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ShiftMed and Cottage Hospital Announce Partnership to Improve Workforce Flexibility

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Cottage Hospital will be the first and only health system in New Hampshire to offer on-demand work opportunities for local nurses

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ShiftMed, a leader in On-Demand workforce technology, has partnered with Cottage Hospital, a highly-rated health system in New Hampshire, to strengthen its workforce and introduce an unprecedented level of flexibility to its healthcare professionals (HCPs). This partnership marks the first offering of flexible per diem acute care schedules in New Hampshire.

Through ShiftMed’s platform and its extensive network of credentialed HCPs, Cottage Hospital will have the ability to build out its internal float pool with highly skilled, on-demand workers to support current staff. Local nurses will have the opportunity to pick up per diem shifts at Cottage Hospital, giving them complete control over their schedules. Additionally, the increased staffing capacity will provide full-time employees with greater flexibility and the ability to take time off, reducing the burden of overtime and minimizing burnout. This approach promotes work-life balance, helps prevent staff fatigue, and ultimately enhances the quality of patient care.

“We are committed to improving the health of both our community and workforce by delivering accessible, compassionate, and high-quality care,” said Holly A. McCormack, DNP, RN, president & CEO of Cottage Hospital. “This partnership not only allows us to elevate the care we provide to our patients, but also empowers us to prioritize the well-being of our staff while welcoming local nurses on a per diem basis.”

“We’re excited to partner with Cottage Hospital and bring our workforce technology platform to New Hampshire,” said Todd Walrath, CEO and founder of ShiftMed. “This collaboration reflects Cottage Hospital’s dedication to the health and well-being of its community. The flexibility offered by ShiftMed extends beyond supporting full-time and on-demand staff—it ultimately enhances patient outcomes and the overall experience.”

For more information about ShiftMed’s healthcare workforce management solutions, please visit www.shiftmed.com.

About ShiftMed:

The ShiftMed Workforce Management Platform empowers healthcare facilities across all segments—from hospital systems and post-acute care centers to in-home providers—to reduce costs by optimizing shift fulfillment. By intelligently routing order flow to internal teams and on-demand float pools, ShiftMed minimizes contract labor and returns control of workforce spending to healthcare leaders. Seamlessly integrating with existing HR and scheduling systems, ShiftMed provides a comprehensive view of workforce expenses.

ShiftMed offers a suite of solutions tailored to meet specific needs. ShiftMed Flex equips internal staff with a custom-branded mobile app, enabling them to fill scheduling gaps and reduce overtime costs. ShiftMed On-Demand expands internal float teams, reducing reliance on travel and contract nurses. The ShiftMed Unlimited Network delivers unparalleled shift fulfillment through the world’s first Digital MSP, ensuring consistent, high-quality care coverage. For more information, visit www.shiftmed.com.

About Cottage Hospital:
For 120 years, Cottage Hospital has served the residents of the Upper Connecticut Valley. “We’ve created an atmosphere where everyone strives for excellence. This culture of excellence is evident in the hospital’s quality results.”

Today, Cottage Hospital is a 35-bed Critical Access Hospital that continues to be recognized for providing exemplary care.  We are a highly-rated organization that puts the consumer first by offering cutting-edge services at a reasonable cost. A designated Trauma Center for adults and pediatrics, the hospital also boasts a multi-specialty Rural Health Clinic, the Center of Orthopedic Excellence, and the Ray of Hope acute geriatric psychiatric voluntary inpatient mental health unit. The hospital has a Transfer Center to accept medical, surgical, and trauma patients from other rural and critical access hospitals.

Cottage Hospital is honored to be a part of each patient’s healthcare journey. We pledge to stand by our mission ‘To strengthen the health of our community by providing accessible, compassionate, quality care.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shiftmed-and-cottage-hospital-announce-partnership-to-improve-workforce-flexibility-302289636.html

SOURCE ShiftMed

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S&P Dow Jones Indices and Pantera Capital Launch New Index for Digital Assets

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The S&P Pantera Digital Asset Index brings credibility and structure to digital asset indexing by focusing on quality and real utility

NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — S&P Dow Jones Indices, the world’s leading index provider, and Pantera Capital, a leading digital asset-native investment firm, have launched the S&P Pantera Digital Asset Index, designed to serve as a benchmark for institutional investors who want to allocate to digital assets in a more disciplined and structured way.

Unlike many existing crypto indexes that focus on price momentum or popular tokens (including meme coins or Bitcoin), this new index uses a rules-based approach similar to what’s used in traditional finance benchmarks. It only includes tokens and companies that show real-world use and generate actual revenue. The goal is to highlight digital assets with strong fundamentals—those that are actually being used and have economic value—rather than those that are just speculative or trending.

The index helps global investors move beyond name recognition and single-asset indices, offering a more disciplined and transparent way to measure investments in the blockchain and digital asset space. It’s also designed to be used as a reference for new investment products or for managers who actively pick digital assets.

“S&P Dow Jones Indices helps investors cut through market noise with benchmarks you can trust. With the S&P Pantera Digital Asset Index, we bring that same discipline to digital assets, using a fundamentals-driven, economics-based framework built for diversified portfolios. In collaboration with Pantera and powered by Artemis data, we apply the same standards in trusted benchmarks like the S&P 500 to help investors focus on fundamentals in one of today’s most fast-moving asset classes,” said Cathy Clay, CEO at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The launch signals a new phase for digital assets: growing market maturity. Blockchain use cases are proving broader value, regulation is becoming clearer in major markets, and institutional involvement is getting easier. However, many existing products don’t reflect the complexity of the asset class or separate potentially speculative exposure from real blockchain-driven activity.

“We’re thrilled to bring Pantera’s digital asset expertise to this collaboration with S&P Dow Jones Indices. Pantera has spent years building digital asset-native research and governance designed for institutional outcomes. For global investors, the biggest friction point in crypto hasn’t changed; it’s knowing how to allocate. We believe we’re at a pivotal moment for digital assets, and that’s why we worked with S&P Dow Jones Indices to build an index designed to identify which digital assets and infrastructure truly matter,” said Dan Morehead, Pantera Founder and Managing Partner.

To learn more about the S&P Pantera Digital Asset Index, visit here.

To learn more about the S&P Pantera Digital Index methodology visit here.

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES 

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit: www.spglobal.com/spdji.  
 

ABOUT PANTERA CAPITAL 

Pantera Capital is the first institutional investment firm focused exclusively on bitcoin, other digital currencies, and companies in the blockchain tech ecosystem. Pantera launched the first cryptocurrency fund in the United States when bitcoin was at $65 /BTC in 2013. The firm subsequently launched the first exclusively-blockchain venture fund. In 2017, Pantera was the first firm to offer an early-stage token fund. Pantera Bitcoin Fund has returned 114,841% in twelve years and has returned billions to its investors. Pantera manages over $3 billion across three strategies – passive, hedge, and venture – exclusively focused on bitcoin, other digital currencies, and companies in the blockchain tech ecosystem. For more information, visit: https://panteracapital.com/

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Silke McGuinness 
Global Head of Communications, S&P DJI  
(+1) 415-205-8414
silke.mcguinness@spglobal.com  

Lemuel Brewster
Americas Communications, S&P DJI
(+1) 917-805-1089
lemuel.brewster@spglobal.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-dow-jones-indices-and-pantera-capital-launch-new-index-for-digital-assets-302831133.html

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

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Qued Partners with Don Hummer Trucking to Bring AI-Powered Smart Appointments to a Family Fleet Trusted for More Than 70 Years

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Family-owned Iowa truckload carrier has confirmed more than 10,000 appointments through Qued, with email scheduling handled at a 98.8% success rate

BROADLANDS, Va., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Qued, a leader in developing sophisticated, automated appointment scheduling solutions for supply chain and logistics companies, today announced a strategic partnership with Don Hummer Trucking Corporation, a family-owned interstate truckload carrier trusted by some of the nation’s most recognizable brands. Don Hummer Trucking has deployed Qued’s Smart Appointments platform to automate appointment scheduling across its operations, taking manual booking work off the desks of the people who keep its trucks moving.

Every load delivered safely and on time carries the opportunity to earn our customer’s trust. Qued took a job that used to eat hours of our team’s day and quietly handles it in the background.

The numbers behind the announcement:

More than 10,000 appointments confirmed through Qued94.2% confirmation rate98.8% success rate on email-based scheduling

Qued’s platform selects the best appointment slots in real time, weighing ETAs, facility capacity, historical performance, and the specific requirements of each location. It connects directly to the transportation management system a carrier already runs, and it works on every channel a facility can require: web portals, email, and AI-powered voice calls. At Don Hummer Trucking, email scheduling has been the standout, with Qued handling email-based appointment requests at a 98.8% success rate.

“Don Hummer Trucking is the kind of company this industry is built on. The president holds a CDL and delivers loads. The family name rides on every trailer,” said Tom Curee, President of Qued. “When a three-generation fleet with that much on the line trusts Qued with its appointments, we take it seriously. Hummer’s confirmation numbers show what disciplined operators get when real automation goes to work on scheduling.”

“Every load delivered safely and on time carries the opportunity to earn our customer’s trust. Qued took a job that used to eat hours of our team’s day and quietly handles it in the background. Confirmations happen, trucks keep moving, and our people stay focused on drivers and customers,” said Jake Von Feldt, Vice President of Finance at Don Hummer Trucking.

Don Hummer Trucking joins a growing roster of asset-based carriers on Qued, from family fleets to some of the largest carriers in North America.

About Qued:

Qued is a cloud-based, AI-powered smart workflow automation platform transforming load appointment scheduling for brokers, 3PLs, and carriers. By automating the scheduling process, Qued eliminates manual work, simplifies multi-stop load appointments, and ensures seamless coordination across the supply chain, improving both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.qued.com or contact us at contact.us@qued.com.

About Don Hummer Trucking:

Don Hummer Trucking Corporation is a family-owned and operated, for-hire interstate truckload carrier headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with terminal operations in Homestead, Iowa. The Hummer name has been trusted in freight transportation for more than 70 years, and the company today serves many of the largest shippers in the country. For more information, visit www.donhummertrucking.com.

Media Contact

Adam Robinson, The Robinson Agency, 1 2148720780, adam@the-robinson-agency.com, The Robinson Agency 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/qued-partners-with-don-hummer-trucking-to-bring-ai-powered-smart-appointments-to-a-family-fleet-trusted-for-more-than-70-years-302830398.html

SOURCE Qued

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Bank of America Enhances EricaAssist with Generative AI to Help Employees Resolve Client Needs Faster

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New AI capabilities deliver relevant insights in seconds, helping employees provide more personalized client service in real-time

Key takeaways

More than 18,000 employees use EricaAssist as a human-assisted AI agent to help serve clients.
New Generative AI (Gen AI) capabilities deliver contextual guidance in under three seconds, helping resolve client needs faster and supporting decision making by customer service representatives.
EricaAssist reduces average call times by nearly one minute per interaction, improving efficiency and client experience.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bank of America (BofA) today announced enhancements to EricaAssist, its human assisted AI agent that supports employees during client conversations, delivering real time insights that help resolve client needs faster while keeping the employee at the center of the experience.

Used by more than 18,000 customer service representatives, EricaAssist works alongside employees during calls – summarizing and surfacing relevant guidance in real time – so employees can focus on listening to and understanding clients, explaining solutions, and building stronger relationships. The enhancements are making our human agents better and providing our customers with an improved and more efficient experience.

“EricaAssist reflects our high tech, high touch approach,” said Ashley Ross, Head of Consumer Client Experience and Business Transformation at Bank of America. “By combining human judgment with real time AI guidance, we’re helping employees navigate complex topics more easily and serve clients more effectively in the moments that matter most.”

Bank of America customer service representatives use generative AI capabilities within EricaAssist to summarize why a client is calling, pull together relevant information, and recommend next steps based on the employee’s role and the client’s relationship with the bank – all without interrupting the flow of the conversation.

“This technology helps our teammates deliver relevant insights in seconds, while operating with strong governance, transparency, and accountability,” said Tom Ellis, Chief Information Officer and Head of Consumer Technology at Bank of America.

Later this year, Bank of America plans to expand EricaAssist to support additional servicing scenarios and business lines.

Frequently asked questions

Question: Why enhance EricaAssist with GenAI capabilities?

Answer: Enhancing EricaAssist reflects the bank’s focus on continuously improving how employees access and deliver personalized guidance and resolve client needs faster.

Question: How do EricaAssist enhancements reflect Bank of America’s broader investments in technology?

Answer: Bank of America spends $14 billion annually on technology, of which more than $4 billion is allocated to new initiatives, including AI. These ongoing investments, combined with our high-tech, high-touch approach, continue to enhance our client experiences across all channels and to drive operational efficiencies across the company.

Question: Why blend AI with employee decision making?

Answer: Our responsible AI strategy ensures human oversight, transparency, and accountability for all outcomes. By leveraging AI at scale across our global operations, we are optimizing performance and improving client experiences. EricaAssist works alongside employees, supporting their decision-making and service. Employees ensure clients receive thoughtful guidance, with AI operating within established governance and oversight.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,500 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 60 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. As the #1 small business lender in the United States (FDIC), Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries and/or jurisdictions. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact
Catherine Page, Bank of America
Phone: 1.704.519.7314
catherine.page@bofa.com

Don Vecchiarello, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.387.4899
don.vecchiarello@bofa.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-of-america-enhances-ericaassist-with-generative-ai-to-help-employees-resolve-client-needs-faster-302831047.html

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

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