Neurological devices, diagnostics dominate latest FDA breakthrough designations

The agency has granted breakthrough designations to several devices for neurological conditions, including an autism test and treatment as well as diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 13, 2022

Teladoc ups revenue, visit expectations for 2021

Despite consistent revenue growth with an expected topline of $2.03 billion for the year, the 20-year-old vendor has not yet turned a profit and is currently facing a skeptical market.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 11, 2022

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Interoperability

Interoperability is a long term-challenge for the healthcare industry, but the Trump administration has big ambitions to improve data sharing and patient access — even though its plans so far have few details.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Digital health funding reaches record $29.1B in 2021

"The digital health market wasn't an across-the-board bubble, but it wasn't placid water either," Rock Health researchers said in a new report on investment in the space.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 11, 2022

Stryker to buy Vocera Communications for nearly $3B

The multibillion-dollar buy is medtech's first major deal of 2022, following a spending spree in the sector last year. Stryker's stock price was slightly down Thursday, but Vocera's rose by nearly 27%.

By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 6, 2022

J&J device chief on company split, omicron surge, robotic surgery

Ashley McEvoy is confident that 2022 will not be as bad as the first or second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the omicron variant drives cases up, but adds that "we're not out of the woods yet."

By Ricky Zipp • Dec. 23, 2021

FDA warns about Log4j cybersecurity vulnerabilities in medical devices

The bugs in Apache's Java-based open source logging library could potentially allow unauthorized users to remotely impact the safety and effectiveness of device functionality, according to the agency.

By Greg Slabodkin • Dec. 20, 2021

Cerner acquired by Oracle for $28B

The deal further pushes Oracle into the healthcare market, where its presence is mostly in data use efficiency for payers and providers. Oracle's areas of focus include database software and cloud systems.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 20, 2021

FDA finds 3 COVID-19 tests that fail to detect the omicron variant

Diagnostics from Applied DNA Sciences, Meridian Bioscience and Tide Laboratories are not able to detect omicron, causing false negative results, and should not be used, the agency said.

By Greg Slabodkin • Dec. 16, 2021

3 medtech markets poised to thrive in 2022 despite renewed COVID-19 pressures

While the emergence of the omicron variant is muddying next year's medtech outlook, analysts have identified three niches within the sector best positioned to successfully weather the continued strains on the healthcare system.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 15, 2021

Study finds surgery volumes bounced back after 2020 COVID-19 shutdown

But more recently, confounding factors such as healthcare staffing shortages are causing the delta variant headwind to drag on. Rapidly increasing inpatient volumes are leading some U.S. hospitals to again delay surgical procedures.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 9, 2021

COVID-19 drops out of top telehealth diagnoses in September even as virtual care use rises

National telehealth use, measured as a percentage of all medical claims, rose more than 2% in September for the second straight month as the delta variant surged, following a sustained period of decline early this year.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 7, 2021

Medicare telehealth visits increased 63-fold from 2019 to 2020, new government data shows

Virtual visits for Medicare beneficiaries went from hundreds of thousands pre-pandemic to tens of millions in 2020, with many beneficiaries using telehealth for the first time.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 6, 2021

Are you leaving your FHIR API front door unlocked?

Research shows FHIR APIs come with major security vulnerabilities — here's how to protect your data.

Dec. 6, 2021

3 healthcare CIOs share top industry challenges

Behind the scenes, healthcare CIOs are critical to keeping their organizations running through a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. Now, three executives weigh in on the challenges ahead.

By Roberto Torres • Dec. 2, 2021

CVS, Microsoft ink alliance to develop digital health, personalized products

CVS is banking that Microsoft's computing capabilities can help it weave together its virtual and physical assets to capture a greater slice of patients' healthcare journeys — and the corresponding revenue.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 2, 2021

VA to resume Cerner medical record implementation early next year with new leadership

Officials have released an updated deployment schedule for the beleaguered $16 billion EHR modernization project.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 2, 2021

Patient willingness for telehealth high, but in-person care perceived as more valuable, research suggests

Patients who leaned toward in-person care were more willing to pay for it, while those who preferred video visits were more sensitive to out-of-pocket costs, a survey conducted by Rand found.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 1, 2021

Medical device security continues to be casualty of hospital-medtech divide

FDA says manufacturers and hospitals are both responsible for protecting devices from growing cybersecurity threats. However, healthcare organizations carry a much heavier load.

By Greg Slabodkin • Dec. 1, 2021

Accelerating outcomes amid healthcare's digital transformation

New market research finds that while digital strategies are widespread in healthcare, execution challenges persist.

Nov. 29, 2021

EHR vendor Athenahealth bought out in $17B private equity deal

The transaction, which will be financed through a mix of equity and debt, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year and is the latest in a recent string of large leveraged buyouts.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 22, 2021

MCIT breakthrough device payment pathway included in Cures 2.0 bill

Lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a revised MCIT proposal in the next version of the 21st Century Cures Act, following last week's repeal of the final rule by CMS. Industry groups AdvaMed and MDMA backed the legislation.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 18, 2021

Delta surge spurs Amwell's urgent care growth as specialty, behavioral visits drop off

Urgent care visits generate less revenue, so the shift in mix had an unfavorable impact on total revenue per visit. Amwell's revenue was down 1% year over year to $62.2 million, lower than analyst expectations.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 11, 2021

Siemens software vulnerabilities potentially put millions of medical devices at risk

A U.S. cybersecurity agency issued an alert about the weaknesses, one of which was scored 9.8 on a 10-point risk scale, which could allow hackers to disrupt the operation of anesthesia machines and bedside monitors.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 11, 2021

GE unveils plan to spin off healthcare business

The independent company, expected to be separated in early 2023, is being positioned as having more flexibility to pursue acquisitions as it sharpens its focus on precision health amid struggles with supply chain shortages.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 11, 2021

How a self-service approach can boost healthcare customer satisfaction

Automate for agility: How technology can solve healthcare organizations’ biggest challenges.

Nov. 9, 2021