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A weekly roundup from Healthcare IT Today, covering interesting stories, product announcements, new hires, partnerships, research studies, awards, and sales in the healthcare IT sector, with a focus on AI integration and consumer perception.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has published a draft of the USCDI+ Quality V2 use case, which builds upon the first version released in January. This ongoing effort aims to advance standardized quality data within the healthcare industry, and public comments are being accepted until July 17 to refine these standards. Furthermore, ONC has issued a notice of funding opportunity for its Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health IT. These projects are specifically designed to support innovations in agentic AI for clinical care, enhance API monitoring capabilities, and improve interoperability across laboratory systems, with applications for funding due by July 16. These initiatives underscore a concerted push towards leveraging advanced technology and robust data frameworks to transform healthcare operations and patient outcomes.
Several recent surveys and reports shed light on the current state of AI adoption and related trends in healthcare. An Arcadia survey highlighted a significant challenge in fully integrating AI insights into decision-making processes, with 53% of healthcare leaders reporting only partial integration and a mere 14% achieving full integration. This indicates a substantial gap between AI development and its practical application. On the consumer front, an eHealth survey revealed that 49% of insured Americans have used AI tools for medical advice, and alarmingly, 63% of these individuals acted on the guidance received without consulting a medical professional. This trend raises concerns about the reliability of AI tools and potential risks to patient safety. A report from Populus Health Technologies, however, offered a positive note regarding virtual care, finding that 81% of providers experienced improved follow-up appointment completion rates among patients utilizing virtual care services, showcasing its efficacy in patient adherence. In contrast, a Quokka analysis brought to light critical security vulnerabilities in mobile health apps; nearly 10% of these apps are at risk of leaking personally identifiable information (PII) outside secure environments, and a significant 57% contain 'dangerous' software bill of materials flaws, necessitating urgent security enhancements. Despite rapid AI adoption, a Smart Communications report indicated that only 41% of consumers find AI tools genuinely helpful in their healthcare interactions, suggesting a need for more user-friendly and effective AI solutions. A Surescripts survey identified a clear demand from patients, with 36% expressing a desire for better communication and coordination between their healthcare providers and pharmacies regarding prescription management. Lastly, a TruBridge report on rural healthcare showed that while 70% of rural providers are actively engaged in discussions about Rural Health Transformation Projects, 35% remain concerned that state Medicaid cuts could potentially outpace the financial benefits provided by RHTP subsidies over the five-year period, posing a threat to sustainable rural healthcare transformation.
New collaborations are set to enhance clinical accuracy, lab infrastructure, and patient identity verification in healthcare. EBSCO Clinical Decisions and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) have partnered to ensure the clinical accuracy of EBSCO's content, with AWHONN experts providing review services. This aims to maintain high standards for clinical information used by healthcare professionals. In laboratory settings, HighRes and Cenevo announced a co-marketing partnership focused on accelerating the adoption of connected lab infrastructure. This initiative seeks to streamline laboratory processes and improve data integration. Additionally, identity verification technology from Vouched has been integrated and is now available for EpicCare Link users, specifically as part of Epic’s May 2026 release. This integration is expected to strengthen security and simplify patient data access across Epic's extensive network.
Numerous product innovations are being introduced to streamline healthcare processes and improve patient care. Independent medical practice software maker AdvancedMD unveiled its 2026 Summer Product Release, featuring new AI clinical assistant capabilities and automated secondary/tertiary insurance verification for enhanced practice efficiency. Arbital Health launched ATLAS, an actuarial modeling tool designed to help Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) effectively evaluate their participation and financial performance within the CMS LEAD Model. Bridge introduced the Patient Access and Revenue Suite, an expansion of its BridgeInteract patient engagement platform, aimed at standardizing and optimizing patient intake, scheduling, and payment processes. Clinical data management company Carta Healthcare expanded its Lighthouse platform by adding 21 new clinical registries, enabling more comprehensive data collection and analysis. Demand-side platform DeepIntent launched Helix AI, an agentic AI platform specifically tailored for healthcare marketers, promising advanced targeting and cross-platform activation. For women’s mental health, FamilyWell Health introduced The Menopause Hub, offering specialized support and resources. Lumeris announced new symptom-checking capabilities within Tom, its primary care platform, designed to support high-risk patients between primary care visits. Telehealth provider OpenLoop debuted LaunchPad, a solution that enables other brands to quickly establish their own turnkey virtual care platforms. R1 enhanced its Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) platform, Phare OS, with new real-time adjudication capabilities to accelerate claim processing. SimplePractice, catering to independent mental health practitioners, launched Care Aide, an AI-powered clinical workflow assistant aimed at reducing administrative burden. Finally, Varist introduced the DICOM Detection Engine, a new technology designed to protect communications networks, EHRs, and PACS systems from AI-powered malware embedded within medical imaging files.
Several major healthcare organizations are rolling out new technology implementations to enhance operations and patient care. IHH Healthcare, an international healthcare provider, has selected Infosys to support a multi-country AI-powered Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) transformation. This significant undertaking will initially focus on IHH Healthcare's operations in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, aiming to accelerate growth and operational efficiency through advanced AI integration. In the pharmacy sector, the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative has partnered with Nimble, a Swoop Company, to simplify pharmacy workflows for its members, promoting modernization and innovation within local pharmacies. Furthermore, Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has expanded its existing use of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications across various critical functions, including finance, human resources, supply chain, and customer experience, demonstrating a comprehensive move towards an integrated cloud-based system to optimize operations and ultimately improve patient care delivery.
Key developments from various healthcare technology companies underscore advancements in security, cost efficiency, and direct-to-consumer access. ECLAT Health Solutions has achieved HITRUST r2 Certification for its evaire risk adjustment platform, signaling its commitment to robust cybersecurity and information protection standards, which is crucial for handling sensitive healthcare data. Research from Paradigm indicates that its digital decision support platform has successfully reduced the total cost of care for health plans, particularly for members considering preference-sensitive surgery. This highlights the platform’s effectiveness in guiding more cost-efficient and appropriate care decisions. In a move to empower patients directly, Phenomix Sciences has made its MyPhenome genetic obesity test available to patients directly through its company website, offering personalized weight loss treatment guidance based on individual biology without an initial physician referral.
Several prominent leadership changes and appointments have been announced across the healthcare IT and life sciences sectors. Health IT consultancy Nordic has appointed Alicia Harkness as its new CEO, signifying a strategic shift in leadership. Modivcare, a non-emergency medical transportation company, made two significant executive appointments: Josh Komenda was named CEO of the NEMT business unit, and Kenneth Shepard was appointed Executive Vice President and Enterprise CFO, strengthening their operational and financial leadership. Health intelligence company Komodo Health has restructured its leadership, appointing Miles Ennis as President, with co-founder Web Sun now serving as co-CEO alongside co-founder and CEO Dr. Arif Nathoo, indicating a collaborative executive model. Value-based kidney care company Strive Health announced Dr. Jamie Sharp as its new Chief Medical Officer and Chris Rigg as CFO, bolstering its clinical and financial leadership. Clinical trial simulation company QuantHealth expanded its executive team by naming Dr. Francisco Beca as Chief Medical Officer, bringing a wealth of medical and innovation expertise. Jupiter Neurosciences, a neuroinflammation drugmaker, promoted Alison Silva to President and Chief Operating Officer, expanding her responsibilities within the company. Lastly, senior care navigation company A Place for Mom appointed Nidhin George as Chief Product Officer, focusing on enhancing product development for senior care services.