Pharmacy organizations update patient care framework for 2025

The Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners released an updated version of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process, replacing the original framework established in 2014. The update is the result of a two-year review led by a group of representatives from 14 national pharmacy organizations, according to an Aug. 19 news release…

CivicaScript offers low-cost generic for multiple sclerosis

CivicaScript released a generic version of dalfampridine, a drug used to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis, for $16 per bottle of 60 extended-release, 10-milligram tablets. The price point is $960 less per month than the average cost of dalfampridine at traditional pharmacy benefit manager-affiliated pharmacies, according to an…

98% of small medical practices wrongly claim HIPAA compliance: Survey

Nearly all small healthcare practices are exposing themselves to cyberattacks and federal compliance violations, according to a recent survey conducted by Paubox. The technology company’s survey, released Aug. 19, of 214 healthcare IT leaders and practice managers at organizations with fewer than 250 employees found that 98% said they believe…

Optimizing Length of Stay with AI: West Tennessee Healthcare Pilots Xsolis’ Dragonfly Navigate

As healthcare systems continue to face challenges around capacity management and discharge planning, one leading regional provider is turning to AI-powered technology to drive efficiency and improve patient outcomes. West Tennessee Healthcare, a not-for-profit healthcare system, has expanded its partnership with Xsolis, an AI-driven technology company, to pilot the new…

Federal grant expands telehealth in Texas, Louisiana

Lubbock, Texas-based Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center received a $1.3 million, four-year grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration, an agency of HSS, to expand telehealth services in Texas and Louisiana. The TexLa Telehealth Resource Center, housed at the center, will receive $325,000 annually through 2029 to strengthen…

Mercy adds da Vinci 5 robotic system

Mercy Hospital St. Louis (Mo.) became the first facility in the area to offer robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci 5 system. Mercy surgeons have used robotic technology since 2003 and performed more than 16,000 procedures with various versions of the da Vinci system. The latest model, known as DV5,…

UChicago Medicine debuts cancer network, AdventHealth hospital tapped as 1st affiliate

The University of Chicago Medicine has launched a national cancer network, and has selected AdventHealth Cancer Institute Shawnee Mission in Merriam, Kan., as its first affiliate. The UChicago Medicine Cancer Network will allow national affiliates to remain independent while aligning with UChicago Medicine’s clinical care, medical education and biomedical research…

Apella launches ambient AI tool for OR scheduling

San Francisco-based Apella launched Apella Horizon on Aug. 20, expanding its real-time AI platform to include surgical scheduling and capacity optimization. The system integrates predictive algorithms and ambient sensing to improve preoperative planning, real-time OR coordination and retrospective performance analysis. Apella said Horizon unifies real-time OR management, case scheduling forecasts…

Trump expands 50% steel, aluminum tariffs: 4 things to know

President Donald Trump has expanded the scope of steel and aluminum tariffs, extending the 50% levy to include an additional 407 product categories, according to an Aug. 19 news release from the Commerce Department. Here are four things to know: The expanded tariffs target a range of imports, including auto…

Why a ‘two-tier Medicare system’ may be on the horizon

Physicians treating Medicare patients have seen their real income drop by more than 33% since 2016, fueled by stagnant reimbursement, growing Medicare Advantage enrollment and surging operating costs, according to a report published Aug. 18 by Omniscient Health, a data science, research and consulting firm. As financial pressure mounts, some…

Alexandra Murphy