For a while now, algorithms have been making their way into medical care: nurses and doctors enter vital signs and symptoms, and a computer churns out a diagnosis, or recommends a treatment. There are plenty of virtues to data-driven medicine, but also some notable downsides.

Staff at the region’s largest private hospital — MedStar Washington Hospital Center — have given it consistently low marks in seven out of 12 patient safety measures in key areas, over the past four years, according to results released Friday.

About 2,000 nurses, community activists and others called on Detroit officials Friday to stop shutting off water to thousands of customers who are behind on their bills. Protesters trying to prevent crews from conducting the shutoffs also picketed earlier in the day outside the offices of a private contractor working for the city.

Contra Costa County must recognize basic human and civil rights of the people of West Contra Costa County, and accept responsibility for hospital care in West Contra Costa County by integrating Doctors Medical Center San Pablo into Contra Costa Health Services.

At least 300 demonstrators marched through downtown streets on Friday, protesting a move by the city’s Water Department to force tens of thousands of delinquent customers to pay up or face a cutoff in service. From the Cobo Center to Hart Plaza on the banks of the Detroit River, protesters chanted, “Fight, fight; water is a human right.” Others carried placards that read “Thirsty for Justice.”

Throngs of progressive activists, union members and Detroit residents streamed through downtown on Friday to protest the controversial water shutoffs that are leaving homes here dry. With chants of "water is a human right" and "no water, no peace," protesters demanded an end to the shutoff of past-due accounts and declared the situation a public health emergency.

The California Nurses Association is gearing up for what could be contentious contract negotiations with Kaiser Permanente. The existing contract expires Aug. 31. It covers 17,000 registered nurses across Northern California, including 3,500 in the Sacramento region. Face-to-face talks begin July 24 and union officials are willing to call a strike if Kaiser proposes cuts considered harmful to nurses or patients.

As many as one thousand people showed up outside Cobo Center in downtown Detroit Friday, calling for an immediate moratorium on service shutoffs by the city’s water department. Among them was “Avengers” actor Mark Ruffalo, who appeared unexpectedly, calling on others to join the demonstration.