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Do you struggle with awkwardness? If you do, you will want to check out our Motivational Monday segment right below the articles.

If you are not awkward but want to learn something interesting you might enjoy it too.

Health Innovation

Medical AI Revolution?

Artificial intelligence is becoming very popular in the medical industry. Before you become too worried, this new type of ai is not used for diagnosis or prescription. Instead, the latest technological advancement captivating physicians aims to revive a timeless healthcare tradition: direct, in-person dialogues with patients.

At the HIMSS conference in Orlando, Florida, amidst a gathering of over 30,000 healthcare and technology experts, the buzz was all about ambient clinical documentation. This innovative approach permits doctors to record their patient interactions with consent, automatically converting these conversations into clinical notes and summaries through artificial intelligence. Leading the development of these solutions are companies like Microsoft’s Nuance Communications, Abridge, and Suki, which argue that this technology can significantly cut down on the administrative burden doctors face, allowing them to focus more on meaningful patient interactions.

Dr. Shiv Rao, the CEO and founder of Abridge, explained to CNBC during the HIMSS event how this technology transforms the clinical documentation process. By simplifying note-taking into a matter of starting and stopping a recording, doctors can devote their full attention to their patients, enhancing the quality of care.

The issue of administrative overload is a significant challenge within the U.S. healthcare system, contributing to widespread clinician burnout. A survey by Athenahealth in February highlighted that over 90% of physicians feel burnout from the constant pressure of paperwork, with many spending an extra 15 hours weekly on clerical tasks outside of work hours, often referred to colloquially as "pajama time."

Given that much of this administrative work is bureaucratic and not directly related to patient care or diagnostic decisions, it's become a prime area for applying generative AI technologies. Ambient clinical documentation, as a result, is experiencing a surge in interest and adoption.

Kenneth Harper, the general manager of DAX Copilot at Microsoft, shared his enthusiasm for the potential of this technology to alleviate the clerical load on physicians, noting that more than 200 organizations have already embraced Microsoft’s DAX Copilot since its launch. The acquisition of Nuance by Microsoft for approximately $16 billion in 2021 certainly shows their belief in the future of ambient clinical documentation.

Harper also shared that his team regularly receives feedback from physicians praising the service for significantly improving their work-life balance and, in some instances, helping preserve their marriages.

This is certainly a good application of ai in medicine. It is likely that many industries will start using similar software to improve meeting efficiency and reduce administrative load.

U.S News

Former UFC Champion Saves His Parents from Blazing House Fire

During a visit to his childhood home, former UFC Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was awakened at 4:00 a.m. by his dog Hammer amidst a house fire. Acting swiftly, Coleman heroically rescued his elderly parents from the flames before suffering from smoke inhalation.

After a three-day struggle in the hospital, Coleman regained the ability to breathe on his own. Reflecting on the terrifying ordeal, he expressed gratitude for his parents' survival but mourned the loss of his beloved dog, Hammer.

Coleman's daughters, McKenzie and Morgan, took unpaid leave to assist in his recovery and initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support his rehabilitation and aid his parents, who lost everything in the fire. The campaign garnered significant support from friends, family, and fans, raising $127,000.

Despite setbacks, including a bout of pneumonia, Coleman remained resilient and appreciative of the outpouring of support from his community. He expressed frustration at being confined to his hospital bed but maintained a positive outlook on his eventual return to training.

Environment

Europe’s Air Quality Has Improved

Air quality in Europe has seen considerable enhancements over the past twenty years.

This was shown in a study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, which observed a yearly reduction of 2.7% in PM2.5 levels and 2.5% in PM10 levels from 2003 to 2019. Nitrogen dioxide levels also experienced a yearly decrease of 1.7%. These pollutants are known to contribute to long-term health issues, such as heart disease and cancer.

The research revealed that 98% of Europeans reside in regions where the levels of PM2.5 exceed the World Health Organization's advised thresholds. However, the air quality is definitely moving in the right direction which is great to see.

Culture

Missing Half of Towering Ramses II Statue Finally Unearthed

Almost a century after the discovery of the legs of a colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II in Egypt, archaeologists have successfully uncovered its missing pieces.

The recent find includes the statue's torso, head, and shoulders, which seamlessly join with the legs that have been displayed in a museum for years.

Reconstructed, the statue reaches a majestic height of 23 feet, showcasing one of Egypt's most revered rulers seated, crowned with a cobra emblematic of sovereignty. The statue's rear is adorned with hieroglyphs detailing his extensive titles.

Ramses the Great, ruling in an era when average lifespans were between 40 to 50 years, remarkably lived into his 90s, surpassing the lifetimes of many of his children and nearly 100 grandchildren.

His reign marked a golden era for the 19th Dynasty, extending its territory from Sudan to Syria, celebrated through monuments, temples, and statues, including this recently reunited piece, originally discovered in 1930 by German archaeologist Günther Roeder.

Dr. Adel Okasha, leading the Central Administration of Antiquities of Central Egypt, mentioned that recent excavations aimed to uncover the religious center of the ancient city of Hermopolis from the New Kingdom to the Roman period. This city, once a pivotal site of worship and the ancient capital of the fifteenth Egyptian region, is believed to house several temples, including one dedicated to Ramses II.

Dr. Okasha expressed optimism about the significant find, suggesting it confirms they are searching in the right location, despite not yet uncovering the intended temple complex. The ancient city, known as Khomeno in Egypt and Hermopolis Magna during the Greco-Roman period, was a center for the worship of the god Thoth.

The excavation season has concluded, as stated, with the successful pairing of the king's statue and the restoration and reinstallation of giant granite columns at the Ashmunin basilica, built atop a Ptolemaic temple's ruins.

Mind Stretchers 

⁉️ 

I can heal and kill without touching you. What am I?

The answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretcher was:
Trouble 😛 

Chris Hostetler got the correct answer first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to this email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.