Built-in mechanical ventilation and portable air cleaners, used by hospitals to help mitigate the spread of viruses, may actually spread viruses and other pathogens in some instances, according to new research from scientists at the University College London. Particle spread was uneven: In some scenarios, particles were reduced by ventilation and PACs by up to 96%. But the authors also noted that neighboring rooms had unexpectedly increased aerosol migration of 29% due to exhaust mechanics.
The 2024 Change Healthcare breach marked a turning point for the healthcare industry. It exposed critical vulnerabilities in current data governance and security practices, underscoring that no organization — regardless of size or resources — is immune to cyber threats. A year later, it's clear that while some progress has been made, there is still much to be done to protect patient data and ensure continuity of care. The breach served as a wake-up call for the healthcare industry. It shattered the illusion of security that many organizations held and reinforced a hard truth: no one is 100% safe from cyberattacks. To address this reality, organizations must adopt a resilience mindset, focusing not just on prevention but also on preparation for inevitable incidents.
Enterprises lean on BPOs because they provide a cost-effective way to perform necessary and high-volume, yet mundane and repetitive work – like customer support, outsourced IT, and financial claims processing – that they do not want to handle themselves. The work BPOs do is important, but the experience of working with them is far from seamless.
Johnson & Johnson's halt of U.S. sales of a new heart-rhythm device due to safety concerns is hobbling a major strategic push by the company into one of the industry's fastest-growing markets. The healthcare company paused use of the device, known as Varipulse, last month after receiving reports of neurovascular events in several patients. The company didn't explain what the events were, but several strokes have been reported to a federal device-safety database, and doctors' concerns are centered on strokes. J&J has been racing to catch up to competitors in the fast-growing market for medical devices treating irregular heart rhythms, and to revive the company's medical-device business generally.