How Hackable Are Modern Medical Devices?

Headlines all around the medical community are decrying connected medical devices and the inherent danger from hackers.  But is there any truth to the concern? Should we be worried that nefarious keyboard cowboys are going to hack into our pacemakers and medical tablets and insulin pumps and cause…


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How Can New Technology Fulfill the Promise of Precision Medicine?

The future of medicine isn’t a matter of mass-market solutions, of one-size-fits-all medical treatment.  As it stands now, we must content ourselves with vaccines and surgeries and medicine that do the most good for the most amount of people: there are always going to be outliers, and cost and…


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Healthcare Needs to Communicate Better

Playwright George Bernard Shaw once famously said: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” Anyone who’s ever worked in a hospital (or healthcare in general) can attest to just how sadly true that sentiment is. And while there are thousands of reasons…


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Navigating FDA 60601-1 Compliance for Medical Devices

For years the US Food and Drug Administration has mandated that medical devices comply with 60601 standards for near-patient safety, and while that’s great for patients, it can be a difficult or frustrating road to navigate for medical device manufacturers.   60601-1 ratings are given to devices…


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4 New Advances in Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Industry

Artificial intelligence is, no surprise, an evolving field of research and programming that is constantly churning out new tools.  The healthcare industry is, of course, a perfect use for many of these tools: healthcare is all about trying to find a way to sort through and understand a glut of…


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Is the FCC Going to Help Fund Telehealth Adoption?

The latest news coming out of the healthcare cycle is that Brendan Carr, the FCC Commissioner, has announced a vote that could expand telehealth funding for millions of Americans with limited or no proper access to hospitals and doctors’ offices. This new plan, if passed, could have huge…


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6 Easy Ways for Your Hospital to Go Green

Going green isn’t just about recycling. Nor is it all about saving the environment. A strong green initiative reduces wastefulness, increases efficiency, aids the budget (especially in the long-term), and provides a healthier place to work. Unfortunately, healthcare’s “green credentials” leave…


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4 Strategies for Making the Most Out of Your Medical Cart Computers

Medical cart computers have been around for a while, but their saturation in hospitals has never been higher than it is now. Sometimes called COWs (computers on wheels), cart computers have increased connectivity, patient confidentiality, and accountability across the board. And while inputting…


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Fighting the Surprising New Flaws in Medical Cyber Security

Unfortunately for HIT professionals everywhere, cybersecurity is never a done deal. It’s not like building a skyscraper or carving a statue — they never get to step away, dust off their hands, and say “here it is!” Not only are hackers and other malefactors always innovating new methods for…


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Installing Commercial-Grade Tablets in a Medical Device is Asking for Trouble

A tablet is the perfect go-to for both the brains and user interface for a medical device: they’re slim, surprisingly powerful, easy to use, and simple to integrate into any given mount. However, grabbing the newest iPad or Tab and slapping it onto a machine may not be the hassle-free time-saver…


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