Good afternoon. This is Scrubs, the newsletter that helps you stay on top of the healthcare industry. We’re like a bunk bed. Always on top.

Here is what’s on rotation today:

• 🍪 Cookie dough kills

• 👃 Narcan: found at your corner store

• 🤖 AI sets its eyes (cameras?) on healthcare

• 🚿 Shower thoughts

But first…a meme.

🍪 Cookie Dough: Tasty Treat or Trecherous Trick?

Your late-night cravings could land you in the hospital. This will have you thinking twice before you polish off the dough that “couldn’t fit” onto the baking sheet.

Ladies & gents, there’s fresh-baked drama in the food industry.

There’s another deadly bacteria outbreak in America. At least 12 people have been diagnosed with a bacteria that causes an upset stomach and can be deadly. Can you guess what it is? Correct!

Salmonella. 🤢

According to the USDA, Salmonella accounts for 420 deaths in America every year. In contrast, sharks kill about 5 people per year, globally.

However, the real culprit is not what you think. Let me explain.

The CDC labeled raw flour as the cause of these cases. Flour from your local grocery store is (typically) purchased raw. That means it hasn’t been treated for germs or bacteria and can carry E.coli and Salmonella - among other bad bacteria. 🦠

A hunt is underway to find the brand of flour that is connected to the cases. But, steering clear of eating raw flour is probably a safe move - for now.

However, there are some workarounds if you love your cookie dough and licking the brownie spoon. I sure do. Apparently, all you need to do to treat your flour is toss it in the microwave for a few minutes! Phew…I was worried for a minute there.

💡 Pro tip: Eat Pastry makes a cookie dough that you can eat raw - it’s amazing.

 👃 Narcan: Now Sold Over The Counter

The US is fighting opioid overdose with the widespread availability of this game-changing drug. 

This week, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone nasal spray - basically, the gold standard in combating opioid overdose. It’s about time.

Narcan, the most popular manufacturer of naloxone nasal spray, will now be sold in drug stores, convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and even online.

Rural communities are expected to see a reduction in opioid-related deaths. Because emergency response can be longer when you live further away from major cities or hospitals.

Narcan’s nasal spray was approved by the FDA in 2015. Since then, they have been fighting to change the drug’s status from “prescription” to “nonprescription” - which allows it to be sold over the counter.

The formal process took 8 years.

Hopefully, the widespread availability of Narcan will halt the exponential rise of opioid-related deaths in America.

🤖 AI sets its Eyes (Cameras?) on Healthcare

If you want to predict the future; follow the money trail. Since 2020, over $200 million has been invested in AI health tech companies. Here are the nuts and bolts.

SCRIBE EXTINCTION

Deepscribe calls itself, “the world’s most widely adopted AI-powered medical scribe.”

Deepscribe works by recording the conversation between a medical professional and the patient, automatically generating notes, integrating with the EHR/EMR, inputting the notes from the patient’s visit, and then prompting the medical professional to sign off on the generated notes.

Basically, it lets doctors have uninterrupted conversations with patients.

According to Deepscribe, their tool saves 3 hours per day on medical documentation.

Since 2017, Deepscribe has raised over $37 million to bring this product to market.

LESS PAPERWORK

Glass Health is a notebook built for doctors and clinical trials and (today) it has two main features.

1. Glass AI: ChatGPT-like search function

2. Online notebook for doctors to take patient notes and share clinical research

They are trying to reduce burnout in the healthcare system and combat the “analog” filing system found in many practices. However, it seems they are leaning in on the second opinion that Glass AI could give doctors.

Dereck Paul, the CEO of Glass Health, told NPR, “We’re working on doctors being able to put in a one-liner, a patient summary, and for us to be able to generate the first draft of a clinical plan for that doctor.”

Many are skeptical that AI is not good enough to produce a meaningful and vetted course of action.

Personally, I like that Paul included “first draft” in his statement. However, time will tell if this tool is good enough to become common practice.

Meme

🚿 Shower Thoughts

1. The sound of your car starting will be nostalgic for Gen Z. Source

2. “Depending on when you grew up, Barney was either a caveman, a dinosaur, an alcoholic or a womanizer.” Source

3. Monopoly lasts longer with older players because of financial responsibility. Source

4. Heavy metal poisoning would be a big deal to elves due to bioaccumulation. Source

5. Humans are more symmetrical on the outside than on the inside. Source

6. An IQ of 130 would make you the dumbest “gifted” person. Source

Via Reddit

That's a wrap for today.

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Thanks,

Miles ✌🏽