STAT wins George Polk Award for coverage of Trump's impact on health department

STAT wins prestigious Polk Award

STAT has won its fourth George Polk Award. The honor recognizes the newsroom's coverage of the Trump administration's impact on the federal health department and American science.

The award particularly highlights the work of reporter Lizzy Lawrence. Her reporting detailed a dramatic year of changes at the Food and Drug Administration.

AI cancer trial shows promising results

A new study suggests artificial intelligence can help guide cancer treatment. The research, published in Nature Medicine, found an AI tool successfully matched patients with hard-to-treat cancers to therapies.

The tool analyzed genomic data from patients to recommend treatments. In the trial, 26% of patients saw their tumors shrink after receiving the AI-suggested therapy.

Telehealth usage stabilizes post-pandemic

New data indicates telehealth usage has plateaued. After a massive surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care now accounts for a steady portion of medical visits.

Analysts from Trilliant Health report that about 20% of outpatient care is now conducted via telehealth. This represents a significant drop from the peak of the pandemic but a permanent increase from pre-2020 levels.

• Pre-pandemic: Less than 1% of outpatient visits
• Pandemic peak: Over 35% of outpatient visits
• Current (2026): Approximately 20% of outpatient visits

The challenges of AI in clinical practice

Despite promising trials, integrating AI into routine cancer care faces major hurdles. Experts cite high costs, complex implementation, and a lack of definitive proof that AI recommendations improve survival rates as key barriers.

"The technology is advancing faster than our ability to validate it in real-world settings," said one oncologist not involved in the study. Widespread adoption will require more robust clinical evidence and clearer regulatory pathways from the FDA.

What the telehealth data reveals

The stabilization of telehealth use reveals clear patterns. Behavioral health remains the dominant use case, making up a large majority of virtual visits.

In contrast, telehealth use for primary care and chronic disease management has declined more sharply. This suggests the technology has found its niche rather than replacing in-person care across the board.

The data underscores that telehealth is now a permanent, but specialized, feature of the healthcare system.