Google’s (Alphabet’s) rising focus on health: 5 must-read stories from MedCity News this week

Also, we talk about the big health security glitch of the week: Tech issues at Hospital Corporation of America that led to the shutdown of some of its electronic health record system.

By Meghana Keshavan on December 12, 2015

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-MnBcMTIqE]
Security issues in healthcare are racing to the forefront of importance these days. Case in point: Just a few days ago, Hospital Corporation of America had a major EHR outage just a few days ago, reportedly caused by a hardware storage glitch.

“The bottomline for 2015 – the threats increased and the technology, policy, and education efforts were redoubled,” wrote Dr. John Halamka in a MedCitizens post this week. “ Although ICD10 and Meaningful Use work may be diminished in 2016, security work is likely to increase.”

Neil Versel and Chris Seper of MedCity News discussed the issue of healthcare privacy and security on this week’s MedHeads.

Watch the archived video above, and also check out five important stories we covered this week – the first of which being the center of our MedHeads discussion:

 

 

1. Google Ventures CEO: Our focus on the life sciences will grow

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Nearly a third of Google Ventures‘ investments are in the life sciences, according to the firm’s president and CEO Bill Maris. It’s entering 2016 with $2.4 billion under management, Maris wrote in a blog – and says will continue to strengthen its focus on the life sciences.

 

2. Sovereign wealth fund investment in healthcare is on the rise, especially in digital health

In the past couple of years there has been a rise in sovereign wealth funds’ investments in healthcare. These cover a wide range of areas from hospital chains to pharmaceutical companies, but it also includes direct investments in digital health startups. China Broadband Capital invested in smartphone diagnostic developer Scanadu and French Groupe Arnault includes Clue, a maker of female health apps, among its investments.Alaska Permanent Fund is one of the founding investors in Denali Therapeutics, a biotech business targeting neurodegenerative disorders.

 

3. Twine Health closes $6.7 million Series A round to expand patient coaching for chronic conditions

MIT Media Lab spin-out Twine Health hasraised $6.75 million to support the expansion of a software platform using apps to help patients manage their chronic diseases and collaborate with physicians.

4. How big is this big EHR outage? At least some of HCA’s system crumbles (Update)

Hospital Corporation of America, which runs 165 hospitals and 115 freestanding surgery centers in 20 states, has experienced a glitch that led to the shutdown of some of its electronic health record system.

How big is this EHR outage? The extent is not immediately clear. There were reports of problems being isolated to Florida. But other reports noted problems on the East Coast, too.

5. Google Life Sciences has a new name: Verily

Google Life Sciences got a rebrand today: It’s now called Verily. A new site is up as well to illustrate the company’s emphasis on wielding technology “to create a true picture of human health” – and “effecting prevention.”

Just as Google formed parent company “Alphabet” earlier this year, it’s clearly sticking to a literary theme with “verily,” which is a florid, Shakespearean way to say “truth, truly, confidently.”