Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Michigan MedTech Maker Falls Victim To Suspected Iran-Linked Hackers
AP: US Medical Equipment Company Stryker Says Cyberattack Disrupted Its Global Networks
Stryker, a major U.S. medical equipment company, said a cyberattack disrupted its global networks Wednesday. “We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained. Our teams are working rapidly to understand the impact of the attack on our systems,” Stryker said in a statement on its website. The logo of Handala, a hacking group linked to Iran, has appeared on company login pages, The Wall Street Journal reported. (3/12)
More health care industry developments —
Modern Healthcare: Medtronic To Buy Scientia Vascular For $550M
Medtronic has signed a definitive agreement to acquire neurovascular medtech company Scientia Vascular for $550 million. The deal is expected to close in the first half of Medtronic’s fiscal 2027, which starts in April. It is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. (Dubinsky, 3/11)
Minnesota Public Radio: Sudden Closure Of U Of M Dental Clinic Leaves Patients, Staff Scrambling
The sudden closure of a University of Minnesota dental clinic has left some patients scrambling for care and left staff unsure if they’ll be able to keep their jobs. (Timar-Wilcox, 3/11)
NBC News: Diabetics Who Rely On Abbott Glucose Monitors Are Alarmed By Recall Linked To 7 Deaths
Michael Ford was not in good health, but his Type 2 diabetes was manageable. His son, Davonte Ford, was his full-time caregiver — bathing Michael, administering his medications and dutifully responding to the dips and peaks in Michael’s blood sugar. When father and son woke one November morning in their Oakland, California, home to a low blood sugar alert from Michael’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, part of a top-tier glucose monitoring system from medical manufacturer Abbott, Davonte did not question the reading. Instead, he did what doctors had instructed: He gave his dad fast-acting carbohydrates. (Chuck, 3/11)
Modern Healthcare: How Masimo, Philips Wearable Monitors Aim To Reshape Patient Care
Health systems are rethinking how the majority of patients are monitored during their hospital stays, and research suggests recently developed tools could generate significant savings for hospitals. Patients on general floors are typically monitored every four to eight hours. To address the gap, companies have developed wearable monitors that continuously track vital signs. Health systems increasingly are investing in them as a way to keep better tabs on patients while addressing workforce shortages. (Dubinsky, 3/11)
On the use of AI in health care —
NPR: ChatGPT Is Not Always Reliable On Medical Advice, New Research Suggests
As tech companies roll out platforms specifically designed for health care consultation, AI is rapidly becoming a key player in many people's medical decisions. According to OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, more than 40 million people consult the platform every day for health information. But new research suggests AI may mislead users in certain medical scenarios. (Riddle, 3/11)
Healthcare Dive: Amazon Expands Access To Health-Focused AI Assistant
Amazon is expanding access to its health-focused artificial intelligence chatbot, the technology giant said Tuesday. The Health AI assistant first launched for members of Amazon’s primary care chain One Medical in January. The tool allows users to connect their health information and ask questions about their health, symptoms and potential treatments. (Olsen, 3/11)
Modern Healthcare: Microsoft's Copilot AI Users Ask About Symptoms, Treatments
When it comes to health-related questions, users are turning to artificial intelligence for help with symptoms, conditions and treatments. Microsoft released a report Tuesday examining more than 500,000 health-focused conversations that took place on its Copilot AI-powered assistant platform in January. The report builds on Microsoft’s previous findings that health is consistently the most popular topic for Copilot mobile users. (Famakinwa, 3/11)
Stat: Nonprofit Launches With $500M To Modernize Scientific Process For AI Era
There is no shortage of artificial intelligence ventures in the life sciences these days, many of them aimed at using technology to, say, design proteins or optimize clinical trials. But scientist Seemay Chou believes the scientific process itself needs to modernize to adapt to the AI era — and she has at least $500 million in funding to help make it happen. (DeAngelis and Trang, 3/11)
