2007 October

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) continues to gain popularity and now more facilities are turning to image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for even more precise treatment.

A few cutting-edge sites outline their 64-slice CT data management plans to help steer their colleagues toward an optimal solution.

While PET/CT is a known powerhorse for diagnosing, staging and restaging cancer, the technology also shows promise for monitoring a tumor’s response to therapy.

Cardiovascular information systems (CVIS) are providing the means to integrate the business of cardiology with the practice of cardiology at the point of care—with great results for managers.

Storage, retrieval and tools for comparing images must all come together in a cohesive, seamless process. New offerings are making image management in oncology imaging easier to manage.

Health imaging operations have become increasingly difficult inrecent years. 2007 in particular has been a milestone with thereimbursement reductions from the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) hittingimaging facilities and departments hard, according to the findings of our annual Top Trends survey inwhich 483 imaging and IT professionals offered their viewpoint.

It seems that the imaging and IT community was busy enough trying to improve workflow, increase efficiency, build referrals and fight for payments—then along came the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) and things got even worse.

Deploying PACS capabilities beyond a radiology department orfacility provides the opportunity of extending the reach of diagnosticimaging to the entire spectrum of clinical medicine. The benefits tohealthcare practitioners are immense—increased diagnostic certainty andthe capability to provide efficient and effective treatment.

As the population ages and studies prove CT is the right exam formore indications, volume is growing. While there are some factors toconsider when launching CT in an outpatient imaging center, themodality lends itself well to the setting. Many industry watchers feelthat CT scanning volume will only continue to move to outpatientcenters.

More patients, more studies and more documentation are drivinghealthcare providers to implement solutions that improve efficiency andaid in the delivery of quality patient care. Voice recognition has beenheralded as a means to that end for at least a decade, but continuousimprovements to the technology are making it a viable solution rightoff the shelf.

Two Arizona imaging groups show the need for speed and efficiency in burning CDs for patients and physicians on the move.