Interviews & Features

Video game enthusiasts have long enjoyed escaping reality to roam simulated worlds and alternate universes, from prehistoric jungles to sci-fi fantasy lands. However, the two-dimensional nature of video games has always been a glass ceiling, blocking the complete suspension of disbelief that gamers seek.

Healthcare cybersecurity is multifaceted, encompassing numerous physical and digital systems and key employee roles. From a physical standpoint, healthcare cybersecurity systems can include security cameras, computer hardware, access control systems, and biometric authentication devices.

AI-powered tech could make healthcare more affordable, equitable, effective, and accessible. This isn’t just hype: preliminary research suggests wider AI adoption could lead to a 5 to 10 percent savings on US healthcare spending annually, translating to roughly $200 million to $360 billion per year (NBER 2023). The potential is massive.

Administrative costs account for up to a quarter of all US health expenditures, with billing coding costs being one of the top drivers (JAMA 2021). Staffing shortages and coding complexity have worsened matters. But major breakthroughs in automating aspects of the medical coding process may point toward a long-term solution. Already, some provider organizations have implemented autonomous coding in high-volume outpatient specialties such as radiology, pathology, emergency medicine, urgent care, and primary care.

Healthcare’s tectonic plates are shifting. One such plate is value-based care, which has healthcare leaders reconsidering how success is measured. An alternative to the fee-for-service model, value-based care ties provider payment to the quality of care provided rather than the amount of care provided.

New medical innovations emerge daily that improve health and extend lifespans. Much of the credit for such advancements go to a plethora of new medical device startups and university research labs.

Telehealth is here to stay. Accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, what once was a fringe form of clinical communication is now a major pillar of the healthcare system. Powered by modern technology, and acting as part of an overall hybrid approach, it helps address the most pressing challenges healthcare faces today, particularly around access.

This year’s Medical Laboratory Professionals Week runs from April 23-29, 2023. It’s an annual celebration of the medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in healthcare and patient advocacy. It’s also an opportunity to reflect upon the many changes to the field over the years and to look ahead at what’s next.

When one considers the money saved by attending school for one or two years instead of four or eight, there are some extremely attractive opportunities in medical technology careers.

Healthcare is a rapidly growing field and the need for skilled, compassionate professionals is expected to accelerate in the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for healthcare and related technical jobs is expected to grow 13 percent between 2021 and 2031.