Recent Digital Health Trends, Insight and News - April 2025
In-flight telemedicine appointments to tech giants launching advanced AI tools
March marks the start of spring, signaling a transition to longer daylight hours, warmer weather, and fresh blooms. However, flower beds and gardens aren’t the only ones experiencing growth. This month, we’re revealing innovative digital health trends that have the potential to propel growth and improve patient outcomes in the healthcare sector.
From in-flight telemedicine appointments to tech giants launching advanced AI tools, March was quite an innovative month. We’ve compiled the top need-to-know digital health insights for your review.
Technology, News and Insights
EpiWatch Wins FDA Clearance for Apple Watch Seizure Management App
Wearables have gained a lot of traction lately for their ability to monitor health metrics and predict potential medical issues. While many people look to them to track their steps or check their heart rate, this innovation is designed specifically for individuals living with epilepsy.
Recently, the EpiWatch, a Johns Hopkins-developed app for Apple Watch users, received FDA 510(k) clearance for its continuous seizure monitor platform. This application allows those with epilepsy to receive medication reminders and gain information about what triggers a seizure. Users can also use the app to log if and when they have seizures, and it’s capable of detecting and alerting for tonic-clonic seizures, too.
Read the full MobiHealthNews article here >>
Emirates Will Offer Inflight Telemedicine Aboard 300 Aircraft
Usually, when people think of telemedicine, they imagine a patient sitting at home on their computer, speaking to a healthcare provider working from a medical office. However, telemedicine is reaching new heights with Emirates now offering virtual access to medical care while in the air.
The airline company has partnered with Parsys Telemedicine and invested over $2.4 million in co-designing what they call telemedicine stations. These areas have high-definition video conferencing capabilities, a 12-Leads Telecardi ECG, remote passenger assessment and secure data transmission. A kit equipped with a glucometer, thermometer and more is also available and will automatically transmit data to a medical support team using an app.
Read the full MobiHealthNews article here >>
Policy and Regulatory
Congress Extends Telehealth Flexibilities: 5 Notes
On March 15, Congress extended key telehealth flexibilities for another six months and also established new measures. Millions of Americans were at risk of losing access to healthcare services, so this news offered much-needed relief.
Some of the bill's top highlights include broadening the range of healthcare practitioners permitted to provide telehealth services and removing geographic and originating site restrictions. They’ve also delayed the in-person visit requirement for mental health services provided using telehealth and will continue to allow rural health clinics to deliver telehealth services.
Read the full Becker’s Health IT article here >>
DEA, HHS Delay Telehealth Buprenorphine Prescribing Rule Again
The buprenorphine final rule provides a permanent process for DEA-registered practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder using telemedicine. It would allow them to prescribe an initial six-month supply, including via audio-only interaction, but requires reviewing a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) beforehand. Pharmacists would also have to identify the patient.
This final rule was set to go into effect on February 18 and then changed again to March 21. It now won’t go into effect until December 31, 2025.
Read the full Healthcare Dive article here >>
Industry Conversations
How Leveraging Cardiac Data Via RPM Can Help Overcome Many Clinical Challenges
Many hospitals struggle with staffing shortages, yet patient cases are steadily growing in volume and complexity. In addition, hospital data is often siloed, meaning clinicians might not have a complete overview of a patient's health, resulting in unnecessary, costly testing and care delays.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM), combined with advanced data analytics, could minimize health system capacity struggles. For cardiac care specifically, this may involve a patient coming to the emergency department for syncope and being sent home with a mobile cardiac telemetry device, which can monitor the patient in real-time. The hospital could then share the patient's data with their care team and cardiologist before their follow-up visit. Ultimately, this decreases overcrowding, accelerating diagnosis and streamlining ongoing care.
Read the full Healthcare IT News article here >>
Study: AI Hallucinations Limit Reliability of Foundation Models
AIs' ability to process and produce multiple types of data is beneficial to healthcare, but researchers have discovered that AI hallucinations could limit their reliability. AI hallucinations occur when machine learning models create content that’s not based on existing or real data. It can result in clinicians receiving incorrect or false information that compromises patient safety and clinical decisions.
In the study discussed here, researchers have discovered inference techniques that may decrease hallucination rates. However, some levels of hallucination remain. Robust validity, ethical frameworks, and collaboration are needed to ensure AI is reliable and trustworthy.
Read the full MobiHealthNews article here >>
Growth, Funding and Innovation
Microsoft Unveils New AI-backed Clinical Assistant
Microsoft, a technological powerhouse, has launched Dragon Copilot, an AI assistant for providers. It can produce a well-organized note following patient visits, automate referral letters and even help clinicians obtain medical information from internal and external sources.
Microsoft plans to launch the tool initially in the U.S. and Canada and eventually roll it out to other countries. Health systems already using Microsoft’s voice documentation tool will have access to Dragon Copilot. Although Microsoft has a suite of clinical assistant tools, Dragon Copilot helps integrate those other products with its generative AI capabilities. Before, practitioners might have had to toggle between the different applications, but now they’ll have the experience in one place.
Read the full Healthcare Dive article here >>
Google Releases New AI Models for Drug Discovery
Google recently announced TxGemma, a collection of Gemma-based open AI models designed to enhance the efficiency of drug discovery. The current therapeutic drug development process is often tedious, lengthy and costly.
TxGemma is being released through the company’s Health AI Developer Foundations program. The AI models will be able to comprehend regular text and the structures of various therapeutic entities, including those containing chemicals, proteins and molecules. Their chief health officer, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, even shared that researchers can ask TxGemma questions to help predict the potential of new therapies, such as their effectiveness and safety.
Read the full MobiHealthNews article here >>
OpenLoop Resources & News
How Telehealth Is Helping Women Access Better Care
Although treatments exist for many common women’s health issues, they are often delayed or overlooked because of lingering stigmas. Whether it’s the post-partum care, menopause or other sexual health concerns, women may suffer in silence to avoid potential embarrassment.
However, telehealth has shown to be an effective and convenient solution for women who prefer discretion. Learn how the virtual care model caters to women’s often suppressed health needs nationwide.
Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>
10 Influential Women in Digital Health
Despite making up nearly 80% of total employment in the health and social services industry, women are rarely seen in healthcare IT roles. Nonetheless, those who have entered the space have made significant contributions that are reshaping the healthcare industry and paving the way for future generations of women.
During the month of March, we recognized ten trailblazing women for Women’s History Month who are leading transformative digital health initiatives. Learn about each of them by reading the complete article at the link below.