TexHealth

10/29/2026

As GLP-1 medications reshape the conversation around weight management, employers are rethinking how wellness benefits can support employees.

A new trend is bringing wearable technology into the mix, with programs pairing medications and weight-management support with devices that track activity, nutrition, and sleep. Companies are exploring whether these tools can improve engagement, support long-term health goals, and help manage healthcare costs.

For employers navigating rising benefit costs and evolving employee needs, it raises an important question: How can wellness programs complement medical care while delivering meaningful value for employees?

https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/glp-1s-are-shaping-a-new-era-of-wearable-benefits

Eligible Weight Watchers for Business members can receive a Fitbit if they hit certain milestones, the company recently announced.

10/27/2026

What you eat today affects your brain health tomorrow, even if you don't notice it yet.

New research is adding to the growing conversation around ultra-processed foods and long-term health. A study of nearly 9,000 middle-aged adults found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods were 40% more likely to show small areas of brain damage associated with an increased risk of stroke and future memory problems. Interestingly, the association was strongest among women.

While the findings don’t necessarily prove cause and effect, they raise important questions about the relationship between nutrition, vascular health, and cognitive function, and the role prevention and healthy decisions can play long before symptoms appear.

As we continue to learn more about the connections between diet and health, making nutritious, accessible food choices remains an important part of the conversation.

Read the full story: https://www.healthday.com/health-news/neurology/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-hidden-brain-damage-and-stroke-risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Middle-aged adults who eat more ultra-processed foods are more likely to show signs of silent strokes, according to a n

10/23/2026

Access to nutritious food is an important part of improving health outcomes. 🥦

Unite Us and Instacart are partnering to help healthcare organizations connect eligible individuals with grocery benefits, making it easier to access nutritious food and track the impact of these programs. This collaboration highlights the growing role of food-as-medicine initiatives in addressing food insecurity and supporting whole-person care.

Read more about how this partnership could help expand access to nutrition support: https://medcitynews.com/2026/09/unite-us-instacart-link-care-coordination-and-grocery-benefits-to-scale-food-as-medicine/

Unite Us and Instacart announced Tuesday that they are partnering to connect healthcare organizations’ care coordination efforts with grocery benefits, with the aim of making food-as-medicine programs easier to launch and operate at scale.

10/21/2026

Every small business owner has heard it: adopt AI or get left behind. Very few have been shown where to start.

AI Made Practical for Small Businesses is a one-day conference built for owners like you. Hosted by the Foundation for Better Business as the official Small Business Track of Austin Tech Week 2026, it skips the jargon and the hype and gets straight to what you can do next.

Here is what you will walk away with:
- Real stories from Texas small business owners already using AI to save time and money, plus insights from leaders at Google, Amazon, Accenture, and more
- A clear picture of how customers now use AI to find and choose businesses, and how to get yours recommended
- Hands-on time in a workshop of your choice, working on your own business
- Small-group roundtables with experts on tools, workflows, finance, legal, and more
- A written 90-day AI action plan built for your business
- One lucky attendee will win a Dell laptop and another will win a Delta travel voucher!

Tuesday, October 27 | 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, networking happy hour to follow
BBB Headquarters, 1805 Rutherford Lane, Austin, TX 78754

TexHealth members save 50% with discount code TEXHEALTH. (Use this code on the registration page. Not an access code.)
Register here: https://www.eventzilla.net/e/austin-tech-week-ai-made-practical-for-small-businesses-2138699814

You don't have to have it all figured out before you walk in. You just have to walk in.

AI Made Practical for Small Businesses Cost: $65. Includes coffee bar, lunch, networking happy hour,…

10/19/2026

I'm thrilled to join the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC) as a panelist for their upcoming Small Biz U workshop on October 22, 2026! 🚀

Alongside local leaders in business law, access to capital, healthcare, and financial planning strategy, we’ll be discussing how Central Texas small business owners can build resilience, protect their assets, and position themselves for growth in 2027.

Whether you're looking to optimize financial strategies, protect your business, secure funding, or upgrade employee benefits, this panel is built to give you actionable next steps.

🗓️ Thursday, Oct 22, 2026

📍 A+ Federal Credit Union, 6420 US-290 SVRD, Austin, TX 78723

🔗 Reserve your spot today: https://gahcc.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F59975

-James Rodriguez, LFACHE
President & CEO
TexHealth Central Texas

10/16/2026

This article has an interesting perspective that asks an important question: Whose needs are these technologies designed to serve and whose experiences may be overlooked?

This article explores how biases can be built into health apps through the data, assumptions and priorities that shape their development. For example, one healthcare algorithm underestimated the medical needs of Black patients because it used healthcare spending as a measure of health need.
The authors argue that creating more equitable technology requires diverse perspectives, community involvement and greater attention to how health data are collected and used. While the technology is new, the history of bias in the medical field and its research is an age old issue that continues to require examining and changing how we think about health, knowledge, power and value.

Read the full article in The Conversation.

Apps and wearables are often built on invisible assumptions that might not be relevant to you. A new study shows how we can change that.

10/14/2026

When you’re young and healthy, it can be easy to put primary care on the back burner. But what are we missing when we do?

A recent survey commissioned by Ohio State University found that only 71% of adults ages 18–29 have a primary care doctor, and fewer than half of those who do had a checkup in the past year.

For young adults transitioning out of pediatric care, college, or into the workforce, maintaining that connection to primary care can be an important part of staying healthy over the long term. Establishing a baseline for health and preventative care is important for identifying potential concerns later. However many young adults skip regular visits unless there's an immediate issue, instead rely on AI for health concerns. With inflation and rising healthcare costs, young adults are also less likely to prioritize preventative care.

Read more:

Mercy Health and Warren County health experts say young adults without primary care can miss baseline checks and early disease warning signs.

10/12/2026

When people have a health question, more are turning to AI before they turn to a doctor. What does that mean for healthcare?

A recent survey found that patients are increasingly using chatbots for quick answers about their health, from understanding symptoms to navigating medical questions.
The growing use of AI for health advice raises important questions about access, convenience, accuracy, and the role of healthcare professionals.
As these tools become more common, the conversation shouldn't just be about what AI can do-but how we can make sure people are using it safely and appropriately.

Patients want “quick and immediate advice,” according to one survey.

10/09/2026

How high is your Investing IQ?

This one hour insider class will transform the way you invest! Gain vital tips to confidently invest and increase your financial freedom.

Increase Your Investing IQ Webinar
Tuesday October 13, 2026
12:00pm-1:00pm CDT
Registration link 👇️ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1r1TYMsNTHqZB0SCzPUNSlv8jdCPgcUu6k0RwsbRUZro/edit

Investing isn't about predicting the market. It's about understanding risk, staying diversified, and focusing on long-term goals. Join us for this free webinar with Juan Carlos Barcena, MBA and Miranda Barcena, RICP® as we break down key investing concepts, retirement planning strategies, and ways to help you become a more confident investor.

We'll see you there!

10/08/2026

What if your phone could tell you if your cough was benign or disease?

AI is increasingly moving from the headlines into everyday healthcare, including tools that can analyze cough sounds and help clinicians interpret medical images.
A new CNA report looks at how AI is being used on the frontline of healthcare in India, and what these technologies could mean for earlier detection, access to care, and the role of healthcare professionals.

AI is continuing to reshape healthcare; understanding where these tools can add value and carefully supplementing it to essential human expertise remains key.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/coughs-x-rays-how-ai-changing-indias-healthcare-frontline-6356946

From screening for tuberculosis to monitoring newborns, AI is reaching rural India amid healthcare workforce shortages. But scaling it means fitting the technology into already stretched workers’ routines.