Health IT
Lawmakers to subpoena Oracle execs as EHR project costs rise
The US House Veterans' Affairs Committee voted unanimously this week to subpoena Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia, as costs for the VA's EHR modernization project skyrocketed from $10 billion to $27 billion, yet only 17 medical centers have been deployed since 2020. Oracle's absence from the hearing drew lawmakers' dissatisfaction, raising questions about accountability.
Why AI scribes are a malpractice risk, according to experts
More doctors are using AI medical scribes to save time, but experts warn of hidden malpractice risks. AI records are prone to errors and difficult to audit, with clinicians bearing ultimate responsibility. Studies show AI-generated medical records are of lower quality than human-written ones, suggesting cautious deployment and enhanced review.
DaVita agrees to pay $15M to settle claims from data breach
DaVita has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit stemming from a data breach last year that impacted approximately 2.7 million individuals. The settlement has been signed by a Colorado judge, with a final approval hearing expected next year.
McKesson confirms data theft in cyberattack involving third-party apps
McKesson confirmed in a securities filing that a third-party application was accessed without authorization, resulting in data theft affecting customers in oncology, multi-specialty, and medical-surgical businesses. The company stated it has reasonable confidence that there is no ongoing unauthorized activity, and its operations and distribution network remain functional, but it has not yet assessed whether the incident constitutes a material impact. The hacker group ShinyHunters claimed to have breached employee accounts via voice phishing, which McKesson has not confirmed.
Boston Scientific says cyberattack has disrupted product manufacturing
Boston Scientific stated in a release Thursday evening that a cyberattack this week has caused ongoing disruptions to its product manufacturing, shipping, and order processing. The company is still assessing the impact of the incident and prioritizing the restoration of core business systems.
Suki launches AI dictation tool with EHR integration capabilities
Suki announced on Tuesday the launch of an AI dictation tool that transcribes speech verbatim, suitable for scenarios involving complex medical terminology, and supports integration with Epic and Meditech EHR systems, or embedding into other health tech products. The tool complements Suki's passive ambient documentation tool, helping clinicians choose the best documentation method based on visit type.
Boston Scientific’s ordering, shipping disrupted in cyberattack
Boston Scientific disclosed on Wednesday that a cyberattack has affected its ability to process and ship customer orders. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said the attack impacted certain IT systems, causing disruptions to global operations. The company has not yet determined whether the incident will have a material impact.
Fitch Analysis: How Healthcare Institutions Can Maintain High Credit Ratings Amid Cyberattacks
Fitch Ratings' latest analysis shows that cyberattacks themselves rarely directly lead to credit rating downgrades, but they may exacerbate operational and financial challenges. Healthcare institutions with business resilience and emergency response capabilities can buffer the impact; water systems, however, face greater pressure due to limited resources and difficulties in rate adjustments.
Epic launches Ergo Visit AI tool to streamline outpatient care
Epic Systems unveiled Ergo Visit, an AI tool designed to support outpatient clinicians by summarizing patient information from EHRs and other sources. Ochsner Health is the first health system to implement it, with five additional physicians piloting the tool. The announcement was made at Epic's annual meeting in Wisconsin.
CHAI 组建工作组应对前沿 AI 模型网络安全风险
健康 AI 联盟（CHAI）于周三宣布成立工作组，汇集近 100 名医疗系统、支付方和行业领袖，共同应对前沿 AI 模型带来的网络安全风险。该工作组将每两周召开一次会议，目标在 2026 年底前发布健康 AI 网络安全指南，包括 AI 网络风险评估工具和攻防策略手册。CHAI 表示，Anthropic 今年春季发布的高级 Mythos 和 Fable AI 模型“根本性地改变了”医疗保健领域的网络威胁格局，成为推动成立该工作组的催化剂。