Health Tech

FDA Set to Issue Final Rule Classifying VR Therapy Device for Pain Relief

The FDA said the class II designation for AppliedVR’s virtual reality medical device for the treatment of chronic lower back pain will “enhance patients’ access to beneficial innovation.”

Lawmakers Explore 'More Permanent Direction' for Telehealth Under Medicare

Many of Medicare’s telehealth provisions were tied to emergency pandemic measures, which will come to an end.

Adoption of AI in Health Care Relies on Building Trust, DOD, VA Officials Say

Wider use of health-related artificial intelligence applications at the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense depends on technologies being “sufficiently understandable.”

NIST to Launch New Guidance on Security Risks of Telehealth and Smart Home Integration

The agency notes that “user experience” improvements may come with less control over privacy and security.

Over 20,000 Veterans Received VHA iPads but Never Used Them for Virtual Care

An inspector general review found that the agency was also slow to get devices back so they could be redistributed.

Diabetes Patients Flood FDA with Comments on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices

As the agency finalizes guidance for approving the sale of devices such as those used to monitor and control glucose levels, the comments highlight competition and consumer protection issues associated with a grassroots movement for the “right-to-repair.”

GAO dismisses final CIO-SP4 protests

Awards will be announced by Nov. 1, and the ordering period of CIO-SP3 and CIO-SP3 small business will be extended.

VA plans new health record deployments, despite critical watchdog reports

Two upcoming go-live dates for the Cerner health record at VA facilities in Washington and Ohio will proceed on schedule, the agency says.

VA Continues Healthcare Modernization With Simulated Employee Training

Officials are seeking industry input for SIMPLE, a pending platform to help train VA employees virtually.

AI Teaches Brain Tumor Surgery Better Than Human Experts

Artificial intelligence tutors are outperforming human instructors.

Lawmakers Request Continued Telehealth Expansion for Medicare

A letter signed by 45 members of Congress asked for continued federal funding for Medicare telehealth access as pending legislation aims to make it permanent. 

Extended Reality Sees Potential, Challenges Across Multiple Industries

A new GAO report itemizes how extended reality technologies can be used, and what other emerging tech needs to be bolstered to support its implementation.

VA Delays Electronic Health Records Deployment Due To COVID Cases

The VA Central Ohio Healthcare System was supposed to receive a new EHR system deployment in March, but COVID spikes overwhelmed the workforce.

Defense Officials Develop 5G-Enabled Medical Applications to Support Future Troops

Vendors were recently selected to push forward military telemedicine experiments.