News You Can Use – January 2025

This month’s episode of “News You Can Use” on Healthcare NOW Radio features news from the month of January 2025.

The show that gives you a quick insight into the latest news, twists, turns, and debacles going on in healthcare with my friend and co-host Craig Joseph, MD (@CraigJoseph) Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Consulting Partners and myself, where every diagnosis comes with a side of humor. We hope you stay curious, stay engaged, and keep seeking the truth in healthcare in a world that thrives on information.

Buckle up as we dive into the ER of excitement, the ICU of irrationality, and the waiting room of wacky wisdom in this month’s show that features a review of:

• Change Data Breach
• Pregnant mothers and RSV
• Stargate and AI
• Target AI Screening for suicide
• WHO and NIH

When Bots Need Bigger Batteries

Welcome to January’s healthcare hilarity with Dr. Nick and Dr. Craig, the dynamic duo making sense of medical madness. This week, we tackle everything from AI collaborations to data breaches that left half of the U.S. feeling a little too exposed. The recently announced massive AI venture, dubbed “Stargate” (cue sci-fi jokes), promises data centers galore, although we ponder it might end up being about NIMBY than starry-eyed tech progress. Meanwhile, Change Healthcare’s data breach grew from “bad” to “worse” – now affecting nearly 200 million people. “If you’re not part of the breach club, let us know your secret!” And we added a PSA to check your credentials on “Have I Been Pwned” (not what it sounds like).

WHO Knows? America’s Global Health Ghosting

Speaking of questionable decisions, the U.S. government’s distancing from the World Health Organization sparked concerns. We lament that COVID taught us that ignoring global health isn’t exactly a winning strategy, so why make this step now? Meanwhile, a temporary freeze on federal health data reports has public health experts fidgeting. Imagine a world where epidemiologists don’t get their weekly dose of dry but vital CDC updates. Spoiler alert we are not fans. Amid all this, a silver lining emerged from Epic’s massive health database, showcasing how RSV vaccines given to pregnant moms significantly protect newborns. As Craig says, “They’re basically born vaccinated – a win for tiny humans everywhere!”

With healthcare news feeling like an endless whirlwind of breaches, bureaucracy, and breakthroughs, we remind ourselves to laugh through the absurdities while staying informed. Whether it’s AI that promises the moon or vaccines that deliver real-world impact, we will keep dissecting the chaos, one quip at a time.

We hope you enjoy our take on the latest news and developments in healthcare and want to help you keep untangling the web of information, dodging the sensational pitfalls, and emerging victorious, albeit a little dizzy, on the other side. In the end, the stories we uncover, and the discussions we ignite, all shape the narrative of our shared future. We want to hear from you especially if you have topics covered or questions you’d like answered. You can reach out directly via the contact form on my website, or send a message on LinkedIn to Craig or me.

Until next month keep solving healthcare’s mysteries before they become your emergencies.

This article was originally published on the Dr. Nick – The Incrementalist blog and is republished here with permission.

News You Can Use gives you a quick insight into the latest news, twists, turns and debacles going on in healthcare with Dr. Nick and Dr. Craig and where every diagnosis comes with a side of side-splitting humor. Your hosts are Dr Nick a long-time host, innovator and healthcare wizard who can prescribe a digital dose of innovation to cure even the most ailing operational inefficiencies. And Dr. Craig Joseph is the healthcare guru who can diagnose both patient and software glitches with equal precision, making sure hospitals run smoother than a well-oiled robot doc.

So buckle up, because we’re diving into the ER of excitement, the ICU of irrationality, and the waiting room of wacky wisdom.

Stay curious, stay engaged, and keep seeking the truth in a world that thrives on information. Because in the end, the stories we uncover, and the discussions we ignite, they all shape the narrative of our shared future.

And keep laughing at the absurdity, keep rolling your eyes at the headlines, and keep spreading the news like your favorite gossip. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll be the breaking news story we’re all talking about!

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