Get the latest news in health technology, digital health and health AI with this weekly overview. This is the news for the week of April 6th to 24th.
H1 launches first AI-powered platform to connect clinical trial sponsors and sites
Artificial intelligence platform H1 has launched the H1 Site Network Suite. It says it is a “first of its kind” platform that connects sponsors and sites for a seamless clinical trial workflow.
Through this platform, sites can capture and manage profiles, verify functionality, and complete feasibility surveys. The company said the platform deploys AI “across the entire feasibility workflow, linking protocol design, site identification, and feasibility execution.”
“For decades, feasibility has been a fragmented, one-off process built on incomplete data and manual workflows,” H1 CEO and co-founder Ariel Katz said in a statement. “H1’s site network brings sponsors and sites together into one connected system for faster feasibility and continuous improvement over time. Ultimately, this means sponsors can move faster on feasibility and establish smarter clinical trial processes.”
Healthcare systems focus on ROI, AI integration: McKinsey study
Half of U.S. healthcare organizations have implemented generative AI solutions into their workflows, with the focus shifting to integration, agent AI tools, and return on investment (ROI), according to an April 16 report from McKinsey & Company.
The report surveyed healthcare leaders online from mid-September to mid-October and included leaders from 50 payers, 50 clinical care organizations, and 50 health services technology (HST) companies.
“At the same time, the challenges facing health care leaders are evolving,” the report’s authors wrote. “Long-standing concerns about trust, security, and governance now exist alongside the operational realities of integration.”
Most healthcare leaders included in the report expect a positive ROI (82%) for their AI investments, with 45% quantifying positive returns.
The biggest barrier for healthcare leaders looking to scale generative AI solutions is the difficulty of integrating or adapting tools into existing workflows, with 59% of respondents reporting this issue. Additionally, 43% of healthcare leaders cited concerns about scaling risks of generative AI solutions as a barrier to implementation.
The study also found that despite growing interest in agent AI platforms, implementation has lagged compared to generative AI tools. Only 19% of respondents report that their organization has deployed agent AI, while 51% of respondents also report that their organization is pursuing proof of concept for agent AI. Only 1% of respondents said their organization has no plans to pursue agent-based AI solutions.
Google and Johnson & Johnson Foundation invest in AI training
Google.org and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation announced a $10 million philanthropic collaboration to fund AI literacy training for rural health care workers across the United States, aimed at closing the adoption gap.
The organizations are committing $5 million to the project, according to a press release. The partnership has three main pillars.
- AI literacy
- Reducing burnout syndrome
- Community-driven solutions
This collaboration expands on the various efforts of each organization. Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund, established in 2024, aims to help Americans develop AI skills. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson Care Communities aims to advance programs that improve access to quality care in communities around the world.
Qualifactos acquires MethodOne to fully integrate drug therapy
Qualifacts, a behavioral health technology platform, has acquired Computalogic’s MethodOne, a managed medication dispensing software, to create a fully integrated solution.
The acquisition expands Qualifacts’ electronic health record (EHR) capabilities to “fill a critical gap” for substance use disorder and complex mental health providers who require integrated medication-assisted treatment and dispensing for opioid use disorder.
“Joining Qualifacts gives MethodOne the scale and resources to accelerate our roadmap and reach more providers who need better solutions,” Keith Jones, CEO of MethodOne by Computalogic, said in a statement. “Together, we can offer SUD treatment organizations something never seen before: a truly integrated solution for the full spectrum of clinical and pharmacy needs, supported by partners with deep and unique behavioral health expertise.”
