Daily Briefing · Issue №065 · 2026-07-18

Physicians

Machine Learning–Augmented Traditional Analysis of Lactate vs Lactate-to-Albumin Ratio for Predicting Mortalit

• Background: Effective risk stratification in sepsis remains a critical clinical challenge. Serum lactate is a cornerstone biomarker of metabolic dysfunction, yet its predictive limitations—particularly in patients withou

JMIR Medical Informatics ↗

Physicians

Home OCT with AI comparable to expert graders in AMD

• Home OCT combined with an AI analysis helped in the early detection of retinal fluid in patients with age-related macular degeneration, according to a speaker.In her presentation at the American Society of Retina Special

Healio Primary Care ↗

Physicians

CryoTherapeutics treats first patient in ICECAP trial targeting vulnerable coronary plaque

• The multicenter study is evaluating whether localized cryotherapy, guided by AI-enabled imaging, can stabilize non-obstructive high-risk plaques before they trigger a heart attack.

Medical Economics ↗

Physicians

One Surgical Approach May Be Better for Complex Gallbladder Disease

• (MedPage Today) -- Robotic cholecystectomy for complex gallbladder disease was linked with reductions in further interventions and complications, without increasing the total cost of care, a cohort study suggested. Among

MedPage Today ↗

Physicians

STAT+: Can ultrasound unlock the power of gene therapy? A startup makes big claims

• Sonothera is developing a new way to deliver genes into cells that, if borne out, could have a big impact on muscular dystrophy and other diseases.

Stat News - Pharma ↗

Physicians

A Guideline-Concordant Chatbot Framework for Structured Colorectal Cancer Screening: Multistage Feasibility St

• Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening relies on structured risk assessment and guideline-concordant communication, which remain challenging to implement consistently in real-world practice. Digital tools based on

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) ↗

Physicians

Describing a National Chatbot Deployed by the Ministry of Health in Malawi During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retro

• Background: Malawi was a pioneer among African countries in implementing a coordinated, government-led effort to streamline COVID-19 support using digital health tools. In response to the pandemic, a COVID-19 WhatsApp ch

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) ↗

Physicians

Development and Clinical Evaluation of a Large Language Model–Based System for Generating Patient-Friendly Ech

• Background: Standard echocardiography reports use complex terminology, limiting patient comprehension and exacerbating preconsultation anxiety. Large language models (LLMs) can transform technical data into patient-frien

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) ↗

Physicians

An Acceptance Criteria Framework for Determining the Implementation Fit of Custom Large Language Models in Pub

• Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly embedded in clinical and population health workflows, including conversational agents such as health chatbots. As chatbots evolve from rule-based approaches to hybrid and LLM

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) ↗

Physicians

Publicly Accessible Large Language Model Responses to Frequently Asked Questions About Spondylodiscitis: Preli

• Background: Patients increasingly use large language models (LLMs) to obtain medical information, but the quality of LLM-generated information on complex spinal infections such as spondylodiscitis remains uncertain. Exis

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) ↗

Physicians

Patients’ Perspectives on AI in Primary Care

• Patients view the use of AI in primary care as inevitable but see opportunities for the technology to improve care and communication with their clinicians.

Bing News — Nursing Tech & Devices ↗

Physicians

West Tennessee Healthcare expands critical care support through eICU Program in partnership with Philips and h

• West Tennessee Healthcare is continuing to strengthen critical care services across the region through the expansion of its systemwide eICU program powered by Philips eCareManager and integrated with ...

Bing News — Nursing Tech & Devices ↗

Physicians

Pioneering medical 3D printing lab opens in Sheffield

• A ‘state-of-the-art’ 3D printing lab producing ultra-realistic medical models for training, surgical simulation and patient-specific anatomical modelling has been unveiled at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation T

Med-Tech Innovation News ↗

Pharmacy

Turning AI skeptics into AI advocates through high-integrity data

• With 89% of AI pilots failing to scale, biopharmas can move from data skepticism to advocacy by building a trusted, globally harmonized foundation.

Pharmaceutical Technology ↗

Pharmacy

Otters, bears and Pharma Lions: inside Gilead’s bronze-winning Cannes spot

• Gilead Sciences Canada and The Local Collective worked up a bronze-winning campaign for HIV med Descovy featuring AI-generated animals.

Fierce Pharma ↗

Physician Assistant

Missouri Becomes 27th State to Join the PA Licensure Compact

• Missouri has officially joined the PA Licensure Compact, opening the door to multistate practice for the state’s more than 1,850 PAs! The post Missouri Becomes 27th State to Join the PA Licensure Compact appeared first o

American Academy of PAs (AAPA) News ↗

Nursing

AI helps nurses stay one step ahead in chronic disease care, new review finds

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping nurses better predict health problems before they become emergencies, according to a new review of existing research published in JMIR Nursing. The study found ...

Bing News — Nursing AI & Informatics ↗

Digital Health

Understanding Agentic AI in Clinical Development

• Earlier this year, my colleague Matt Harrington suggested that clinical leaders should stop asking whether their organizations have an “AI strategy”, not because strategy doesn’t matter, but because the question often pr

FierceBiotech ↗

Digital Health

NHS AI use cases spotlighted by the WEF for work with FLock.io

• FLock.io has been spotlighted by the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s MINDS programme for two NHS trusts using its privacy-preserving AI to tackle major diseases. Both trusts use its federated learning platform to train clin

Digital Health News ↗

Digital Health

Building AI-Ready Public Health Data Systems for Faster, Safer Decisions

• For years, the healthcare industry treated data collection as the main challenge. The next phase is about interpretation, coordination, and operational usability. The post Building AI-Ready Public Health Data Systems for

MedCity News ↗

Digital Health

Fortune 50 employer awards Dario contract to deliver AI-powered cardiometabolic care platform

• Contract award for over 100,000 eligible employees marks Dario's fifth Fortune 50 client, further reflecting growing demand among large employers for integrated, outcomes-driven chronic condition ...

Bing News — Nursing Tech & Devices ↗

Digital Health

'Headless AI' aims to eliminate healthcare bottlenecks

• Rather than replacing existing technologies, a new coordination layer could connect siloed systems, automate complex workflows and reshape healthcare operations.

Bing News — Nursing Tech & Devices ↗

Digital Health

IHH FutureHealth.Now 2026 Explores How Affordability, AI, And Precision Medicine Will Shape The Future Of Care

• Affordability, AI, precision medicine and preventive healthcare were central themes, with discussions on improving healthcare access, patient outcomes and future models of care.

Bing News — Nursing Tech & Devices ↗

Health OS

Anticipating the Impact of AI on Diet and Exercise Apps: Foresight Study Applying the Futures Wheel

• AI has entered the wellness space through apps and wearables. These technologies can collect real-time data, infer lifestyle patterns, and dynamically generate nutrition and exercise recommendations. Generative AI person

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) ↗

Health OS

STAT+: Medicare wants to shake up how it pays for clinical AI

• In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposes major changes to RPM, clinical AI payment models.

STAT Health Tech ↗

Pharmacy

Merck scores at FDA as Lipfendra becomes world's first oral PCSK9 treatment

• The FDA has approved Merck's internally developed cholesterol-lowering treatment Lipfendra for adults with hypercholesterolemia, or high levels of "bad" cholesterol. The drug, which is the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor to r

Fierce Pharma ↗

Health OS

GE and Catholic Health enter $500m alliance to expand diagnostics access

• GE HealthCare and Catholic Health have signed a 10-year strategic alliance valued at around $500m, aimed at expanding access to precision diagnostics, advanced imaging, and AI-supported technology across the latter’s net

Medical Device Network ↗

Health OS

STAT+: GOP blocks effort to end Medicare test of AI prior authorization

• The Trump administration is testing the use of AI in Medicare to approve some medical services.

STAT Health Tech ↗

Health OS

Coalition for Health AI launches implementation initiative for public health agencies

• Applications for the effort are now open through Aug. 6, and participants will be selected by CHAI’s leadership council.

Fierce Healthcare ↗

Health OS

Lark Health, Samsung team up on AI-powered health coach for U.S. seniors

• Eligible seniors will be able to use one or more of Lark’s 12 chronic disease management and prevention programs with no out-of-pocket costs through Samsung Health.

Fierce Healthcare ↗