customers.) Not just for search, but also for factuality while using large language models: Vertex AI Search uses the organization’s data to search, grounding gen AI outputs in this data to reduce the risks of hallucinations or inaccurate responses. In addition, this tool can cite and link to original, internal sources of the information, giving the user confidence in where information is coming from. Medical understanding deepens: Vertex AI Search now integrates with MedLM, Google Cloud's family of medically-tuned AI models and tools designed to understand complex medical language. This powerful combo gives even more context-rich answers to healthcare workers' questions. Healthcare-specific data platform goes global: Healthcare Data Engine (HDE), the platform healthcare and life science companies need to make healthcare data more useful, is now available in countries around the world. HDE enables an interoperable, longitudinal record of patient data, and provides clinical insights in FHIR format, the healthcare industry standard. Since AI is only as good as the data it’s using, this is a critical tool that companies all over the world can now take advantage of. Building a high quality data foundation becomes easier: HDE has a simplified pay-as-you-go pricing model to better align with the value customers get from the platform. We’ve also made HDE easier to deploy, upgrade, and manage by creating a managed service version of the product. And to make getting data into HDE easier, we’ve worked with Google Research to introduce a new data mapping tool called Data Mapper that brings a graphical mapping interface into the product. More Google Research coming to Cloud customers: Two new capabilities are coming to MedLM for early customer testing: first, MedLM for Chest X-ray, which can help with classification of chest x-rays for operational, screening, and diagnostics use cases; and second, a task-specific API called Condition Summary, which will be available soon to allowlisted customers. Beyond the hype: healthcare leaders are transforming with this technology Organizations like HCA Healthcare, Highmark Health, MEDITECH, Oscar Health, and Telus Health are already leveraging Google Cloud's generative AI tools to drive meaningful change. HCA Healthcare is collaborating with Google Cloud to streamline documentation processes, easing the workload for doctors and nurses. Highmark Health is exploring ways to enhance personalized care delivery for members through AI-powered insights. MEDITECH has integrated AI into its EHR system to improve data search and summarization capabilities and is now working with Google Cloud to support the auto-generation of clinical documentation at critical points in clinician workflow. Meanwhile, Oscar Health is leveraging AI to reduce confusion, simplify experiences, and improve satisfaction for consumers and providers. This includes streamlining processes that have historically made the healthcare experience cumbersome, including common friction points like claim denials and referrals. And, Telus Health combined a strong data foundation with search and other gen AI tools to put its healthcare data to work for nearly 70 million lives it serves worldwide. Vertex AI Search is also driving a significant impact for life sciences companies. Insmed Incorporated, a global biopharmaceutical company on a mission to transform the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, began collaborating with Google Cloud in 2023 to harness the power of gen AI to reduce the time and increase the efficiency of developing and delivering much-needed medicines. Using Vertex AI Search with external data, Insmed has transformed the way it uses PubMed, a free and widely-used resource supporting the search and retrieval of life sciences literature. A typical search for information on a disease or area of treatment takes considerable time as users sift through multiple retrieved results. With Vertex AI Search-enabled capability, Insmed users now receive a generative response that curates the most relevant information and gives readers a grounded summarization of what they’re looking for. The result is far more tailored than what a traditional search would yield, and also includes specific articles and links. This contextual approach to search has the potential to create efficiencies throughout the research and development process. In addition, Insmed’s Market Research group is using Vertex AI Search to rapidly search, retrieve, and summarize information from presentations and finalized research reports. The team can now quickly cull through vast amounts of internal data to answer a specific question and have the appropriate reference at their fingertips. Looking beyond Market Research, Insmed is embarking on a proof of concept to enable enterprise search using all company wide data. powered by Vertex AI Search. These examples demonstrate how generative AI is moving beyond theoretical benefits into tangible improvements within the healthcare industry. As these advances roll out globally, they hold the potential to transform healthcare organizations and systems worldwide. Focusing on what matters most From research to real-world applications, Google Cloud's advancements hold the promise of easing the burdens on healthcare workers and improving patient outcomes. By supporting human expertise with AI-powered tools, we move closer to a future where personalized, data-driven care is accessible to everyone, and where healthcare professionals can focus on what matters most – the well-being of their patients. View the full article

Co-authored by Bert Hoorne, Senior Program Manager, Health AI and Lilach Goldshtein, Program Manager, Health AI. The generative AI era is driving demand for chatbots and copilots for health that assist patients and medical professionals with various administrative and clinical tasks. These chatbots would potentially use large language models (LLMs) to generate conversational AI chat experiences that can provide accurate and reliable information based on large amounts of medical literature and data. As a result of the growing demand, many healthcare organizations are striving to build their own healthcare copilot experiences that deliver intelligent and engaging chat experiences leveraging LLMs and generative AI. In the process, healthcare organizations have realized that as part of healthcare’s unique needs, they need a way to combine the benefits of using generative AI for engaging chat experiences with the benefits of protocol-based flows and custom workflows to provide accurate and relevant information. A hybrid approach that combines both would allow them to offer a more personalized and comprehensive service to their customers and end users. Moreover, healthcare chat experiences need to leverage domain-specialized models and health-specific safeguards to meet the healthcare industry quality bar. Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare Deliver meaningful outcomes across the healthcare journey Discover more To address these needs, we’re adding new healthcare-specific safeguards for generative AI in private preview within the Azure AI Health Bot services. Preview customers can experience an integration with Microsoft Copilot Studio, allowing healthcare organizations to build their own copilot experiences. Customers can sign up for the private preview here. Providing reusable healthcare-specific functionality: providing healthcare-specific, pre-built capabilities, use cases and scenarios—including pre-packaged healthcare intelligence plugins, templates, content, and healthcare-specialized skills and connectors. Answering the unique needs of healthcare: enabling customers to build copilots for their patients and doctors, supporting protocol-based workflows side-by-side with generative AI-based answers, and allowing customers to keep alignment with up-to-date industry standards, guidelines, and protocols. Applying healthcare-specific safeguards: allowing customers to build copilots responsibly adapted to healthcare needs, apply health-adapted compliance controls, and implement health-specific safeguards and quality measures that are specialized for healthcare. Generative AI capabilities In April 2023, we announced the preview of Azure AI Health Bot with Azure OpenAI Service, enabling fallback answers based on generative AI. Today, we are expanding those capabilities beyond fallback answers, enabling our healthcare customers to further enrich their copilot experiences with the following capabilities in private preview: Power generative answers that are grounded on customer’s own sources. The sources are incorporated during the copilot experience, alongside authored descriptive scenarios, protocol-based pre-built flows, and skills. Customers are able to bring in their Azure OpenAI Service endpoint and index to enable generative answers grounded on their desired sources. Generative answers that are grounded on the customer’s websites. These sources are real-time queried and can include medical guidelines, health articles, patient treatments, frequently asked questions, appointment scheduling information, and many more. This approach ensures that patients receive not only medical guidance but also support for the many aspects of their healthcare journey. New healthcare intelligence capabilities to incorporate generative answers grounded on credible healthcare sources. Sources include the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and others. Seamlessly use pre-built protocol-based healthcare intelligence capabilities such as symptom checkers and triage, and a rich gallery of pre-built protocol templates side-by-side with generative AI based answers. Credible generative AI fallback ensures reliable and accurate responses in healthcare-related scenarios. In cases where answers are not available, this feature leverages credible content to enhance responses, providing users with reliable guidance backed by clinical Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) support. Helping to mitigate potential errors and ensures the delivery of trusted information in healthcare settings. Built-in safeguards Azure AI Health Bot with generative AI technology provides built-in healthcare safeguards now in private preview, for building copilot experiences that fits healthcare’s unique requirements and needs. Those include: Clinical safeguards include healthcare-adapted filters and quality checks to allow verification of clinical evidence associated with answers, identifying hallucinations and omissions in generative answers, credible sources enforcement, and more. Healthcare chat safeguards include customizable AI-related disclaimers that are incorporated into the chat experience presented to users, enabling the collection of end-user feedback, and analyzing the engagement through built-in dedicated reporting, as well as healthcare-adapted abuse monitoring, among other things. Healthcare-adapted compliance controls include built-in Data Subject Rights (DSRs), pre-built consent management, out-of-the-box audit trails, and more. Customer excitement is growing Many customers are already taking advantage of the generative AI capabilities during preview. Roche Pharmaceuticals shared more about how they are using the Azure AI Health Bot to power their copilot experience. “As we move forward into the Age of Copilots, our collaboration with Microsoft and Crayon has enabled us to explore new ways how clinicians can interact with our Healthcare Professional (HCP) portals. By leveraging Azure AI Health Bot to build copilot experiences for doctors, we are developing an intuitive, conversational interface that lets clinicians access and explore Roche’s clinical documentations in a more natural way and to cope with the complexity and flood of information. The pilot for this new user experience, powered by generative AI features and compliant with the necessary security standards, has been integrated into our systems and will be further tailored to regional market needs. We’re excited to see how this revolutionary AI experience will transform healthcare, making knowledge more accessible and actionable for clinicians around the world.” —Dr. Georg Isbary, Head of Portfolio and Customer Excellence and Elias Zimmer, Manager of Digital Customer Excellence from Roche Pharma Germany. Ramsay Santé is collaborating with Microsoft to create a copilot experience for their doctors and clinical staff using this technology with generative AI. “We are excited to be collaborating with Microsoft to explore the potential of generative AI through services like the Azure AI Health Bot. This partnership aims to enhance healthcare content utilization at Ramsay Santé, offering a transformative way for healthcare professionals to engage with the vast clinical knowledge base. Our innovative solution facilitates seamless and efficient interactions, providing healthcare teams with quick access to answers, recommendations, and inventive troubleshooting solutions, all delivered through an intuitive chat interface. We are confident that it holds the promise to play a pivotal role in our daily operations, reducing time to find relevant content, and potentially revolutionizing the way we provide patient care.” —Niklas Sundler, Technology Innovation Director at Ramsay Santé. Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel—a Clalit Hospital, represented by Dr. Patrick Stafler, Chief Medical Officer of Schneider Innovation Center, and Dr. Shai Yitzhaki, Pediatric Doctor and Startup Advisor, stated: “One of the ultimate goals is to empower physicians in their decision-making to not only reduce workload and accelerate processes, but also to enhance compliance with established diagnostic and treatment protocols, thereby elevating patient safety. We have been using an early preview of the Azure AI Health Bot technology to power a generative AI-based chat experience that answers questions about medical protocols, based on existing guidelines and credible sources. Moving forward, this technology, leveraging a conversational power in combination with healthcare-specific services and safeguards, has potential of enabling medical professionals to make and validate their decisions more effectively, follow and execute protocols more accurately and eventually, support better care for patients worldwide.” Do more with your data with Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare With the Azure AI Health Bot infused with generative AI and healthcare safeguards, health organizations can build health data services, transform their medical professionals and patient experiences, discover new insights with the power of machine learning and AI, and manage protected health information (PHI) data with confidence. Enable your data for the future of healthcare innovation with Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare. We look forward to being your partner as you build the future of health. Sign up for the private preview of Azure AI Health Bot with generative AI and healthcare safeguards. Expand your knowledge about Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare. Learn more in the Azure AI Health Bot documentation. Check out the HIMSS blog posts on the Industry and Fabric blog channels. The post Azure AI Health Bot helps create copilot experiences with healthcare safeguards appeared first on Microsoft Azure Blog. View the full article

Apple today highlighted the Vision Pro's ability to aid the healthcare industry, showcasing a wide range of apps now available on the visionOS App Store. Apple explained how immersive apps that blend digital content with the physical world can transform how medical professionals train, plan surgeries, and engage in patient care both in clinical settings and at home. For example, the myMako app leverages the Vision Pro's 3D capabilities to enhance surgical planning, providing surgeons with intuitive and dynamic access to surgical plans and insights. On the other hand, CyranoHealth utilizes spatial computing to offer comprehensive, immersive training on medical equipment, aiming to boost confidence and reduce anxiety among frontline healthcare workers. Siemens Healthineers' Cinematic Reality app creates immersive, interactive holograms of human anatomy, enhancing medical education and patient consultations. Epic Systems is reimagining patient record management with the Epic Spatial Computing Concept, allowing healthcare professionals to interact with patient data using intuitive gestures and spatial computing. Meanwhile, Cedars-Sinai's Xaia offers a unique approach to mental health support, providing AI-enabled, conversational therapy in customizable, calming environments. See Apple's full article over on its newsroom webpage for more information.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProTag: Health and FitnessBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro This article, "Apple Pitches Vision Pro as Healthcare Solution" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

HCA Healthcare: Selection and Interview process, Questions/Answers HCA Healthcare, formerly known as HCA Holdings Inc., is a prominent American healthcare operator. It operates exclusively in the United States and the United Kingdom. Here are some key details about HCA Healthcare: Operations: HCA Healthcare currently manages approximately 186 hospitals and over 2,000 sites of care, including surgery centers, emergency rooms, and urgent care centers across 21 states in the U.S. and the UK. Fortune 500 Ranking: It holds the 67th position in the 2019 Fortune 500 list of the largest American corporations by revenue. Founders: HCA Healthcare was founded in 1968 by Thomas F. Frist Sr., Dr. Thomas F. Frist Jr., and Jack C. Massey. Their vision was to provide world-class medical services to the general public. Headquarters: The company’s headquarters are located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. What are the selection and Interview process of HCA Healthcare? If you’re interested in joining HCA Healthcare, here’s what you need to know about their hiring process: Job Application: Start by visiting the official HCA Healthcare Careers website at hcahealthcare.com. Submit your application through their online platform. Ensure that your resume is well-crafted and tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Understanding the Job Role: Before proceeding, thoroughly understand the job description and requirements for the position you’re interested in. Interview Stages: Phone or Video Interview: You may have an initial phone or video call with a recruiter or hiring manager. They’ll ask about your experience and qualifications. Online Assessment (if required): Some positions may involve completing an online assessment. In-Person Interview: Most roles require at least one face-to-face interview. Be prepared to discuss your skills, experience, and alignment with HCA Healthcare’s values. Panel Interview: For certain positions, you might face a panel of departmental representatives. Preparation Tips: Craft a strong resume that highlights relevant skills and objectives. Research the specific job role thoroughly. Understand HCA Healthcare’s mission and values. Follow-Up: After interviews, send a thank-you email expressing your interest and asking about next steps. Remember that the length of the hiring process can vary, but it typically takes several weeks. Best of luck in your pursuit of a career at HCA Healthcare! How many rounds of interview conducted in HCA Healthcare? Here’s a breakdown of the interview process and salary expectations for freshers at HCA Healthcare: Number of Interview Rounds: Generally 2-3 rounds: This is the most common scenario for entry-level and many other positions at HCA Healthcare [1, 2, 3]. The process might involve: Phone Interview (Optional): An initial screening to discuss your qualifications and suitability (not always present). In-Person Interview(s): One or two in-person interviews with the hiring manager, team members from the department you’re applying to, or a combination of both. Management or Senior Roles (Less Common): The process might involve more rounds (3-4) for leadership or highly specialized positions [1, 2, 3]. This could include additional interviews with various stakeholders or presentations showcasing your expertise. Resources to Learn More: HCA Healthcare Careers Website: While it doesn’t specify exact rounds, it can offer insights into the process for specific roles [1]. Interview experience websites: Sites like Glassdoor or Indeed might have reviews with details on interview experiences for various HCA Healthcare roles [2, 3]. What is the salary for freshers in HCA Healthcare? Salary information for specific entry-level positions at HCA Healthcare can be limited. Here are some tips for getting an estimate: Job search portals: Explore job postings on Indeed or Glassdoor. Sometimes, salary ranges might be listed for specific positions, especially for experienced roles. Salary comparison websites: These can offer some insights, although data for freshers might be limited: Salary ranges reported on Glassdoor for various entry-level healthcare positions (e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant) can vary depending on location and specific role [1]. Tips for Freshers: Highlight Achievements: During the interview process, showcase any relevant certifications, volunteer work, or academic achievements that demonstrate your interest in healthcare and patient care. Network (Optional): If possible, try to connect with HCA Healthcare employees through professional networking sites like LinkedIn. This might provide valuable insights into the company culture and potential salary ranges for your field. Note: These are starting points, and negotiation can play a role in determining your final salary offer. HCA Healthcare offers a benefits package, which can add significant value to the total compensation. Top questions Asked for freshers in HCA Healthcare As a fresher applying to HCA Healthcare, be prepared for a mix of general and healthcare-specific questions during your interview. Here’s a breakdown of what you might encounter: General and Background: Tell me about yourself and why are you interested in HCA Healthcare? (Highlight your interest in healthcare (if applicable), relevant academic achievements, and what specifically attracts you to HCA’s mission or work environment) What are your career aspirations and how does this role fit into your long-term goals? (Express your desire to learn and grow within the healthcare field, potentially mentioning specific areas of healthcare that interest you) Walk me through your resume/CV and highlight relevant experiences. (Focus on academic projects, volunteer work, or any experiences that showcase problem-solving skills, teamwork abilities, and a desire to help others) Healthcare-Specific: Why do you want to pursue a career in healthcare? (Showcase your passion for helping others and your interest in making a positive impact on patients’ lives) Do you have any experience volunteering in a healthcare setting? (If you have volunteer experience, highlight the skills you gained and how they would translate to the role you’re applying for) What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as they relate to a healthcare environment? (Be honest about your weaknesses but focus on highlighting relevant strengths like compassion, empathy, communication, and problem-solving skills) Situational and Behavioral: Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult person. (Focus on how you remained calm, professional, and found a solution) How do you handle pressure and challenging situations? (Demonstrate your ability to manage stress and work effectively under pressure) What would you do if you witnessed a colleague violating patient confidentiality? (Highlight your commitment to ethical practices and patient privacy) HCA Healthcare Specific: What do you know about HCA Healthcare’s mission and values? (Research their mission statement and core values to demonstrate your understanding of their company culture) Why do you think you would be a good fit for HCA Healthcare’s culture? (Highlight your work ethic, commitment to patient care, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment) Are you aware of any current challenges or trends in the healthcare industry? (Demonstrate your awareness of healthcare issues) How to apply for job in HCA Healthcare? Apply for job in HCA Healthcare Here’s a roadmap to guide you through the application process for HCA careers: 1. Explore Career Opportunities: Visit the HCA Healthcare Careers Website: Head over to indeed site to explore the various healthcare positions available for freshers (often termed “entry-level” or “early careers” positions). Search for Jobs: Utilize the search function to find opportunities that align with your skills and interests. Consider filtering by location (city, state), department (e.g., nursing, medical assisting), and job type (full-time, part-time). Research Specific Roles: Read the job descriptions carefully. Understand the required qualifications, responsibilities, and the role’s contribution to HCA’s mission. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for the specific position. 2. Prepare Your Application Materials: Update Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences for the HCA Healthcare position you’re applying for. Use strong action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible. Focus on demonstrating the skills and experience outlined in the job description. Craft a Compelling Cover Letter (Optional): While not always mandatory, a well-written cover letter can enhance your application. Briefly express your interest in the specific position and company. Showcase how your skills and experiences align with the job description’s requirements and HCA’s values. Keep it concise and error-free. 3. Submit Your Application Electronically: Apply Through the Careers Website: Follow the instructions to submit your application and required documents through the online portal on HCA Healthcare’s careers website. Double-Check All Information: Ensure your resume, cover letter (if submitting), transcripts (if required), and other documents are accurate, well-formatted, and meet the specified file size and format requirements. Submit Your Application: Once you’ve reviewed everything thoroughly, submit your application and wait for a response from HCA Healthcare. Tips: Set Up Job Alerts: Receive notifications about new job openings that match your interests and qualifications. Prepare for Online Assessments: Some positions may involve online assessments to evaluate basic skills The post HCA Healthcare: Selection and Interview process, Questions/Answers appeared first on DevOpsSchool.com. View the full article

Our list of project management tools for healthcare includes solutions for teams and practices of any size.View the full article

Cyberattacks are devastating, especially when they derail real-world critical services like healthcare. An especially troubling attack field is ransomware: In 2022, 66% of U.S. hospitals were targeted in ransomware attacks, an increase of almost 50% from 2021, and 289 hospitals were affected by successful ransomware attack incidents. Healthcare organizations paid the ransom in about 61% of ransomware incidents, the highest rate of any industry. In 2023, the trend continued to rise at an alarming rate, with over 317 publicly reported ransomware attacks levied against healthcare entities. It is now the new normal for hospitals to divert ambulances and cancel elective procedures due to a ransomware attack. Every citizen is a potential patient, and now every patient is grappling with this dilemma. Should the federal government force hospitals to follow its own cybersecurity blueprint? The United States released its National Cybersecurity Strategy in early 2023, and focused work continues on the strategy’s implementation plan. In this strategy, the Biden administration expressed its support for “legislative efforts to impose robust, clear limits on the ability to collect, use, transfer and maintain personal data and provide strong protections for sensitive data like geolocation and health information.” Given the recent rise in cybersecurity threats, the administration is considering a proposal that would require hospitals to use multifactor authentication and commit to patching vulnerabilities in a timely fashion if they want to remain eligible for federal Medicare and Medicaid funds. Senior administration officials believe such an approach is key to mitigating cybersecurity incidents. As new regulations will be imposed before the end of 2024, the impact of such funding at the organizational level would depend on compliance. The American Hospital Association recently noted the healthcare industry is likely to fight the requirements being placed on the hospitals since many of the cyber incidents that hit hospitals in the last year originated through third-party suppliers. A prevailing issue is the disproportionate emphasis on demonstrating compliance with regulations rather than prioritizing more impactful security measures. For instance, the U.S. regulatory landscape is starkly different between national security entities, civilian federal agencies, states and municipalities. The compliance landscape and associated processes also vary immensely from country to country despite the default international operating nature of industries such as healthcare. Over time, the regulatory framework governing cybersecurity has become increasingly complex, with different jurisdictions and industry sectors adopting varied standards and requirements. Case in point: It is unlikely in the near term for the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework to move beyond its current voluntary status. This has led to an unfavorable situation where the goal of achieving genuine cybersecurity, and best safeguarding one’s organization against evolving threats, has taken a back seat to the imperative of satisfying regulatory mandates. What should organizations with limited time and resources focus on? With the federal government evaluating mandating cybersecurity blueprints, it is worth considering why this dissonance exists and what can be done to achieve harmony across the public and private sectors. Addressing the increase in U.S. cybersecurity incidents U.S. federal agencies reported more than 32,000 information security incidents in 2021, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). A public sector cybersecurity survey reports that hackers account for more than half of security threats for government agencies, followed closely by careless insiders. Top priorities for U.S. agencies are improving investigation and remediation capabilities, and removing barriers to sharing cyber-threat information between public and private entities. Within state and local governments, action remains varied. Several states such as New York and Texas are appointing senior cyber officers. State leaders are taking an “aggressive, nation-leading approach to to transforming our cybersecurity infrastructure to combat emerging threats.” Increasing equity around cybersecurity Unfortunately, end users such as healthcare patients often bear the cost of these security incidents. The market does not sufficiently incentivize organizations in the public and private sectors to enhance cybersecurity measures. The resources needed to improve cybersecurity initiatives often fall behind other priorities. Legacy logging architectures and data silos make it difficult for agencies to detect, identify and protect against these threat actors efficiently. In 2022, the average time to detect and contain a breach was a staggering 277 days. This should be a motivator for boardrooms. As reported in CISO Magazine, a predicted 75% of CEOs will be personally liable for the financial impact due to cyber-physical system attacks by 2024. To mitigate harm to citizens and companies alike, a security-enabled data strategy is imperative. Creating a level playing field A mandate for many public sector organizations and their private sector partners is to provide cybersecurity incident reports to a central agency — for example, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — or within their respective systems. The costs associated with data storage and budgetary pressures are common reasons why this is not achieved. Yet, when these challenges can be unblocked, it democratizes cybersecurity by enabling organizations to access and query security data from a single source of truth to effectively protect against threats. In response to recent cyber incidents, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. This EO and related subsequent memorandums not only define policy, but also highlight key tenets required to enable the federal government to efficiently investigate and remediate cyber incidents. A typical network environment has multiple tools collecting and providing telemetry. Previously, these were limited to networking devices such as routers, switches and firewalls. But today we have access to endpoint-detection tools that collect much more verbose information related to processes execution, file and registry modifications, and other user-behavior-level information. Application logs provide developers insight into the health and performance of applications and, for those with a cloud presence, cloud service provider logs allow security teams to audit, monitor and enforce security controls in the cloud. Implementing changes that could create harmony In an era marked by escalating cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, fostering harmony within organizations and across their ecosystems has become vitally important. Organizations can fortify their collective security posture by leveraging insights from commercial and public sector organizations, and by promoting data-driven best practices. Through collaborative efforts and proactive education, it will be easier to cultivate a unified front against emerging threats, ensuring a resilient and secure cyber landscape. The necessary changes can be grouped in three main areas: Provide insight and expertise to help shape and advance security principles for securing critical infrastructure, as advocated in the National Cybersecurity Strategy. Educate security organizations on data-driven security best practices that encourage stakeholders in diverse roles to play a part in efficiently strengthening security posture. Democratize threat intelligence and expand log retention across the public and private sectors. At a May 2023 Advanced Cyber Security Center (ACSC) event, Rob Knake, former White House Principal Deputy National Cyber Director, told the audience that industry-specific regulation is coming, explaining it would be aimed at driving up necessary and beneficial standards in the financial sector. Once organizations are equipped with the security tools and knowledge needed to bolster critical infrastructure defenses, they can foster a more unified and effective approach to cybersecurity that prioritizes genuine security over mere organization compliance. Learn more about Snowflake for cybersecurity here. The post Government’s Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework Expands to Healthcare and Other Industries appeared first on Snowflake. View the full article

This blog was written in collaboration with Tim Sedlak, Senior Solutions Architect at Stardog In healthcare and life sciences, accuracy is everything. That's... View the full article

A French company that handles payments for health insurance firms suffered a major data breach that possibly put sensitive information of millions of people at risk. Viamedis announced the breach on its LinkedIn page, as its website is offline - and at press time, the website was still unavailable. As per the announcement, machine-translated from French, unnamed threat actors breached Viamedis and stole client personal information including marital status, date of birth and social security number, name of their health insurer and guarantees available to third-party payers. Disconnecting the platform “Neither bank information, nor postal address, nor telephone number, nor email are affected by this malicious act,” the company confirmed in the announcement. As for health data, fewer than 50 beneficiary invoices have been breached, which contain details on medical transport only (taxi and ambulance). Viamedis did not state how many people were affected by the breach, but it did confirm that it manages third-party payments for 84 complementary health insurance companies which when combined, service 20 million people. As soon as the data breach was spotted, Viamedis disconnected its third-party payment management platform. “Beneficiaries will be able to continue to use their carte vitale and their third-party payment card, the temporary disconnection from the Viamedis platform will only have an impact on certain health professionals, in particular opticians and audioprosthetists,” it said. Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Viamedis General Director, Christophe Cande, said the attack wasn’t ransomware, but rather a successful phishing attack against one of the company’s employees. "To date, we do not have the number of insured individuals impacted; we are still in the process of investigation,” Cande said. Viamedis filed a complaint with the public prosecutor, and notified other relevant authorities. For healthcare professionals, it said it would notify them on the details of exposed data later. Via BleepingComputer More from TechRadar Pro One of the biggest data leaks ever has just been revealed - here's what to do if you've been hitHere's a list of the best firewalls around todayThese are the best endpoint security tools right now View the full article

This year may be the most innovative on record. Recent advances in AI are beginning to transform how we live and work. And the potential impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on the healthcare and life sciences industries are expected to be far-reaching. It’s essential for organizations to leverage vast amounts of structured and unstructured data for effective generative AI (gen AI) solutions that deliver a clear return on investment. However, the volume and breadth of sensitive, regulated data that healthcare and life sciences organizations collect, create and manage represents a major challenge. The healthcare industry alone has approximately 30% of the world’s data volume. That vast amount of data comes with both tremendous responsibilities (and regulations) to maintain the highest levels of patient privacy, as well as incredible opportunities to solve tough medical and industry challenges, such as the ongoing staffing crisis. For a glimpse into how these industries will be using AI in 2024, we sat down with our Snowflake healthcare and life sciences industry experts to discuss their predictions for the year ahead. Below are a few of their top predictions for 2024. For their full insights, read the new report, Healthcare and Life Sciences Data + AI Predictions 2024. 1. Generative AI could help improve operational efficiency for healthcare payers and providers The immense pressures COVID-19 put on the healthcare system and its lasting impacts are requiring payers and providers to meet patients’ needs more quickly and effectively across the entire healthcare ecosystem. Introducing new technologies is integral to solving these staffing and operational inefficiency challenges. This year, payers and providers will implement gen AI solutions to improve human efficiency, deliver improved outcome-based care, and augment operational systems and processes. For example, payers and providers can use AI-powered tools and solutions to streamline cumbersome claims processing or to write discharge summaries. These tools could also help analyze historical electronic health record data and social determinants of health data to identify the most effective interventions for specific conditions or populations. he human touch will always drive the best patient care and patient outcomes. AI can never replace that. But it holds tremendous promise to improve efficiency across the healthcare system so more time can be spent caring for patients.” Jesse Cugliotta, Global Industry GTM Lead, Healthcare & Life Sciences at Snowflake 2. Healthcare systems will be able to shift from reactive to predictive management using AI and data There is no shortage of challenges in healthcare today. Its staff and systems are strained beyond capacity by ongoing supply chain management issues, a continued widespread staffing crisis and significant cost pressures. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning about a projected deficit of more than 3 million essential healthcare workers until 2027, and a projected shortage of about 140,000 physicians by 2033. This is happening while hospital supply chain overspending costs an estimated $25.4 billion annually — accounting for nearly 30% of all hospital spending in the U.S alone. The strains on healthcare systems are also compromising timely patient care, making it difficult to adhere to value- and outcome-based care regulatory requirements worldwide. These systems must get better at predicting both near-term and long-term needs. Predictive analytics, driven by AI and machine learning, make it possible for healthcare leaders to answer tough, complex questions about their organization’s future outcomes and demands. 3. Life sciences and healthcare companies will be able to bring gen AI solutions and LLMs in-house to better maximize return on investment The decision to develop in-house large language models (LLMs) for life sciences and healthcare organizations will be a strategic one in 2024. Data security and governance aren’t the only reasons leading organizations will take this approach. Using their own and third-party data in in-house LLM solutions will provide them with multiple competitive advantages, including cost efficiency and scalability, faster response times, customization and control, and long-term sustainability. “Enterprises can also scale their in-house infrastructure based on their evolving needs. And they can fine-tune the models internally, allowing them to optimize performance without incurring additional costs for each improvement iteration,” says Cugliotta. Maintaining regulatory compliance will continue to be essential and top of mind for healthcare and life sciences organizations in 2024. This year, innovative companies will begin to build their own LLMs in-house to ensure regulatory compliance with full control over data governance and security for more complex use cases across their ecosystem. Get the full report, Healthcare and Life Sciences Data + AI Predictions 2024 or watch the webinar. The post Top 3 Healthcare and Life Sciences Data + AI Predictions for 2024 appeared first on Snowflake. View the full article

Apollo 24|7, the largest multi-channel digital healthcare platform in India is working towards building a Clinical Intelligence Engine (CIE) designed to support clinical decisions and assist clinicians with primary care, condition management, home care, and wellness. One of the main challenges they faced was designing an expert clinical assistant with a deep understanding of Apollo's clinical knowledge base. In order to build such a robust system, Apollo 24|7's team partnered with Google Cloud to build various systems such as a Clinical Knowledge Graph, a clinical entity extractor, and a timestamp relationship extractor. In this blog, we take a look at how the clinical assistance system came to existence. This system would be assistive and enhance the clinician's experience of the CIE platform that could eventually lead to improved clinical decision making. Let's take a deeper look to investigate the solution that Google Cloud and Apollo 24|7 built together. Model identificationThe first step to build such a solution was to identify the right model that could potentially help build this system. After carefully evaluating a host of models, including several open source models, the team decided to implement this solution using MedLM. MedLM is a family of medically-tuned foundation models designed to provide high quality answers to medical questions. MedLM was built on Med-PaLM 2 and is fine-tuned for healthcare, making it an excellent contender to build a clinical QA model around. The next step was to enhance the model architecture to make it align with Apollo's knowledge base. The solution pilotThe initial approach that we experimented with involved forming a prompt consisting of a clinical "Report" and the user's "Question." This prompt would be directly sent to MedLM for clinical question answering. This approach yielded great results, however it did not utilize any of Apollo's vast clinical knowledge base. The knowledge base was in the form of de-identified clinical discharge notes that potentially had the capability of making the responses more direct and in-line with how certain patients had been treated in the past. In order to utilize this, we experimented with providing additional context to the prompt from Apollo's knowledge base. We quickly realized, however, that this option would run into issues owing to exceeding the input token limit of the model. The logical next step was to chunk the hospital's data into smaller shards, but this approach came with its own challenges. Directly chunking the data into smaller shards would cause it to lose the overall context of the patient. In other words, individual shards would only have certain siloed parts of the clinical note, while not preserving the overall patient journey, including their treatment, medications, family history, etc. RAG + MedLMIn order to make the model more robust and inclined to Apollo's knowledge base, we proposed a novel approach to utilize Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) on Apollo's de-identified clinical knowledge base. RAG is an AI framework that enhances LLMs by integrating external knowledge sources, in our case the knowledge base was the preprocessed and de-identified clinical discharge notes obtained from Apollo Hospitals. Architecture Diagram The notes seldom followed a particular pattern and were often free text. Hence, In order to build this solution we first classified the notes by sectional information present in them, followed by summarizing all the clinical concepts within that note. For summarization, we purpose-built a prompt and used it with the PaLM 2 models, such that the output is a distilled summary only containing the clinical concepts present in a discharge note. At this point, we passed the clinical summary as an input to the PaLM2 embedding model that returns a 768-dimensional vector, which is then stored in our vector database of choice. For this solution we went ahead with the Vertex AI Vector Search Database to create and store the vector indices. This process may be a one time batch process or an online process as and when additional clinical data is procured. At runtime, the solution parses the clinician's query; the query generally includes a clinical "Report" and a "Question" field, after which the parsed output is embedded using the same embedding model, i.e., the PaLM2 embedding model. The output vector of this model is then compared against the vectors stored in the aforementioned vector database using the approximate nearest neighbor algorithm, which is built-in in Vertex AI Vector Search. The closest neighbor vectors are then fetched and we perform a look-up to identify the clinical summaries pertaining to those closest neighbors. These summaries are then passed as an additional input to the MedLM model, along with the existing clinical "Report" and the user's "Question," thereby enriching the query with additional contextual data. Observations and resultsAfter building the solution, the next logical step was to validate the clinical responses with real clinicians and doctors. However, before moving ahead, we built a small web UI that would enable the end-users to experiment with our solution and provide feedback. Apollo 24|7's team helped onboard doctors and clinicians that graciously accepted to test our solution in practice. Sample Result After weeks of iteration, and gradual improvement, we incorporated the feedback into the system to make it more robust and eventually added guardrails to prevent hallucination, by introducing methods such as prompt engineering as well as schema engineering. Eventually the clinicians validated our solution approach through the web UI and were confident in the responses, often citing that the tool could help a doctor drill deeper into understanding the patient and their condition better, similar to an assistant. "The addition of MedLM to our tech stack has greatly enhanced the efficiency and efficacy of the CIE models. Our doctors will now get a more robust, purpose built CIE tool as a doctor's assistant," commented Chaitanya Bharadwaj, Head of Clinical Al Products, Apollo 24|7. The partnership between Google Cloud and Apollo 24|7 is just one of the latest examples of how we’re providing AI-powered solutions to solve complex problems to help organizations drive desired outcomes. With Google Cloud Consulting (GCC), Apollo was able to perform repeated iterations, experiments to build the final solution, thereby empowering the business. Apollo entrusted GCC to collaborate with their teams to build state of the workflows for their business requirements. GCC portfolio provides a unified services capability, bringing together offerings, across multiple specializations, into a single place. This includes services from learning to technical account management to professional services and customer success. Click here to see Google Cloud Consulting’s full portfolio of offerings. Disclaimer: MedLM is still in the preview phase in India and it is not approved for production use.

Healthcare tech firm HealthEC has confirmed it suffered a data breach in the summer of 2023 during which it lost sensitive data belonging to 4.5 million people, customers of its clients. In a report filed with Maine's Attorney General's office, the company said the attack happened between July 14 and July 23 last year, and that hackers stole names and other personal identifiers. However, BleepingComputer reports that the attackers stole people’s names, postal addresses, birth dates, Social Security Numbers, Taxpayer Identification Numbers, medical record numbers, medical information (diagnosis, diagnosis code, mental/physical condition, prescription information, and provider's name and location), health insurance information (beneficiary number, subscriber number, Medicaid/Medicare identification), and billing and claims information (patient account number, patient identification number, and treatment cost information), citing a notification published by a victim. More than a dozen victims As the data was stolen from HealthEC’s clients, multiple firms were affected by the incident. Some of the firms listed in the notice are Corewell Health, HonorHealth, Beaumont ACO, State of Tennessee – Division of TennCare, the University Medical Center of Princeton Physicians' Organization, and the Alliance for Integrated Care of New York. As an example, it was reported that MD Valuecare has 112,005 patients with stolen information. "In general, individuals should remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements, explanation of benefits statements, and monitoring free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors," HealthEC said in its notification. The company added that "suspicious activity should be promptly reported to relevant parties including an insurance company, health care provider, and/or financial institution." Patients should exercise extra caution when receiving email messages and other communication from people claiming to be employees of any of these firms. HealthEC develops a population health management platform (PHM) used by various healthcare firms for data analytics, compliance, reporting, and more. More from TechRadar Pro 23andMe hackers accessed a whole lot of user's personal dataHere's a list of the best firewalls todayThese are the best endpoint protection services right now View the full article

Heart health is paramount, and when seeking specialized care, finding the best cardiac hospitals becomes a crucial decision. But amidst a plethora of options, how do you navigate the healthcare landscape and make an informed choice? This guide equips you with the knowledge and insights to confidently select the cardiac hospital that caters to your needs. Understanding the “Best”: Defining the “best” cardiac hospital is subjective and depends on several factors like your specific cardiac condition, geographical location, insurance coverage, and personal preferences. However, certain key aspects hold universal importance: Renowned Cardiologists and Surgeons: A team of experienced and internationally recognized cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and interventional cardiologists is a cornerstone of excellence. Look for hospitals with board-certified specialists leading complex procedures and achieving exceptional outcomes. Advanced Technology and Facilities: Cutting-edge medical technology is crucial for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and faster recovery. Ensure the hospital boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including Cath labs, cardiac imaging equipment, and minimally invasive surgical tools. Comprehensive Cardiac Care: Beyond surgery, look for hospitals offering a holistic spectrum of cardiac services, including preventive care, non-invasive procedures, cardiac rehabilitation, and ongoing management programs. Patient-Centric Approach: A compassionate and patient-centered environment is vital for healing and well-being. Choose a hospital prioritizing clear communication, emotional support, and respect for your individual needs and preferences. Best Cardiac Hospitals Services: bestcardiachospitals.com stands out as a valuable resource in your search for the best cardiac care. Their platform compiles and curates information on leading cardiac hospitals worldwide, showcasing their: Specialties: Whether you require treatment for arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, or heart failure, the platform helps you pinpoint hospitals with expertise in your specific condition. Success Rates: Transparency in patient outcomes is crucial. bestcardiachospitals.com provides data on success rates for various procedures, enabling you to make informed comparisons. Locations and Facilities: With global reach, the platform connects you to top-notch cardiac care wherever you are, allowing you to choose hospitals based on proximity or specific facilities. Medical Tourism Leader: bestcardiachospitals.com also excels as a leader in medical tourism. They navigate the complexities of seeking healthcare abroad, ensuring you receive high-quality treatment at affordable costs. Their services include: Hospital recommendations: Expert guidance in selecting the best cardiac hospital abroad based on your needs and budget. Treatment cost comparisons: Transparent pricing information to help you make informed financial decisions. Logistics and travel assistance: Assistance with visas, travel arrangements, and accommodation, facilitating a seamless medical tourism experience. Empowering Your Choice: Choosing the best cardiac hospital is a crucial decision, and bestcardiachospitals.com empowers you to navigate the journey with confidence. Utilize their comprehensive information, expert guidance, and medical tourism expertise to find the hospital that provides the exceptional care you deserve. Remember, prioritize your individual needs, research thoroughly, and seek recommendations from trusted sources. With the right information and support, you can make an informed choice and ensure your path to optimal cardiac health. Remember, this is just a starting point. You can further customize this content by: Including specific examples of top-ranked cardiac hospitals from various countries listed on bestcardiachospitals.com. Featuring testimonials from patients who successfully utilized the platform to find the best cardiac care. Addressing common concerns and anxieties associated with choosing a cardiac hospital and emphasizing how bestcardiachospitals.com provides solutions. Highlighting unique features of bestcardiachospitals.com, such as personalized hospital recommendations and medical tourism support. By showcasing the value and expertise of bestcardiachospitals.com, you can effectively guide readers towards making informed decisions about their cardiac healthcare and position the platform as a trusted resource in the field. The post Navigating the Heart of Healthcare: Your Guide to Choosing the Best Cardiac Hospitals appeared first on DevOpsSchool.com. View the full article

A digital twin is a virtual replica of the resources, personnel, workflows, and infrastructure that companies utilize. View the full article

A digital twin is an electronic copy of the resources, personnel, workflows, and systems that companies use. View the full article

A company building software for hospitals, EMS, and firefighters has suffered a ransomware attack and a data breach that may have affected 2.7 million patients in the US. ESO Solutions disclosed the breach earlier this week. Apparently, it happened in late September 2023, when an unidentified threat actor accessed one company machine that contained sensitive personal data. The company didn’t detail how the hackers accessed the endpoint - if it was due to social engineering or malware. ESO Solutions’ customers include healthcare organizations, clinics, and hospitals in the US. Among the victims are Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, Community Health Systems Merit Health Biloxi, Merit Health River Oaks, ESO EMS Agency, Forrest Health Forrest General Hospital, HCA Healthcare Alaska Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Health System, and many others. No abuse yet These hospitals gathered information provided by their patients and the service they would receive. The data the hackers stole includes people’s full names, birth dates, phone numbers, patient accounts and medical record numbers, injury information, diagnoses, treatment types, procedure information, and Social Security Numbers. The company notified the FBI and state police of the cyberattack. The customers were notified earlier this month and were offered 12 months of identity monitoring services through Kroll. “At this time, we do not have evidence that your information has been misused,” the company allegedly told the victims in a notification letter. Usually, when a ransomware group steals the data and encrypts the systems, they reach out to the victims and try to negotiate a ransom payment in exchange for the data and the decryption key. However, in this instance, no hackers have yet claimed responsibility for the attack. When negotiations break down, hackers often leak the data online or try to sell it to a different threat actor who could then use it in phishing attacks and similar. Via BleepingComputer More from TechRadar Pro BlackCat strikes again - and this time it's breached a healthcare giantHere's a list of the best firewalls todayThese are the best endpoint protection services right now View the full article

Improving healthcare and medicine are among the most promising use cases for artificial intelligence, and we’ve made big strides since our initial research into medically-tuned large language models (LLMs) with Med-PaLM in 2022 and 2023. We’ve been testing Med-PaLM 2 with healthcare organizations, and our Google Research team continues to make significant progress, including exploring multimodal capabilities. Now we’re introducing MedLM — a family of foundation models fine-tuned for healthcare industry use cases. MedLM is now available to Google Cloud customers in the United States through an allowlisted general availability in the Vertex AI platform. MedLM is also currently available in preview in certain other markets worldwide. Currently, there are two models under MedLM, built on Med-PaLM 2, to offer flexibility to healthcare organizations and their different needs. Healthcare organizations are exploring the use of AI for a range of applications, from basic tasks to complex workflows. Through piloting our tools with different organizations, we’ve learned the most effective model for a given task varies depending on the use case. For example, summarizing conversations might be best handled by one model, and searching through medications might be better handled by another. The first MedLM model is larger, designed for complex tasks. The second is a medium model, able to be fine-tuned and best for scaling across tasks. The development of these models has been informed by specific healthcare and life sciences customer needs, such as answering a healthcare provider’s medical questions and drafting summaries. In the coming months, we’re planning to bring Gemini-based models into the MedLM suite to offer even more capabilities. Many of the companies we’ve been testing MedLM with are now moving it into production in their solutions, or broadening their testing. Here are some examples. HCA Healthcare adopting ambient medical documentation with AugmedixFor the past several months, HCA Healthcare has been piloting a solution to help physicians with their medical notes in four emergency department hospital sites. Physicians use an Augmedix app on a hands-free device to create accurate and timely medical notes from clinician-patient conversations in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Augmedix’s platform uses natural language processing, along with Google Cloud’s MedLM on Vertex AI, to instantly convert data into drafts of medical notes, which physicians then review and finalize before they’re transferred in real time to the hospital’s electronic health record (EHR). With MedLM, the automated performance of Augmedix’s ambient documentation products will increase, and the quality and summarization will continue to improve over time. These products can save time, reduce burnout, increase clinician efficiency, and improve overall patient care. The addition of MedLM also makes it easier to affordably scale Augmedix’s products across health systems and support an expanding list of medical subspecialties such as primary care, emergency department, oncology, and orthopedics. BenchSci improving pre-clinical research and developmentDrug research and development is slow, inefficient, and extremely expensive. BenchSci is bringing AI to scientific discovery to help expedite drug development, and it is integrating MedLM into its ASCEND platform to further improve the speed and quality of pre-clinical research and development. BenchSci’s ASCEND platform is an AI-powered evidence engine that produces a high-fidelity knowledge graph of more than 100 million experiments, decoded from hundreds of different data sources. This allows scientists to understand complex connections in biological research, presenting a thorough grasp of empirically validated and ontologically derived relationships, including biomarkers, detailed biological pathways, and interconnections among diseases. The integration of MedLM works to further enhance the accuracy, precision and reliability, and together with ASCEND’s proprietary technology and data sets, it aims to significantly boost the identification, classification, ranking, and discovery of novel biomarkers — clearing the path to successful scientific discovery. Working with Accenture to improve healthcare access, experiences, and outcomesTo spur enterprise adoption and value, we’ve also teamed up with Accenture to help healthcare organizations use generative AI to improve patient access, experience, and outcomes. Accenture brings its deep healthcare industry experience, solutions, and the data and AI skills needed to help healthcare organizations make the most of Google’s technology with human ingenuity. Aimed at healthcare process improvement, Accenture’sSolutions.AI for Processing for Health interprets structured and unstructured data from multiple sources to automate manual processes that were previously time-consuming and prone to error, like reading clinical documents, enrollment, claims processing, and more. This helps clinicians make faster, more informed decisions and frees up more time and resources for patient care. Using Google Cloud’sClaims Acceleration Suite, MedLM, and Accenture’s Solutions.AI for Processing, new insights can be uncovered — ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. Working with Deloitte to improve provider searchHealthcare organizations are often bogged down with administrative tasks and processes related to documentation, care navigation, and member engagement. Deloitte and Google Cloud are working together with our mutual customers to explore how generative AI can help improve the member experience and reduce friction in finding care through an interactive chatbot, which helps health plan members better understand the provider options covered by their insurance plans. Deloitte, Google Cloud, and healthcare leaders are piloting MedLM’s capabilities to make it easier for care teams to discover information from provider directories and benefits documents. These inputs will then help contact center agents better identify best-fit providers for members based on plan, condition, medication and even prior appointment history, getting people faster access to the precise care they need. MedLM: The future of our medical generative AIAs we bring the transformative potential of generative AI to healthcare, we’re focused on enabling professionals with a safe and responsible use of this technology. That’s why we’re working in close collaboration with practitioners, researchers, health and life science organizations, and the individuals at the forefront of healthcare every day. We’re excited by the progress we’ve seen in just one year — from building the first LLM to obtain a passing score (>60%) on U.S. medical-licensing-exam-style questions (published in Nature), to advancing it to obtain an expert level score (86.5%), to applying it in real-world scenarios through a measured approach. As we reflect on 2023 — and close out the year by expanding MedLM access to more healthcare organizations — we’re excited for the progress and potential ahead and our continuing work on pushing forward breakthrough research in health and life sciences.