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To bolster security for healthcare workers and patients, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed updates to HIPAA regulations. The proposed adjustments come amid rising worries about the growing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks that have compromised sensitive patient records and disrupted operations.

COVID-19 brought on a lot of new challenges for people both in and out of healthcare. Things like mask wearing and social distancing became the norm. But surprising enough, the virus resulted in some positive changes. Changes to healthcare some never even imagined.

"Prior to COVID, we assumed that we always had to deliver care in the bricks and mortar hospital, or in the clinic, and that the home was not an ideal setting for taking care of patients," said Dr. Eric Dickson, President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health. 

For women with, or at a risk for, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric conditions, managing mental health during pregnancy and postpartum presents unique challenges. For physicians, understanding the latest research and clinical guidance is essential for managing these patients effectively.

Massachusetts’ skyrocketing health care costs are an urgent problem for every resident. Every one of us will need medical care. And every one of us will pay for medical care, through doctors’ bills, health insurance, or taxes that fund Medicare and Medicaid.

John Kelly is no stranger to endurance events. The 53-year-old Worcester resident said he’s run “probably 20” marathons, most as part of multisport Ironman triathlons.  

But this year’s Boston Marathon on April 21 will be different. Kelly is one of five runners raising thousands of dollars for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research as part of the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund Boston Marathon Team. 

Nicholas Smyrnios, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, has been named Chief Quality Officer (CQO) of UMass Memorial Medical Center and Medical Group.

Coastal Medical Transportation Systems (CMTS), a privately owned and operated ambulance and medical transportation company dedicated to providing the highest quality of care with compassion, dignity, and respect for customers and their patients, today announced their new partnership with UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford, Massachusetts. As part of this partnership, CMTS will become the exclusive provider of non-emergency ambulance and wheelchair transportation to Milford Regional Medical Center.

At a time when health systems are under increasing pressure to improve care delivery models, UMass Memorial Health has reached a significant milestone in its Hospital-at-Home program, admitting its 3,000th patient. This initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Eric Alper, Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer at the health system, is proving to be an effective strategy in managing patient care while alleviating strain on traditional hospital resources.

Hospital at home programs have been a bright spot in the healthcare landscape for the past several years. They allow patients to receive inpatient-level care at their homes instead of a traditional hospital. Once a rarity, they’ve popped up across the country as a way to lighten the burden on brick-and-mortar hospitals and alleviate the capacity crisis. But despite their success, they’re at risk.