Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Mental Health Staff Say AI Triage Tools Are Delaying Patient Care

Clinicians at Kaiser Permanente report that staffing cuts paired with growing use of algorithmic and AI-driven triage systems have made it harder for psychiatric patients to reach the right care quickly. Workers in California and Wisconsin describe rising patient frustration, missed diagnoses, and treatment delays tied to automation replacing human judgment in intake decisions. Unions are now pushing for limits on AI in triage as part of contract negotiations, while California lawmakers consider legislation to regulate the technology's use in medical settings.

capitalandmain.com · 2026-08-31

Study finds newer Shingrix shingles vaccine linked to lower heart disease risk

A study of more than 70,000 people published in Nature Medicine found that those who received the current Shingrix shingles vaccine, rather than an older formulation, had a reduced risk of heart disease and heart failure. Researchers compared recipients of the two vaccine types rather than vaccinated versus unvaccinated people, a design meant to avoid the bias seen in earlier studies where healthier people were more likely to get vaccinated.

nature.com · 2026-08-26