We Have All Been The Victim Of False Government Propaganda Regarding Our International Intelligence Capability!

This headline says it all!

Hamas attack: This was a terrible intelligence failure by Israel

Greg Sheridan

9:11PM October 7, 2023

The Hamas attack is an Israeli nightmare. Not so much the perhaps 5000 rockets – though the numbers are disputed - the terrorist group launched against Israel, but the terrorists roaming through southern Israeli towns, where women and children take shelter in “safe rooms” while the towns’ men try to fight the terrorists off. And civilians are gunned down.

The implications of this will reverberate for years, decades, in the Middle East, as did the Yom Kippur war on this date 50 years ago when Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack on Israel.

“Citizens of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “we are at war, and we will win.”

The Israeli response will be fearsome. But the immediate course of this conflict is deeply unclear.

More here

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/hamas-attack-this-was-a-terrible-intelligence-failure-by-israel/news-story/fd7d9e0fff53db445e60cb9cdc906f0b

Somehow we have all been persuaded that the “5 Eyes” intelligence network (with Israel) would notice if a significant war fighting capability had developed in Gaza and would have taken steps to neutralise it. But no! Out of the blue thousands of rockets are launched, fighters cross borders and chaos emerges – at least for a while… from this very morning! I wonder where the OZ intelligence services were?

You have to wonder who else is brewing up a little surprise for us maybe closer to home!

For now we have a new Middle-East war – and this is really sad and fatal for both sides – looks very grim to me – and we still have Ukraine festering along and causing death and destruction…..

A very sad and sorry mess…back to digital health now!

David.

AusHealthIT Poll Number 717 – Results – 08 October, 2023.

Here are the results of the poll.

Have You Considered Including Your Digital Assets (blogs, images, mail etc.) In Your Will?

Yes                                                                               5 (14%)

No                                                                              24 (65%)

The Issue Makes My Head Hurt                                 8 (22%)

Total No. Of Votes: 37

A rather mixed outcome! A majority view seems to be that when you are dead – well, you are dead so who cares!

Any insights on the poll are welcome, as a comment, as usual!

A good number of votes. And also a very clear outcome. 

8 of 37 who answered the poll admitted to not being sure about the answer to the question!

Again, many, many thanks to all those who voted! 

David.

 

It Looks Like The Adoption and Use Of AI Is Getting Rather Real!

This appeared last week:

Workday unveils generative AI suite to streamline operations

By Chris Griffith

3:57PM September 28, 2023

Workday has announced a rollout of new generative AI applications that aim to automate the operation of corporations worldwide.

Applications will generate job descriptions based on defined skill sets, analyse and correct the fine print of contracts, draft personalised letters to employees about company policies, and automate the creation of notices for overdue bills, taking into account the tone to be used.

Managers can create a summary of employees’ strengths and areas of growth, based on performance reviews, employee feedback and skills, and generate statements of work for faster procurement of services.

Generative AI can also help companies create their own apps using a “developer co-pilot”, a text-to-code feature for building finance and people management apps in-house.

Workday says the new generative AI applications will be available in six to 12 months.

Formed in 2005, the California-based firm has come a long way from providing basic human resource services such as payroll and leave tracking to offering automation using AI to more than 10,000 organisations.

“With the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and an ecosystem of industry-leading partners, we are writing the playbook for the way the future works,” said Carl Eschenbach, Workday co-CEO.

Co-president Sayan Chakraborty said generative AI could transform work as we know it. “When applied responsibly, it has the power to elevate performance and to free up time to focus on the valuable work we really want and need to be doing.”

Workday says its AI models have been trained on more than 625 billion transactions processed each year.

Businesses can choose to upload or not upload anonymised data for AI training purposes.

It comes as technology rivals march into the AI space.

Microsoft this month quietly launched its AI “copilot” platform at several of Australia’s biggest companies, including NAB, AGL and Suncorp, a move that aims to generate tens of billions of dollars in savings.

Workday made its announcements at the start of its three-day Workday Rising conference in San Francisco. Its keynote saw founding CEO Aneel Bhusri hand over the reins to successor Carl Eschenbach, saying “Don’t screw it up”. Mr Eschenbach formally takes over in February.

The company’s hour-long keynote address was mainly theatre, with a video address by rock legend Billy Idol, who featured in Workday’s Super Bowl ad, and an interview with pioneering cinematographer James Cameron of Terminator, Titanic and Avatar fame, who seems set to add generative AI techniques to his large creativity toolbox.

Workday’s HR management system is based on matching the skill sets of employees with jobs to find suitable candidates.

Employees can discover promotional opportunities based on their current skills and gain new skills for career advancement. Managers can identify talent from across an organisation when they assemble teams using a managers’ insight hub, says Workday.

At an earlier “responsible AI” workshop, the company said there were “guard rails” around its use of AI and cited security, privacy and the removal of AI bias as paramount concerns.

Workday said it would never use video surveillance or covert measures when collecting data.

Link here:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/workday-unveils-generative-ai-suite-to-streamline-operations/news-story/0a473424894d063c88590e67171d56fe

I have to say I did not expect live use applications to be off and running quite so quickly but there you go!

In Alan Kohler’s weekly review I think we saw an apt summary:

“So things are starting to really rattle along with AI, confirming the view I’ve had all year that we’re at the beginning of something very big, and earth-changing.”

Here is the link ($$)

https://www.eurekareport.com.au/investment-news/weekend-briefing-edition-36-2023/152957

I really think the game is changing – and we are even working on talking to the whales - see:

Can AI help us speak to animals? Part one

Microphones and new AI are being deployed to understand the non-human world

Here is the link:

https://www.ft.com/content/418bca4c-8ee1-45c9-952b-cad33c4839a4

There is more going on than one tiny brain (mine!) can cope with that is for sure!

David.

Will This Change Make A Difference? Time Will Tell!

 Will anything change? Here is the announcement.

Australian Digital Health Agency Names New Board Chair

Australian Digital Health Agency – Sep 29, 2023

The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) welcomes the appointment of Lyn McGrath as the Agency's new Board Chair.

Ms McGrath has served as a non-executive member of the Agency's Board for over 7 years and Chair of the Agency's Audit and Risk Committee.

Ms McGrath brings over 30 years of expertise in complex and regulated sectors, including health and financial services. Her wealth of experience positions her well to lead the Agency Board into a new era of digital health.

Agency CEO, Ms Amanda Cattermole PSM, extended her appreciation to outgoing Chair, Dr Elizabeth Deveny.

She remarked, "As a Board member since the Agency's inception, including almost 5 of those as Chair, Dr Deveny led the Agency through a transformative journey which included providing better access for all Australians to their health information through My Health Record, making electronic prescriptions available across the country, significant innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new my health app. Dr Deveny's leadership and contribution will leave an ongoing legacy for Australia's digital health agenda."

Ms McGrath also acknowledged the remarkable work of Dr Deveny and stated, "It's with great enthusiasm that I take up the role of Chair of the Agency Board. I look forward to continuing to advance the national digital health agenda and building on the momentum that has already been achieved under Dr Deveny's leadership".

Dr Deveny said that it had been a privilege to guide the Agency during a critical period for digital health. She remarked, "It has been an honour to serve the Agency as Board Chair at such a pivotal time for our communities. The leadership and vision of Ms McGrath will ensure the Agency can deliver the seamlessly connected and person-centred system that health consumers are expecting."

Ms Lyn McGrath's three-year appointment as the Chair of the Australian Digital Health Agency Board will take effect on 29 September 2023.

Here is the link:

https://www.miragenews.com/australian-digital-health-agency-names-new-1093627/

Also here:

Roundup: ADHA names new board chair and more briefs

Also, Orion Health has integrated Pieces AI for automatic patient summaries generation.

By Adam Ang

September 29, 2023 04:16 AM

ADHA appoints new board chair

The Australian Digital Health Agency has assigned Lyn McGrath to their board's chair. 

McGrath has been a non-executive member of the ADHA Board for over seven years. She has also served as chair of the agency's Audit and Risk Committee.

She will be replacing Dr Elizabeth Deveny, who has been with the organisation since its inception. 

"It's with great enthusiasm that I take up the role of Chair of the [ADHA] Board. I look forward to continuing to advance the national digital health agenda and building on the momentum that has already been achieved under Dr Deveny's leadership," McGrath said about her three-year appointment, which begins on 29 September. 

Here is the link:

https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/roundup-adha-names-new-board-chair-and-more-briefs

I wonder what changes we will see, if any?

In other news we also have:

Have your say on proposed changes to My Health Record

Published 28 September 2023

The Department of Health and Aged Care is consulting on changes to how reports are uploaded to My Health Record.

The AMA is seeking feedback from its members on the government’s changes to inform an official response to the proposal.

One of the government’s key proposals is ceasing the 7-day rule that currently creates a week-long delay between when a healthcare provider uploads a diagnostic imaging or pathology result to My Health Record and when a consumer can see it. There are limited exceptions to this rule, including the reporting of COVID-19 pathology results.

Under the proposed changes, consumers would, by default, be able to see their new diagnostic imaging and pathology reports as soon as they are shared to My Health Record.

However, the department is considering whether certain reports shared to My Health Record should remain “locked” for a particular time in some circumstances, either according to set protocols or on individual circumstances.

Take the AMA’s survey to share your thoughts on the proposal

Here is the link:

https://www.ama.com.au/ama-rounds/29-september-2023/articles/have-your-say-proposed-changes-my-health-record

Lots to fill in!

David.

 

It Is Hard To Be Sure That On-Line Prescription Providers Are A Good Thing For The Health System.

In the last few months this sort of practice seems to be growing and Eucalyptus seems to be a flag-bearer at present.:

A typical recent article talking about the trend goes like this, maybe suggesting a peak!

The weight loss cycle: out with Jenny Craig, in with Ozempic

Depending who you ask, Ozempic is “phenomenal” for patients or a “dangerous” way of losing weight. Either way, its arrival heralds a new model of medicine.

Nick Bonyhady Technology writer

Jul 21, 2023 – 1.59pm

In 1983, a Melbourne couple with a burgeoning business took out a full-page ad in The Age to spruik the opening of their nine weight loss centres across the city. “This is the last weight loss program you will ever need to go on,” wrote the business founded by Jenny Craig and her husband, Sidney. “No injections, drugs and pills.”

Over the decades, millions of overweight people trusted Craig’s promises as they paid to weigh in, pick up meals and slim down at what became more than 700 stores in four countries. But last month, after a string of owners, Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centres Australia hit the end of the road. The demise of its US parent company had pushed it into administration, and no buyer was willing to acquire the whole business.

Eucalyptus, a four-year-old start-up that sells the buzzy weight loss drug Ozempic, bought Jenny Craig’s mailing list and web address but not its name. It has not said what it plans to do with the storied business, but the most obvious course would be to use it to start selling the prescription medication. Craig’s promise of “no injections” could, along with the physical centres, be lost.

Ozempic is the drug of the moment, though it is not officially recommended for weight loss. The weekly injection, which is designed to be a treatment for diabetes, works by mimicking hormones that tell the body it is full. One trial found patients lost an average of 15 per cent of their body weight over 68 weeks. For the last year, its active compound called Semaglutide has been in high demand as a weight loss treatment, spruiked by celebrities including billionaire Tesla and Twitter boss Elon Musk.

With shortages of the drug easing and mainstream businesses like Eucalyptus moving to cash in, the Ozempic fad heralds the arrival of a more American model of care. Patients are being driven to the drug – which can have serious side effects – through marketing and media, rather than letting their doctor discern the right treatment for their symptoms.

In doctors’ waiting rooms, hairdressers and gyms around Australia, Ozempic is the word.

Former independent MP and general practitioner Professor Kerryn Phelps, who works in Sydney’s inner east, said her colleagues had patients who wanted Ozempic for weight loss.

“Word got around on social media last year that this could fast-track weight loss, and this led to an unanticipated demand,” Phelps says. Shortages have resulted.

More here:

https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/health-and-wellness/the-weight-loss-cycle-out-with-jenny-craig-in-with-ozempic-20230719-p5dpkg

My interest is in the Eucalyptus corporate and its associated tele-health brands.

There are four key brands under the Eucalyptus banner covering mostly sexual and weight issues, with services mostly delivered via audio based tele-health.

I have had a close look at many of the offerings and I am left with the feeling most consults are really a sales channel for in-demand / embarrassing services.

The latest push on weight loss is driven by the new agent Ozempic which seems to be the weekly injection everyone wants!

The issue is just how such drugs are made available and is the availability of a few drugs that are in ‘social’ demand a reason to move from traditional consultation to the on-line less contact model?

I think not and in normal (not pandemic!) situations actually seeing the patient before prescribing is a pretty good plan!

I really see the hand of financial greed overwhelming patient safety with these services…

What do others think remembering these services are by no means free or bulk-billed!

David.

AusHealthIT Poll Number 716 – Results – 01 October, 2023.

 Here are the results of the poll.

Should Employees Who Click Phishing Links Be Disciplined And / Or Fired?

Yes                                                                           24 (55%)

No                                                                             18 (41%)

I Have No Idea                                                          2 (4%)

Total No. Of Votes: 44

A rather mixed outcome! A bare majority think there should be pain for stupidity!

Any insights on the poll are welcome, as a comment, as usual!

A good number of votes. And also a reasonable outcome. 

2 of 44 who answered the poll admitted to not being sure about the answer to the question!

Again, many, many thanks to all those who voted! 

David.