| |  By Casey Ross, Katie Palmer, Mario Aguilar, and Mohana Ravindranath | Good morning! We've got an abbreviated edition as we gear up to host the STAT Health Tech Summit today. Sign up to join us. | | | How private industry turns patient data into profits  (molly ferguson for stat) Most patients freely share health data with their doctors in hopes of getting effective care. But few realize where it travels next — into an opaque marketplace where it’s used by a web of businesses without their knowledge or consent. In a new investigation, Casey traced the path of patient information in a medical database compiled by GE Healthcare. The database, which was licensed to clients like IQVIA to mine insights, ultimately became part of a multi-billion dollar payday for the private equity firm Veritas Capital. What happened in between highlights the privacy risks facing patients as well as the limited protection offered by the 26-year-old federal law known as HIPAA. Read on for the full story. | A counterintuitive question for Google Google is taking up a research question of great public concern: How is the ceaseless use of smartphones affecting our minds? Given the possibly disturbing answers, the maker of Android may seem a counterintuitive party to be asking that question. But the answers will help inform the future design and use of these omnipresent products to help offset harms. Google will launch its inquiry with researchers from the University of Oregon to dig into adult smartphone use, tracking the number of daily unlocks, use of different categories of apps, and users’ sleep and activity patterns. It will be the second study conducted on the Google Health Studies app, a platform the company hopes will bolster its bona fides in health care. Mario has the full story. | Building privacy into patient portals Information blocking regulations have helped to make it easier for patients to see their own medical records, and the role of patient portals for real-time access will only continue to grow. But a group of researchers at Mount Sinai and NYU points out that convenience can risk the privacy of patients with caregivers. In a paper in the Journal of Medical Ethics, they present case studies in the potential harms of shared accounts, including a spouse stumbling on sensitive information about suicidal ideation, and a child finding a parent’s decision to halt cancer care in favor of hospice. To avoid similar situations, they present an approach to patient portals that allow caregivers to access critical information, while maintaining confidentiality.
“Patients…may not want all information to be shared with their proxies,” the authors write. “Caregivers must be encouraged to use a proxy account access rather than the patient’s own login to avoid improper disclosure of information.” | Today: Join us virtually at The STAT Health Tech Summit At 9 a.m. PT, we’re hosting a full-day program covering everything from AI to virtual care. Hear from experts at Google Health, Tempus, Cue Health, Duke, and more. Don’t miss out — get your ticket now. | Digital branding -
A year after announcing its acquisition of telehealth provider MeMD, Walmart has rebranded its services to Walmart Health Virtual Care, beginning its rollout in Florida. The company launched a virtual diabetes care program last month. -
Women’s health startup Tia added fertility services to its lineup of virtual-focused primary care, gynecology, and mental health. Tia’s founder also recently committed to providing medication abortion through virtual visits for patients in states where it’s legal. -
Anumana Inc., a venture launched by nference and Mayo Clinic, has received an FDA breakthrough designation for an algorithm designed to enable early detection of pulmonary hypertension. While a positive step forward, the company still must link use of the product to better outcomes for patients. -
A group of health care and academic institutions has formed a new partnership focused on using digital health tools to address health care disparities. Dubbed the Digital Health for Equitable Health Alliance, the group will focus on developing policies to support use of wearables, telemedicine and AI tools in ways that improve care for underserved populations. | | | Thanks for reading! More Thursday,  | | | | Have a news tip or comment? Email Us | |
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