1. Cloud security a top concern for IT leaders in healthcare

The 2024 CDW Cloud Computing Research Report (https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2024/10/what-new-research-report-tells-us-about-healthcare-and-cloud), based on a survey of more than 900 IT professionals across the US, finds that security is the leading reason why IT leaders in healthcare keep applications on premises instead of migrating to the cloud. The survey also found that security was the reason cited by 71 per cent of healthcare respondents for moving cloud applications back to on-premises infrastructure.

2. US health systems aren’t meeting consumer expectations for virtual services

Deloitte surveyed US healthcare consumers and health system executives and identified “a striking disconnect” in virtual and digital health services. Although there’s a high demand by consumers for such services, many health systems’ organisational priorities don’t align with consumer needs – and some organisations have even scaled back or discontinued such services. Deloitte also found that 24 per cent of consumers  – ranging from 7 per cent of Baby Boomers to 43 per cent of Millennials – say they would be willing to switch doctors if virtual health services aren’t available.

3. Thousands of medical devices expose potentially sensitive health data to open internet

More than 14,000 unique IP addresses around the world expose healthcare devices and systems to the internet, risking public access to sensitive medical information, according to an investigation by Censys. Nearly half of those devices and systems are located in the US, and more than 10.5 per cent are in India. “This is likely due to both countries having large, complex healthcare infrastructure that serves large populations, where organizations must handle vast amounts of sensitive data,” Censys noted. “Comparatively, we detected only 200 publicly available hosts in the United Kingdom, possibly a reflection of its more centralized healthcare infrastructure.”

4. GenAI users welcome chatbots for talks about mental health, personal medical issues

Younger people are far more likely than older generations to be comfortable using GenAI chatbots as mental health counselors, Deloitte’s Connected Consumer study found: 44 per cent of Gen Zs and Millennials were interested, compared to 24 per cent of older respondents. Among GenAI users of any age, 62 per cent say they are willing to talk with chatbots about personal medical topics, and a majority say they are interested in using such tools for mental health support, friendship and relationship advice.

5. Study: Remote blood pressure monitoring works best when combined with medication management

Digital health solutions that remotely monitor people with high blood pressure and focus on encouraging behaviour change “do not deliver incremental health improvements compared to usual care,” according to a report from the Peterson Center on Healthcare. The study, which examined clinical results and costs for solutions from several major providers, found that the best health outcomes came from approaches that couple remote monitoring with medication management by the person’s care team.

6. Global mental health tech market to grow by 10.5% by 2023: Business Research Insights

The global market for mental health technology is expected to grow in value by 10.5 per cent over the next 10 years, from $4.77 billion in 2024 to $11.72 billion by 2023, according to Business Research Insights. That technology includes everything from email and text messaging to teleconferencing and virtual reality. The report noted that North America “represented a significant portion of the global market for mental health technology and is anticipated to maintain its leadership during the forecast period.”

7.  Telehealth visits can ‘improve quality of life’ and maintain treatment efficacy

Health outcomes for people living with HIV weren’t negatively affected by the sudden shift to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to US researchers. “For folks who see their doctors several times a year and don’t need to give biosamples at every visit, telehealth visits can improve quality of life while maintaining medical efficacy,” said Kristen D. Krause, lead author of the study and assistant professor at Rutgers School of Public Health.

8. AI tops list of top 10 healthtech hazards for 2025

AI tops ECRI’s list of Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2025, with the healthcare safety nonprofit describing the technology as “posing significant risks to patients if not properly assessed and managed”. “The promise of artificial intelligence’s capabilities must not distract us from its risks or its ability to harm patients and providers,” says Marcus Schabacker, president and CEO of ECRI. “Balancing innovation in AI with privacy and safety will be one of the most difficult, and most defining, endeavors of modern medicine.” Other health technology hazards on ECRI’s list include unmet technology support needs for home care patients, vulnerable technology vendors and cybersecurity threats, substandard or fraudulent medical devices and supplies, fire risk from supplemental oxygen, dangerously low default alarm limits on anesthesia units, mishandled temporary holds on medication orders, poorly managed infusion lines, harmful medical adhesive products and incomplete investigations of infusion system incidents.

9. Over half of those surveyed in UK agree tech improves quality of healthcare

The Health Foundation surveyed the UK public and found that 51 per cent believe that technology improves the quality of healthcare, while 29 per cent think that is does not change health outcomes and 8 per cent believe that it worsens the quality of healthcare. Hesitance is higher, especially among older people, for technologies like care robots that could distant patients from healthcare professionals. Among respondents ages 65 and up, 39 per cent say their most important consideration around the use of healthcare technology is the ability to see and talk to NHS staff when needed.

10. Increased presence of industrial robots can reduce workers’ mental health

As the use of robots in the manufacturing sector increases, the potential rises for negative impacts on workers’ mental health, an analysis by researchers in Germany has found. The study looked at data across 14 manufacturing sectors from the period between 2002 and 2018, and found that “higher robot intensity” drives more worries about job security and reduces a sense of achievement on the job.