Only 15 months ago — March 13, 2020 — COVID-19 became a national emergency in the United States. My assumption at the time was that COVID lockdowns could extend as long as five years, the previous speed record for modern vaccine development, with many millions of deaths — a generational cataclysm.
Global medical device company Phillips recalled its Bi-Level (PAP), CPAP, and other products in connection with health risks. Select devices with PE-PUR foam pose possible carcinogen exposure to the device user. Company officials cited few complaints but issued a recall as a precautionary measure.
As frustrating and challenging as this situation has been for our patients, physicians, nurses and staff, the unfortunate reality is Scripps is yet just another example in the ongoing trend of "threat actors" extorting the nation’s health-care systems.
Cerner – Kansas City’s largest private employer – confirmed through a spokesperson on Thursday that it is going through a reduction of its workforce. Misti Preston, Cerner’s director of external communications and public relations for Cerner, said "today’s event includes 500 associates out of our 26k+ global associate base. A subset of that does affect Kansas City." She also said the move will not impact its status as the city’s largest private employer.
Datavant and Ciox Health have agreed to merge in a deal valued at $7 billion, the health data companies said on Wednesday. The combined company, to be named Datavant, will allow a secure exchange of data among its network, which includes more than 2,000 U.S. hospitals and 15,000 clinics as well as data analytics companies and government agencies. The companies said the deal is supported by their group of investors led by investment firm New Mountain Capital, Labcorp (LH.N), Cigna Ventures and Roivant Sciences.
A ransomware attack earlier this year on a Texas-based company could have compromised the data of an unknown number of MetroHealth patients. Based out of San Antonio, CaptureRx, a vendor for MetroHealth that helps hospitals manage their 340b drug pricing programs, said the breach was first confirmed in February and compromised the data of more than 1.6 million patients, including first and last names, dates of birth and prescriptions.