Health

Providers are staring down workforce challenges: Healthcare execs are making a lot of changes to deal with ongoing labor shortages in their health systems. But patients are still feeling the pains of doctor shortages.

Digital health startups to watch: We spotlight Medicaid-concentrated Waymark and RPM company Optimize Health on the back of fresh funding.

Are you ready for Amazon Pet Clinic? Amazon is reportedly looking to launch a veterinary telehealth service. Even if an early attempt fails, we expect it will keep expanding into pet meds and other services.

Walgreens brings Hartford HealthCare into its pharmacies: The retailer turns to another health system to run its in-store health clinics. Here’s why it could be a winning strategy.

Some AI chatbots reveal racial biases: Medical discrimination against minority patients isn’t new. But if large language models are flawed and relied on in healthcare, the problem could get worse.

Boomers like their doctors: People over 65 are the most positive about their primary care physician—more than adults between 50 and 64. But they’re also more likely to see their doctor.

More patients want docs to see their wearables data: But their preferred data-sharing methods could cause even more clinician burnout. Wait ‘till more generative AI solutions are available.

Health insurance premium hikes hurt employers and workers: Rising inflation rates are showing up in this year’s health insurance premiums. Employers expect more hikes to come, per KFF’s annual benchmark survey.

Patients’ medical data is spread far and wide: Consumers are frequently accessing their online medical data, but from disparate healthcare sources. We explore the impact on patient care and a potential solution to consolidate health data.

Global healthcare consumers are becoming more self-reliant: 43% consult doctors or pharmacists to decipher conflicting information on health and pharma products. What about the other 57%?

Digital health startups to watch: We spotlight value-based autism care provider Cortica and tech-focused PBM company Capital Rx on the back of fresh funding.

Generative AI makes its way into health trackers: Smaller wearable developers are using genAI to bolster their health products. Will their new features lure consumers away from the big-name brands?

Docs are pressed to prescribe diabesity drugs: 92% of physicians say patients are asking for weight loss drugs promoted on social media. Even with some misgivings, most are writing scripts for the drugs.

Patients are putting off preventive care: 64% of US adults only go to a doctor when something is “extremely wrong.” Providers and marketers need to educate consumers that this behavior is also extremely wrong.

AI is making inroads among patients worldwide: Global patients who are familiar with AI are more accepting of its use in healthcare. But they don’t want AI to come between them and their doctor.

Health systems deepen ties with TikTok: The most active TikTok users also happen to be the most affected by mental health conditions. Now, health systems are partnering with influencers to deliver mental health information.

Gen X is falling behind on preventative care: Healthcare providers and marketers need to do a better job of communicating the importance of preventative care to Gen Xers.

Can fresh food make Dollar General healthier? The discount retailer teamed with Bayer to distribute fresh-food coupons to students in select school districts. DG hopes to build more foot traffic in stores where customers are only spending on essentials.

Digital health startups to watch: We spotlight value-based care company Main Street Health and mental health platform Headway on the back of fresh funding.

Cigna invests in asynchronous virtual urgent care: Patients and providers generally are fans of telehealth interactions that don’t need to occur in real time. But adoption of this modality hasn’t taken off yet.