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This Month in Healthcare IT: Remarkable News in October
Healthcare IT is a dynamic and demanding field where maintaining leadership requires constant adaptation and innovation. In parallel, the reward is remarkable; this success results in advanced healthcare technologies that profoundly impact millions of lives.
At Tiga Healthcare Technologies, we're at the top of the industry, driven by our commitment to staying informed about the latest reports, regulations and trends. This knowledge is the foundation of our progress and our mission to shape healthcare IT with a lasting impact.
We are also aware that healthcare professionals' and authorities' invaluable roles in shaping the future of healthcare IT. Thus, we regularly share our sectoral knowledge with this blog series to ensure healthcare professionals and authorities are always updated with essential healthcare IT developments.
Here are the top 11 news that have positively influenced healthcare IT from October 2024:
1. HIMSS's new Analytics Maturity Assessment Model (AMAM) centered on patient outcomes to improve equitable data governance, AI and data analytics.
HIMSS introduced a revised version of its Analytics Maturity Assessment Model (AMAM) at the HIMSS APAC Health Conference & Exhibition. This framework assists healthcare systems in evaluating their analytics strategies and implementing enhanced data governance and AI. The refreshed AMAM aims to improve the value of analytics in patient care and system-wide operations by providing accelerated access to high-quality patient data at every step of the treatment journey. This enables more informed decision-making, leading to time and cost savings.
Also, one of the most notable features of the new AMAM is its consideration of advanced health analytics, such as prescriptive and predictive analytics and natural language processing. Healthcare organizations can use this framework to evaluate their analytics strategies and direct them toward more equitable and quality patient and population health outcomes.
2. The United States, Canada and Mexico have formed the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI) to promote more robust health security and pandemic preparedness across the region.
For over three decades, Canada, Mexico and the United States have shared a common vision to strengthen regional health security and now initiated the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza (NAPAPI). This comprehensive framework seeks to enhance prevention, preparedness and response capabilities for a wide range of health threats.
The new Senior Coordinating Body and the North American Health Security Working Group support key decision-making mechanisms with members from the healthcare, agriculture, homeland security and foreign affairs sectors. By adopting new technologies and practices, these three countries aim to focus mainly on infectious diseases with pandemic potential, medical countermeasures, population health measures, improved health systems and risk assessment.
3. Microsoft announced several Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare innovations for enhanced AI capabilities.
Microsoft announced several innovations for its Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare platform, aiming to improve healthcare connectivity, increase team collaboration, offer valuable insights and empower healthcare professionals. These advancements utilize AI models in Azure AI Studio, healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric, a healthcare agent service in Copilot Studio and an AI-driven nursing workflow solution.
This update allows healthcare facilities and organizations to integrate and analyze diverse data types like medical imaging, genomics and clinical records. Additionally, Microsoft Fabric helps manage and utilize healthcare data for comprehensive insights, with features like social determinants of health data integration. Finally, the announcement includes a public preview of a healthcare agent service for building AI assistants and an AI-powered nursing workflow solution to streamline documentation and improve patient care.
Source: https://news.microsoft.com/2024/10/10/microsoft-expands-ai-capabilities-to-shape-a-healthier-future/
4. UNICEF published its 'Digital Health and Information Systems Annual Report 2023,' providing a comprehensive overview of the organization's global digital health initiatives.
Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) have formalized a partnership to advance healthcare and data science research with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU.) The collaboration, focusing on equitable and inclusive data use, aims to accelerate global research and drive innovation in health data science. The MoU was signed by Professor Tan Chorh Chuan and Professor Andrew Morris, representing NRF and HDR UK, respectively, in front of the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Heng Swee Keat and NRF Chairman.
The partnership involves multiple institutions, including The University of Nottingham, Swansea University Medical School, A*STAR and the TRUST Office. Together, these institutions aim to explore how health data research addresses pressing healthcare challenges and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Source: https://www.nrf.gov.sg/files/MOU_NRF_HDRUK_for_media_dissemination.pdf
5. Vietnam announced the expansion of its Electronic Health Record (EHR) System nationwide.
The Vietnamese government aims to accelerate its digital transformation in healthcare by expanding the implementation of its electronic health record (EHR) system across the country. Prime Minister and the Chair of the National Committee for Digital Transformation, Pham Minh Chinh, declared the expansion of the successful pilot of the government-developed EHR platform in Hanoi and Thua Thien-Hue province.
Since 2019, Vietnam has been digitizing around 32 million patient medical records in significant hospitals nationwide. Now, the government plans to roll out EHRs to all healthcare facilities progressively within the next four years, with international partnerships like Microsoft and the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.
Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/e-health-and-judicial-records-provided-via-vneid-nationwide-post297561.vnp
6. The Singaporean Ministry of Health (MOH) declared an investment of around $150 million for generative AI adoption in population healthcare.
The Singaporean Ministry of Health (MOH) is investing $150 million with the MOH Health Innovation Fund over the next five years to further implement new AI technologies through system-wide projects on a national scale.
According to the plan, generative AI tools can provide the demanded level of automation by preventing repetitive and time-consuming tasks like documentation and summarization of EHRs. Additionally, the MOH aims to improve the national governance of AI use in healthcare, enabling safer and more secure patient care delivery.
Source: https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/asia/singapore-invests-150m-public-health-genai-adoption
7. The UAE has accelerated efforts to strengthen health data and information sharing across the country with a MoU.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) have joined forces to strengthen health data and information sharing across the UAE. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at GITEX Global 2024, outlining a framework for the organized exchange, issuance and dissemination of health data.
The agreement aims to integrate statistical efforts and national disease registries, ensuring the efficient use of health records and databases to enhance system performance and empower the healthcare workforce. By sharing data and knowledge, both MoHAP and DoH seek to improve data collection, documentation, auditing and dissemination practices, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes in the UAE.
8. The United Kingdom government has asked for public opinion for its new '10 Year Health Plan,' focusing on modernizing NHS with digital health transformation.
The United Kingdom government launched a major public engagement campaign to reform the country's healthcare system, NHS. A new online platform called 'change.nhs.uk' will be the central hub for the public, clinicians and experts to share their ideas and experiences. This feedback will shape the upcoming '10 Year Health Plan,' which aims to modernize the NHS and focus on digital health.
The plan prioritizes three key shifts: from hospital care to community-based services, from analog systems to digital platforms and from treating illness to preventing it altogether. This digital transformation will involve a single patient record accessible through the NHS App, allowing for smoother care coordination and potentially saving lives with new technologies like wearable technology.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-issues-rallying-cry-to-the-nation-to-help-fix-nhs
9. The World Economic Forum's network of Global Future Councils released a new report, 'AI Value Alignment: Guiding Artificial Intelligence Towards Shared Human Goals,' detailing the healthcare implementation principles.
The members of the Global Future Council on the Future of AI, which belongs to the World Economic Forum, have explored the alignment of AI values in their new white paper, 'AI Value Alignment: Guiding Artificial Intelligence Towards Shared Human Goals.' The report mainly focuses on ethical principles in developing AI technologies, particularly health.
According to the report, ensuring value alignment and ethical AI in healthcare means that the system must support core human values, such as patient autonomy, privacy and fairness, as well as recognize the crucial role of healthcare professionals in making final decisions. The human agency here is the healthcare professionals who will make the final decision based on the AI recommendation.
Transparency is essential, so patients must understand how AI systems operate and how their recommendations are generated. Additionally, regulatory oversight, rigorous testing and standardized data formats will ensure compliance, robustness and interoperability.
Source: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_AI_Value_Alignment_2024.pdf
10. ACTO and PAHO signed an agreement to strengthen population health cooperation in the Amazon through healthcare technologies.
The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have signed a groundbreaking Framework Agreement to support population health initiatives in the Amazon region. This collaboration aims to improve epidemiological intelligence, early warning systems, the use of new technologies such as telemedicine and health systems' overall resilience. The agreement aligns with ACTO's priorities, particularly in addressing the health needs of Indigenous peoples and responding to health emergencies in border areas.
The partnership will focus on improving living conditions, strengthening regional health systems and promoting sustainable development and health equity. By working together, ACTO and PAHO are committed to ensuring the well-being of Amazonian communities and contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for the region.
11. Health ministers in the Region of the Americas have agreed on a new strategy to strengthen information systems for healthcare delivery.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has adopted a new Plan of Action to improve information systems for health in the region of the Americas with ministers and high-level health authorities. The plan aims to enhance data management, evidence-based decision-making and the adoption of digital health solutions.
The plan outlines four strategic lines of action: strengthening management and information system governance, data management and information technologies, information and knowledge management and innovation and digital health. By focusing on these areas, PAHO hopes to improve the effectiveness, comprehensiveness and responsiveness of health systems in the region.
Last month's developments have reaffirmed the critical need to advance healthcare IT, creating action plans for a healthier future. With our incomparable domain experience and comprehensive products, we're here to assist healthcare authorities and professionals every step of the way!
As the new North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI) highlights enhanced prevention, preparedness and response capabilities against future health threats and pandemics, the importance of our Predis Platform is revealed. It enhances population health management through predictive analytics and many data-driven methods like early identification and reporting of anomalies, disease spread forecasts, disease patterns and trend identification.
On the other hand, AI, the hot topic in healthcare IT, remains a transnational priority, from the US, Singapore and the UK to the UAE and South America. We are proud to offer our AI & Analytics product family, which is committed to the responsible use of AI, in line with HIMSS' refreshed Analytics Maturity Assessment Model (AMAM.)
Essential initiatives such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) that started in recent months have shown that electronic health records (EHR) platforms that aim to provide patients with consolidated records on a single platform have become more critical and widespread. While countries such as Vietnam, the UK and the UAE have been taking necessary steps in this area lately, we are committed to supporting and setting an example with our exemplary Personal Health Record (PHR) product.
As the world prepares for future health threats, healthcare IT, particularly AI, plays a crucial role in strengthening our response capabilities. To meet this challenge, we offer a comprehensive suite of solutions, including Healthcare Interoperability, Patient Engagement, Drug Traceability, AI & Analytics, Prescription & Medicine Management, Population Health Management, Personalized Healthcare and Hospital Information System.
Driven by our passion for improving healthcare through new technologies, we aim to create a brighter future for all.
Let's shape the future together with the power of enhanced healthcare IT, as always!
