Top Stories
KLAS names top health IT performers for 2007
KLAS has released its 2007 Top 20 Year-End Report, which details vendor performance ratings for health IT software, professional services and medical equipment. Results are compiled from evaluations received from healthcare professionals during the past 13 months.
View the categories:
• Health IT software leaders
• Professional services leaders
• Medical equipment leaders
• Medical equipment overall ranking
Senate extends SCHIP, pay cuts delayed until 2009
Congressional Democrats on Tuesday conceded to Republican demands by postponing the $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) until 2009.
Industry News
Next round of health IT interoperability specs go to HHS
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel, a multi-stakeholder group working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assure the interoperability of EHRs in the United States, has sent the next set of specifications for the National Health Information Network to the American Health Information Community and HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt for approval.
Clinical Studies
JAMA: CT pulmonary angiography effective for detecting pulmonary embolism
CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was not inferior to ventilation-perfusion scanning in ruling out pulmonary embolism. However, significantly more patients were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism using the CTPA approach, according to a study published in the Dec.19 issue of the Journal of American of Medical Association.
Older imaging studies necessary for clinical routine
One of the greatest clinical benefits of PACS is online access to prior imaging studies. For administrators charged with managing these clinical systems, one of their challenges is determining how long completed imaging studies need to be available in the PACS and when they can be migrated to other archive solutions.
Partnerships & Alliances
GE to offer Confirma's CADstream
Confirma and GE Healthcare have expanded their strategic partnership to offer Confirma's services to GE's customers using CADstream.
Dell, TeraMedica to enter reseller agreement
TeraMedica Healthcare Technology of Milwaukee will enter into a hardware reseller agreement with Dell.
RSNA News
PACS deployment powers productivity improvement
One of the driving forces behind the implementation of PACS is the expectation that its deployment will result in greater productivity for a clinical department. An 11-year retrospective analysis conducted at two of the largest academic hospitals in the United States and presented at the 93rd scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, provide hard data to back up this contention.
PACS tool provides continuous QC capabilities
Quality control (QC) is most effective when it is continuously conducted at the point of service delivery and when a mechanism for communicating the quality analysis is available. In the digital diagnostic image PACS environment, one of the greatest barriers to continuous QC is the lack of established communication between those who interpret and acquire images, according to Paul Nagy, PhD.
Macro-scripting unifies desktop within PACS at MGH
A group of developers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston have utilized macro-scripting to deliver their interpreting physicians a unified desktop in their PACS workspace.
Nuance expands PACS/RIS extension partners program
Nuance Communications showcased several new integrations and partnerships at the 93rd scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Siemens showcases role-based PACS portals
The Siemens Medical Solutions Image and Knowledge Management Division introduced the newest enhancements and research to its portfolio at the 93rd scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago last month.
Philips SpeechMagic integrated in Elsevier's RadConsult
Royal Philips Electronics and Elsevier announced at RSNA 2007 last month in Chicago that the integration of Philips speech recognition platform SpeechMagic with Elsevier's new RadConsult radiology diagnostic reference system.
Siemens showcases new MRI, advanced visualization offerings
Siemens Medical Solutions introduced a new MRI platform, the 1.5-Tesla Magnetom Essenza, and its syngo advanced visualization technology at this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual conference.
GE offers new imaging capabilities
GE Healthcare demonstrated its Signa HDx 3 Tesla system, showcased a portfolio of solutions for breast MRI studies, unveiled new technologies for its PET/CT systems, and highlighted advanced visualization applications at RSNA 2007 conference in Chicago last month.
Fujifilm demonstrates wide array of new DR products
Fujifilm Medical Systems USA had a busy RSNA with the introduction of several new products for the digital x-ray market.
iCRco showcases True Flat Scan Path on new product line
iCRco demonstrated its True Flat Scan Path technology for a new line of CR systems at the 93rd scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago last month.
Hitachi debuts new Oasis MRI system
Hitachi Medical Systems America introduced its new 1.2-Tesla Oasis MRI system, a high-performance modality featuring a boreless design, at the 2007 RSNA annual meeting.
Sectra sweetens mammo offerings
Sectra introduced its new L-30 MicroDose digital mammography system at RSNA's annual meeting in Chicago last month.
Mitsubishi displays new model of digital color printer line
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America showcased its CP-30 line of healthcare digital color printer products, including CP-30DW, CP-30W models and its new release CP-31W at RSNA's annual meeting in Chicago last month.
Sony shrinks peripheral products, partners with Candelis
The theme of the Sony Electronics display booth at this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting last month in Chicago was "imaging technology for every modality," and showed an array of applicable printers.
BRIT Systems upgrades mammo solution
BRIT Systems President Michele Fisher was on hand for the unveiling of new enhancements to the company's Vision multi-modality breast imaging workstation at the 93rd Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago last month.
Work-in-progress Merge Mammo 7.1 serves multi-modalities
Substantial growth in digital mammography has led to a huge return on investment, according to Beth Frost Johnson, senior vice president, marketing at Merge Healthcare at the 93rd 93rd Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago last month.
Contracts & Installations
Medipattern nets Italian install
General Hospital in Gorizia, Italy, has installed Medipattern's B-CAD 2.0.
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