Benjamin Stecher

1. Proton Intelligence is a Canadian startup focused on developing a continuous potassium monitoring device for people with chronic kidney disease and those at risk of heart failure. 2. The startup has successfully closed a $6.95 million seed funding round led by SOSV, with clinical trials planned for the product set to launch in 2025. 3. The device will be implanted just below the skin and will connect to a smartphone app, allowing patients to monitor potassium levels and receive alerts for unsafe levels. 4. A clinician dashboard will display potassium trends to help care teams adjust therapies effectively. 5. The founders, CEO Sahan Ranamukhaarachchi and CSO Victor Cadarso, have backgrounds in wearable biosensors and have conducted over 100 interviews with care teams to understand the challenges of potassium monitoring. 6. Chronic kidney disease affects about 10% of the global population, with thousands dying annually due to lack of affordable treatment 7. Proton competes with other firms in the market, including AliveCor, Alio, and Renalyse, but claims its solution offers superior usability, accuracy, and clinical impact 8. The seed round also involved participation from multiple venture capital firms, indicating strong investor interest in the company's potential

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10 years ago, I needed to figure out a way to allow patients outside of a hospital to securely access their data inside the hospital. It seemed like an impossible task. I didn’t have access to an IT department or to a DMZ, which is the secure area inside of a firewall where servers are accessible from the outside world. But, after some head scratching, I figured out a simple workaround… It’s kind of like a person coming to my office to ask me a confidential question but I’m not allowed to let them in. However, I don’t need to. As long as I can see the person through the window, I can confirm their identity and they can hold up their question so I can read it. I can then hold up my response so they can read it. Nobody gains entry to my office. This is basically how the technology behind the Opal patient-in-the-loop data platform works. The hospital is never exposed to connections from the outside world. The Opal system has passed intrusion penetration tests and it has been operational now for 6 years already. Quebec is a difficult place to do healthcare IT. But difficulty also fosters innovation! I’m delighted to finally be able to share the technology behind Opal as an open-source solution. Thank you to Olivier Crête at Collabora and Xavier Dionne at Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute for helpful discussions on open-source licenses. And huge thanks to the Opal Health Informatics Group l #OHIG#OHIG for enthusiastically supporting Opal’s open-source journey. If, like me, you believe that all people should have access to their health data and you want to help, please contact me. We need donors, companies, code contributors, and supportive healthcare organizations. #opensource #patientInTheLoopData RI-MUHC | Research Institute of the MUHC | #rimuhc#rimuhc CQDM Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE) MEDTEQ+

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Excellent and comprehensive review of AI in healthcare. I appreciated the insight into AI models involving healthcare systems lacking accuracy, which validates our need to monitor and improve. Huge potentials, however. “According to the McKinsey analysis conducted for this article and based on today’s healthcare spending in Canada, a CA $14 billion to CA $26 billion per year net savings opportunity could be generated in the Canadian healthcare system in the near term by using AI at scale to improve quality of care, enhance patient and staff experiences, simplify administrative work, and optimize overall system management across the main areas of healthcare.” Enjoy the read!

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💡A #virtualreality simulation is being used by #healthcare workers in Montreal to gain insights into the experiences of #dementia patients. The initiative aims to enhance empathy and understanding among #caregivers and clinicians, especially as the ageing population increases. #XR #VR #digitalhealth #education #technology

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Rewriting the Rulebook of Healthcare Education in the Age of AI In our latest article, “Preparing Healthcare Education for an AI-Augmented Future” (Jiajie Zhang & Susan Fenton, 2024), just published in npj Health Systems, we deliver a wake-up call: AI isn’t just changing healthcare—it’s rewriting the entire rulebook of education and practice. It’s liberating us from cognitive labor, demanding that we redefine how we learn, teach, and solve problems. This is no gradual shift. It’s a seismic transformation reshaping humanity’s relationship with knowledge - a revolution on par with the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. Key Ideas for Radical Change: •   AI as Knowledge Systems Redefined: AI systems aren’t just databases—they are dynamic, supercharged knowledge engines, trained on nearly all of humanity’s collective knowledge. They don’t just store; they think, performing advanced cognitive tasks once reserved for humans. •   Distributed Cognition is the New Reality: The era of isolated learning is over. Knowledge now spans across the relatively static human brain and AI systems, which are growing at an explosive speed. Educators must stop resisting and start equipping learners to thrive in this new paradigm of AI-human collaboration. •   No More Silos—Welcome Unified Knowledge: AI, as a system with integrated and unified knowledge, demolishes the boundaries between disciplines. Healthcare professionals can finally escape the constraints of overspecialization and embrace a unified, dynamic knowledge base to tackle problems holistically. •   Education Redefined: Memorization? A relic of the past. Tomorrow’s healthcare education demands creativity, ethical reasoning, problem-solving in real-world contexts, and mastering the art of collaborating with AI. Anything less is a failure to prepare for the future. Why This Matters: This is the Cognitive Revolution. It’s reshaping how we innovate, how we care for patients, and how societies function. But this transformation will only succeed if healthcare educators, leaders, and accrediting bodies take decisive action. We must urgently revise curricula to embed AI at the core of learning, ensuring healthcare professionals are equipped to navigate an AI-augmented world with competence and confidence. Let’s Shape the Future Together: How do we integrate AI into our healthcare systems and education programs effectively? How do we ensure that ethical, human-centered care remains at the heart of this revolution? Share your ideas, challenges, and visions for the future. #AI #education #accreditation #Healthcare #CognitiveRevolution #FutureOfEducation #MedicalEducation #DistributedCognition #AMIA #HIMSS #txhimss #informatics #datascience #healthsystems McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) The University of Texas System Nature Magazine Springer Nature AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) HIMSS Houston HIMSS

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Interesting evolution in AI health technology research with a ML algorithm

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Such impactful topics were discussed at the Data Effects #Vancouver including AI in medical diagnostics, data interoperability, and the transformative potential of innovation in healthcare. For example, just like how my dog, Milo, can intuitively sense when something is wrong, AI can now predict health issues before they become critical. It's fascinating to see parallels between natural intuition and technology. Thank you CityAge for such a great event! Alexandra T. Greenhill, MD Fraser Health Authority David Castle Federica Di Palma Martin Wright Danielle Gifford Anita Palepu Victoria Lee Miro Cernetig Harvey Hawes Sam Chung Ray Simkus #AI #QuantumComputing #Innovation #HealthTech #DataScience #HealthcareInnovation #TechForGood #FutureOfHealth #SmartHealthcare #DigitalHealth #AIHealthcare #QuantumTech #TechInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthData #NextGenTech #MedTech #TechConference #Vancouver2024 #InnovativeSolutions #HealthcareAI Canadian Innovation Network #CanadianInnovationNetwork #CityAge Sapius AI Myant

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Complement or complicate? #AI is transforming many aspects of healthcare; revenue cycle management, operations, diagnostics, treatment management, & patient monitoring/communication. As AI revolutionizes care delivery, it’s also changing what it means to be a physician. Are we training future physicians to meet this challenge? A recent study from Ilker Hacihaliloglu et al. (https://lnkd.in/gSgrXvQv) outlines a solid framework for AI education in Canadian medical schools, offering lessons others can learn from: 🟢 Need for AI Literacy: most medical students & practicing physicians lack training to effectively and ethically integrate AI tools into education & clinical care, hindering appropriate AI use in medicine (https://lnkd.in/gZmngTY3). Physicians need to understand the capabilities, limitations, & ethical implications of AI in healthcare. 🟢 Ethics: From data privacy to algorithmic bias to legal implications, AI brings unique, & not easily approached, ethical challenges. A structured curriculum on Responsible AI can prepare (future) physicians to navigate these issues, ensuring AI complements patient care rather than complicates it. 🟢 Competency-Based Learning: Using frameworks like Bloom’s Taxonomy, CanMEDS, & EPAs.. we can teach specific skills—like understanding AI’s strengths and limitations, output validation, & how to inform patients about AI's role in their care. 🟢 Acquisition of Practical Skills: Training should go beyond theoretical knowledge & equip students with practical skills--data analysis, interpretation of AI outputs, & integration of AI evidence into clinical decision-making. 🟢 Integration Without Overhaul: A practical approach doesn’t require starting from scratch. AI education can be embedded into existing courses—such as biostatistics, ethics, and clinical rotations—to give students hands-on exposure while maintaining a focus on traditional medical training. But that requires AI literate/knowledgeable senior educators/mentors (currently lacking). Other approaches: - AI electives for medical students (https://lnkd.in/g8CAzAih) -Specialized training for radiology residents (https://lnkd.in/gnz_xTtd), -leveraging mobile apps for AI skill-building (https://lnkd.in/gB5FB-SQ). -leveraging #LLMs in medical education(https://lnkd.in/gKkze7AG) Tomorrow’s physicians must understand the capabilities, limitations, and ethical implications of AI to make informed decisions that enhance—not replace—the art of medicine. The path forward is clear: AI-focused education, integrated thoughtfully into existing curricula, is essential for equipping physicians as AI becomes embedded in all aspects of healthcare. Are we ready to integrate AI into medical education? University of Colorado School of Medicine, Shanta Zimmer, American Academy of Pediatrics, ACGME. #UsingWhatWeHaveBetter

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Health Canada is close to publishing new guidance on AI/machine learning (AI/ML) medical devices, which includes incorporating predetermined change control plans (PCCPs). Speaking at the 2024 Medtech Conference, Marc Lamoureux, manager of the Digital Health Division, highlighted three key challenges in the AI/ML space: algorithmic drift, transparency, and postmarket monitoring. He emphasized that AI/ML models need continuous updates to maintain performance, and transparency is critical for trust and adoption. Health Canada’s draft guidance, released in September 2023, takes a total product lifecycle approach, addressing issues like bias and the need for postmarket monitoring. Regulatory provisions will ensure higher-risk devices are closely monitored. Lamoureux also noted Health Canada is adopting PCCPs, following the lead of the US FDA and Japan’s regulatory agency. The final guidance will be published soon.

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In this Peek Behind the Poster Podcast, Aaron Cohen (Senior Medical Director, Machine Learning, Flatiron Health) speaks about the potential of #largelanguagemodels to extract details from #electronichealthrecords for #cancerresearch – covering research recently presented at ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research 2024. Listen at The Evidence Base® #rwe #rwd #realworldevidence #realworlddata #healthdata #LLM #EHRs #PDL1 #ISPORAnnual #AI #artificialintelligence #machinelearning

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🚨 Canada's Largest AI Investment to Transform Healthcare 🚨 DIGITAL, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, has announced a groundbreaking $15.3 million investment aimed at advancing AI-powered solutions in the healthcare sector. This initiative, Health Compass II, led by ORX in collaboration with Tali AI, HEALWELL AI, Phelix AI, WELL Health Technologies, and Simon Fraser University, will introduce AI-driven modules to boost patient engagement, ease administrative burdens, and enhance clinical decision-making. This ambitious project will leverage AI to support healthcare providers with cutting-edge tools like Tali AI’s Assistant, which captures relevant medical information from natural conversations, improving efficiency without distracting from patient care. The federal government, through the support of Minister François-Philippe Champagne, has hailed this project as a “game changer” for the healthcare industry. 🩺 Don’t miss the opportunity to delve deeper into how AI and digital technologies are revolutionizing healthcare. Join us at the 24th Annual #Healthcare #Summit this October, where industry leaders will explore the transformative potential of AI, genomics, and longevity in healthcare. 📅 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gX_9zRkX #HealthcareSummit2024 #AIHealthcare #DigitalHealth #AIGenomics #Longevity #RebootHealthSummit #HealthCareInnovation

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Community Care Connection Inc. (C3) brings you Connect Health XR- the Living XR Lab: A living XR lab is an immersive, interactive, and interconnected environment that leverages Extended Reality (XR) technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). This cutting-edge lab combines physical and digital spaces to facilitate innovative healthcare solutions, research, and training. It's a dynamic, collaborative hub where healthcare professionals, researchers, and developers can experiment, learn, and create together. Connect Health XR -This living XR lab's interoperability and multi-device capabilities enable seamless communication and data exchange between various devices, platforms, and systems. This allows for: - Real-time data sharing and analysis - Collaborative research and training - Remote access and telemedicine - Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) - Compatibility with various XR devices and wearables *Game-Changing Impact in Healthcare:* 1. *Enhanced Training and Education:* Healthcare professionals can practice complex procedures and scenarios in a realistic, immersive environment, improving their skills and confidence. 2. *Personalized Patient Care:* Interactive, 3D visualizations enable patients to better understand their conditions and treatments, leading to increased engagement and empowerment. 3. *Streamlined Research and Development:* Interoperability and multi-device capabilities accelerate innovation, reducing costs and time-to-market for new medical devices and treatments. 4. *Improved Patient Outcomes:* Enhanced data analysis, real-time monitoring, and remote access enable early detection, timely interventions, 5. *Increased Accessibility:* Telemedicine and remote access capabilities expand healthcare services to underserved communities and remote areas. Connect Health XR -The living XR lab is an innovative ecosystem has the potential to transform healthcare by fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and improving patient care #XR #healthcare #innovation #interoperability #behaviour #mentalhealth #BCBA #socialwork #occupationaltherapy #AR #VR #MR

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Shaping Healthcare with AI: A Global Regulatory Overview AI is transforming healthcare and drug development, from clinical trials to personalized treatments. Regulatory bodies like the FDA, European Medicines Agency, ICMRA and World Health Organization, Health Canada are ensuring these technologies are safe, transparent, and patient-centric by aligning global standards and governance frameworks. Curious about how AI can shape the future of healthcare? Let’s connect and explore! #AIinHealthcare #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials #RegulatoryAffairs #FDA #EMA #WHO #ICMRA #HealthCanada

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🌟 Exciting News in Healthcare Innovation! 🏥 💡 PocketHealth, a Canadian startup leading the way in medical image sharing, is creating buzz in the industry. Working at the crossroads of cloud computing, healthcare, and B2B software, PocketHealth aims to change the way medical images are exchanged. Their platform offers a secure and efficient solution for healthcare providers, patients, and institutions to share vital images like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. By using cloud technology, PocketHealth simplifies the process, ensuring critical images are available whenever needed most. PocketHealth's mission is empowering patients and healthcare professionals by simplifying medical image sharing. Their vision for a future where easy access to diagnostic images leads to better patient care and faster diagnoses is truly inspiring. Key features like secure image exchange, patient-centric approach, and integration with EMRs highlight their commitment to efficiency and cost savings in healthcare delivery. Their recent Series B funding of $33 million underscores strong investor confidence in their vision and capabilities. PocketHealth's innovative approach is not just transforming the Canadian market but making a positive impact globally. As they continue to grow and improve patient care, they contribute significantly to collaboration among healthcare professionals. Stay in touch with us to know more about the exciting tech world of Canada startups! #HealthcareInnovation #PocketHealth #MedicalImaging #CloudComputing #B2BSoftware #StayTuned #Startups #ALTVC #Venturecapital #Funding #Capital #Growthmindset 💼

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Researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto), Sinai Health found that large language model (#LLM) #GPT-4 can accurately predict whether a #patient in the #emergencydepartment (ED) is likely to require #hospitalization, according to a study published this month in the Journal of the AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association). The research team indicated that #AI and #LLMs have the potential to improve ED operations by supporting clinical decision-making around #patientadmission. However, the #researchers noted that there is little research to date that incorporates real-world data into an LLM for this purpose. To bridge this gap, the team pulled structured and unstructured #EHR data from over 864,000 ED visits across seven Mount Sinai Health System hospitals. #largelanguagemodel #clinicaldecisionmaking

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Unity Health Toronto 's approach to implementing AI solutions is a textbook example that emphasizes: - scalability, ensuring that these tools can be expanded across all sites, reaching more teams and patients. - operational readiness and stabilization, by first ensuring the EPR system is stable before fully deploying AI - principles of incrementalism and phased implementation. This gradual rollout helps build and refine a strong digital infrastructure which is essential for advanced analytical capabilities and supporting clinical decision making - patient data integration and centralization, creating a unified system that AI tools can leverage to help make informed decisions - streamlining workflows, to create an efficient, error-resistant healthcare system that benefits patients and clinicians - and of course investing in education and training - an area that I have had the privilege to support - ensuring our clinicians' digital literacy is strengthened to prepare them for a future of healthcare that is increasingly digital and data-driven. Is there anything else that you'd add to this list...? St. Michael's Hospital St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Providence Healthcare Epic

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