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Epic revises sepsis model amid scrutiny
The Wisconsin health records giant is revamping its flagship sepsis prediction model following Casey’s investigations revealing high false alarm rates and an inability to reliably predict sepsis, according to documents obtained by STAT. In a major policy shift, Epic now recommends that hospital customers train the model on their own data before deploying it, and has adjusted its definition of “onset of sepsis” to align with a more commonly accepted standard.
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The changes could make the model more useful to clinicians seeking to avoid sepsis, patrick lyonsintensivist and expert in risk prediction models at WAshington University School of Medicine, Casey said. “This is likely to increase accuracy at many different locations, even those with very different case mixes.” Read the full story.
Inside the Verily-FDA link
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The Alphabet The life sciences spin-out has made a huge bet on generating evidence with its eye-popping $1 billion funding round, positioning itself to create tools for pharma and digital health customers who are driving clinical tests. And his list of high-level alumni FDA Officials could be key to ensuring its success – especially as regulators grapple with how to handle data collected outside of traditional clinical trials, Katie writes in a new analysis.
Two-time FDA commissioner Robert Calif previously led health policy and strategy for Verily and Google, and said collaboration with industry was a “major priority”. Amy Abernethy joined In truth in July 2021 after serving as the FDA’s senior deputy commissioner and acting chief information officer; he has since been named Director of Policy Joe Franklin and Chief Technical Advisor Laura Roe of the agency, among others.
“The FDA is certainly trying to expand their understanding” of real-world data and evidence, said Rachele Hendricks-SturrupDirector of Real-World Evidence Research at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. “Everyone is trying to grasp the opportunities and challenges of determining whether or not real-world data is suitable for regulatory use.” Here is the full story.
AI to avoid unnecessary biopsies
In her first story for STAT, our intern Jayne Williamson-Lee dug into an AI tool that analyzes MRI scans for breast cancer risk to reduce unnecessary biopsies. Often, radiologists “don’t have enough certainty to make a very informed decision [about biopsies].So they err on the side of biopsy a lot of people,” said Jan Witowskico-author of an article on the tool in Science Translational Medicine.
In general, avoiding unnecessary biopsies could have major implications for patients and “reduce patient anxiety, subject patients to fewer unnecessary examinations and [procedures]and reduce associated health care costs,” said Manisha Bahl, a breast imaging radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn more here.
In the Spotlight This Week: Information Sharing Compliance
A broader definition of “electronic health information” takes effect Thursday under federal rules, which means health systems and IT developers will be tasked with making more data available for patients to access and exchange them, the federal government’s health informatics office reminds us this week.
Lowest point in digital health transactions since late 2019
Lenders withhold their investments until the market stabilizes, Rock Health found in its quarterly digital health analysis. In the third quarter of 2022, approximately $2.2 billion was raised from 125 deals, slightly more than the $2.1 billion raised at the end of 2019. In general, analysts saw deals of more smaller in size and more focused on seed funding compared to previous quarters.
Industry News
- Kaiser Permanente offer Gingeremotional support coaching to its members starting today.
- NorthwellThe investment arm makes a $3 million bet on Hume AIwhich uses machine learning to understand non-verbal behavior.
- Franco-American startup OKAYwhich uses AI to identify new medical treatments, has hired SanofiGlobal Head of Partnerships Alban de La Sabliere as the new commercial director.
- SVC Health sold fasta provider of employee benefits software, to Francisco Partners. In January, the firm also bought the assets of IBM’s Watson Health Company.
What we read
- It’s unclear how well mental health chatbots work, Wired
- How to Navigate Health Apps That May Share Your Data, ACLU
- Zocdoc founder on healthcare consumer’s #1 problem that never changes, CNBC
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