Get the latest news in health technology, digital health and health AI with this weekly overview. News for the week from May 25th to May 29th.
Tanner Health, Worki Partner Deploys AI Workforce Solutions
Health workforce infrastructure company Worki on Thursday announced a partnership with Tanner Health to deploy its Career Amplifier solution, which provides AI-powered career guidance to frontline workers.
Worki’s Career Amplifier uses AI-enabled intake to draft session preparation materials and generate follow-up plans that are reviewed and approved by counselors. According to Worki, the tool is also designed to “support the evolution of the workforce as AI changes the way we work,” through things like continuous skill profile updates and learning resources.
This deployment is the first live implementation of Worki’s AI Workforce Unifying infrastructure.
“Healthcare organizations have untapped workforce potential, and the real challenge is aligning it,” Worki CEO and co-founder Craig Alan Ahrens said in a statement. “Career Amplifier shows what an AI workforce integration infrastructure really looks like. It makes employee data visible and actionable. It puts AI agents into HR and workforce tasks to support front-line employee engagement, efficiency, and retention. It also helps all employees evolve as AI changes the way they work.”
Philips and Disney partner on themed MRI machines for pediatric patients
A newly announced partnership will see Philips Ambient Experience magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, featuring Disney animated characters and stories, installed in medical facilities in 87 countries around the world.
According to a May 28 press release, 61% of pediatric patients report feeling anxious during MRI scans, which can lead to rescans, longer procedures, and sedation. In a study of six European hospitals, researchers found that after using a Disney-themed ambient experience machine, pediatric patients’ stress levels were reduced by 43% after a scan.
“By bringing Disney stories into the MRI environment, we are helping to create an environment where children feel more at ease and stay still during the exam,” Atul Gupta, MD, chief medical officer for diagnostics and treatment at Philips, said in a statement. “Reducing stress will improve the experience for young patients and their families, while also enabling care teams to provide efficient, high-quality imaging, allowing them to care for more children each day and supporting better care for more people.”
The platform is available at pilot hospitals across Europe and other hospitals such as Rady Children’s Health, based in Orange County, California.
Read the full story at “Intense Pharmaceutical Marketing.”
Oura launches “world’s smallest smart ring” and partners with Counsel Health
Smart ring maker Oura on Thursday announced the launch of the Oura Ring 5, which the company calls “the world’s smallest smart ring” with a host of new health insight features.
Oura Ring 5 gives users access to new activity tracking, proactive health, connected health, metabolic health, and other services. Oura’s new health radar builds on the 2024 Symptom Radar and continuously monitors vital signs.
The company is also partnering with Counsel Health to bring artificial intelligence-powered care directly into the app. According to the announcement, it will initially be available to members in 43 U.S. states.
The new rings will start shipping on June 4th and are priced at $499 for the premium finish and $399 for the base finish.
“Oura Ring 5 is a major step toward our vision of giving every body a voice,” Oura CEO Tom Hale said in a statement. “By reimagining Oura Ring 5 to be smaller and more wearable, and combining it with our most advanced software to date, more people will be able to wear Oura every day and benefit from the personalized and predictive health insights that come with it.”
Reimagine Care, Moffitt Cancer Center expands AI-powered virtual oncology model
Reimagine Care and Moffitt Cancer Center are expanding their AI-powered virtual oncology care program with Moffitt Cancer Center following successful early outcomes observed during the initial implementation phase.
According to a May 21 announcement, the model extends cancer care beyond scheduled visits through ongoing support from Reimagine’s AI assistant, Remi, and a virtual oncology care team.
During initial implementation, the model recorded approximately 7,000 patient interactions, 97% of which were resolved individually without escalation to a healthcare provider. Additionally, 94% of symptom management situations were resolved virtually, with only 2.4% of interactions resulting in a referral to the emergency department.
“We are focused on providing high-quality cancer care throughout the patient journey,” Dr. Tim Hembree, deputy director and chief quality officer at Moffitt Cancer Center, said in a statement. “This approach allows care teams to stay informed of patient needs between visits, address issues early if they arise, and provide more consistent support.”
The next phase of the partnership will expand the virtual care model to provide access to more patients across additional Moffitt facilities.
