Search

The article discusses how teleradiology has changed over the last ten years, and its impact on the practice of radiology. Experts in the field claim that teleradiology has shifted from an adjunct to a vital element of practice, has benefits over business-based option, and is being employed by large practices to meet all contract needs. Experts also claim that teleradiology changes mirror technology and market shifts.

The article explains why routine clinical use of computed tomography (CT) perfusion, magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion and perfusion should only be performed in the context of clinical investigation as implicated in the "Times" report that a number of patients undergoing CT perfusion actually suffered radiation burns to their skin. It discusses the role of imaging in acute stroke management and the strategies directed at limiting ischemic brain damage such as neuroprotection. The imaging needed for the use of tissue plasminogen activator is described.

The article discusses ten steps that have been tested to improve one's imaging business. One way is to use an open source software program, Autohotkey, developed by a team from the University of California, San Diego, to synchronize patient records. Voice recognition technology was mentioned as one that would yield big improvements in efficiency but has not been maximized. Researchers at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center say that the Wii gaming remote could someday be used to navigate digital images.

The article focuses on options and turnkey solutions introduced by companies to address challenges with the use of 64-slice scanners in cardiac teleradiology. Problems in image acquisition include phase misregistration from irregular heartbeats, inappropriately low mA settings during cardiac computed tomography angiography examination, and signal-to-noise issues related to obesity.

The article focuses on teleradiology in the U.S. It says that the annual rate of growth in the number of radiologists and the annual rate of growth in the number of images radiologists should interpret are the two statistics figure concerning radiology in the country. Teleradiology companies NightHawk Radiology Services, Virtual Radiologic Corp. and Radlinx are financially assisted by investment capital.

The article presents information on a roundtable discussion conducted by the magazine "Diagnostic Imaging" in the U.S. in 2006 concerning imaging utilization in radiology. Among the participants were Medsolutions chief medical officer Gregg Allen and American College of Radiology president James Borgstede. The involvement of advanced imaging procedures in the general increase in utilization is discussed.

The article focuses on the influence of informatics integration on the success of healthcare information technology projects. Imaging plays a significant role in surgical planning, intraoperative navigation and post surgical assessment. Creating common standards could be an important part in informatics integration. It is important to be careful in implementing systems integration.

The article focuses on the programs launched by the Radiological Society of North America to enhance patient care in the field of radiology. One of the programs is the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise, which demonstrated the ability of XDS-I integration protocol. Another program is RadLex which was designed to develop a common lexicon for radiology. The article explores the issues concerning image sharing among facilities.

The article focuses on the aim to expand visualization systems in the enterprise and have them available in mobile iPhone and computing devices. The five vendors who stand out as providers of advanced visualization systems include Carestream, Tera-Recon and Visage, while the three of the four modality vendors include General Electric (GE), Philips and Siemens. Also mentioned are the systems being offered by vendors including the MedImage, MIMVista and Vital Images as well as PowerViewer of Carestream Health.

The article discusses studies on the use of a protocol that involves contrast-enhanced ultrasound in targeting tumors and reducing the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies. Researchers from China and Austria found that contrast ultrasound generally provided more precise locational information than with an unenhanced gray-scale ultrasound. A study by Leo Pallwein of the Medical University of Innsbruck compared gray-scale ultrasound with a systematic biopsy approach against contrast-enhanced power Doppler.

The article discusses research being done on changes in images introduced by compression algorithms at low levels. It references a study by Elizabeth Krupinski et al presented at the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine conference in 2008. The study compared compressed and uncompressed images. Results show that mild compression changes images in ways that perceptible.

The article discusses issues facing imaging informatics presented at the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) in 2008. One issue is the need to reform radiology report according to Curtis Langlotz, outgoing chair of SIIM. Another is requiring radiologists to collect data and report them in a standard way, according to Eliot Siegel of the University of Maryland. Other issues include systems integration, clinical validation and imaging overload.

The article focuses on a debate during the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine meeting in 2008 about information technology (IT) and radiology control of Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS). Proponent of PACS IT control include Paul Chang of the University of Chicago in Illinois and he argued that trends in data storage and importance of images to electronic health record need an enterprise IT approach to the management of medical data. David Channin of Northwestern University countered that radiology can lead the technology growth.

The article reports that prominent radiologists R. Gilbert Jost, James P. Borgstede and Paul Chang warned radiologists of the transformative impact of technology on their practice. They said that the future can be bright if radiology embraces the best aspects of technological changes, but the prognosis for the specialty is poor if current technology trends are allowed to turn image interpretation into another low-priced commodity.

An interview with Doctor David J. Brailer, a healthcare investor and former White House healthcare IT official in Washington D.C., is presented. He states that image interpretation by means of teleradiology is an area ripe for discipline from a market for spot imaging. He says that an enormous share of radiologists will be joining in spot markets. He cites that one of his goals was to prevent greater regulation of the healthcare IT marketplace in the interest of permitting new ideas that bring more efficiency to healthcare to flourish and take hold.

Focuses on the products that show how images and documents can easily be exchanged among different enterprises, demonstrated at the 2006 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society meeting. Networking capability of picture archiving and communication system products; Overview of cross-document sharing (XDS) and cross-image sharing (XDS-I ) products; Implementation of XDS and XDS-I integration profiles in Canada.

The article focuses on the challenges being faced by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the European Federation for Medical Informatics in developing medical image databases. The variety of imaging findings has been an obstacle to researchers in developing such databases. The Medical Imaging Resource Center has developed free and open source software that supports image acquisition and storage for clinical trials to address the problem. The use of imaging as an end point in drug development is one of the factor that influences the interest in reference such databases.

Asserts that modality upgrades may threaten to overwhelm the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) storage of hospitals. Challenges with the modality upgrades at the University Medical Center in Groningen, the Netherlands; Management of the PACS of Seoul National University Hospital; Highlights from the speech delivered by Peter M. A. van Ooijen, Ph. D, who spoke at the 2005 Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery meeting in June.

Presents the highlights of a digital breast imaging forum at the 2005 Society for Computer Applications in Radiology (SCAR) conference. Demand for more standardization and consistency in the handling of digital breast images; Need for streamlining the entire digital mammography workflow according to moderator and SCAR chair Doctor J. Anthony Seibert; Information on the possibility that developing mammography technologies could inhibit workflow.

Focuses on the technological features of a reading room for radiologists being subjected to a trial run by GE at the 2005 Society for Computer Applications in Radiology conference. Privacy glass with special blue lights to reduce eye fatigue and improve reading accuracy; Electronic medical record; Liquid crystal display monitors.

Focuses on Amirsys' STATdx program that will integrate the reference system into picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) workstations. Digital reference texts that radiologists can easily access at the workstation and use as a decision support tool; Comparison with Amirsys' "Pocket Radiologist" series of reference texts; Beta testing of STATdx at several high-volume practices.

The article discusses the usage of personal digital assistants (PDA) as a medical tool. Surveys show that radiology residents are leading the adoption of PDAs, and they are expected to maintain their interest as the technology matures. Future refinements could make PDAs even more useful. They can already record voice clips, and in the future. A solution to relatively low display resolution could involve devices that project images on a larger surface. The PDA could ultimately become a portable office that offers radiologists access to everything they need.

Focuses on the video "Digital Eye for an Analog Guy" shown during the Society for Computer Application in Radiology's meeting held in May 2004. Basing of the video on research conducted by Eliot Siegel of the VA Maryland Health Care System; Makeovers for radiology residents and transformation of reading room; Lessons illustrated by the video on what should and should not be done when remodeling a reading room.

Features the Society for Computer Applications in Radiology's 21st annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 20-23, 2004. Keynote speakers; Topics to be discussed; Lectures.

The article offers information on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) as presented in the article "Coronary CTA Really Works, But Why Isn't Its Use Soaring?," by Doctor David Dowe, which appeared in the issue.

The author cites the possible benefits to be gained by U.S. radiologists in participating in the meaningful use program implemented by the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2010 for improving the quality of patient care across the country through the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) technology. He stresses that meaningful use could help solve problems such as the lack of patient histories and unnecessary repeat studies, as well as ensure the recognition of radiology's role in strengthening health care.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Doctor Stephen Baker on rethinking the radiology report and another on protecting the radiology contract by Pat Kroken.

The article discusses the decline in volumes of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to poor economy and fear of radiation. The author cites unemployment rates, lack of insurance and concerns regarding effect of radiation as the reasons behind the decline. He notes that some economic observers see this as a short-term thing since the economy seems to be improving, vendors are more focused on reducing radiation dose and healthcare reform legislation is about to be passed.

The author discusses the role of visualization in radiology. He mentions that the technology for producing endoscopic views, vessel tracing for angiographic studies and surface rendering, is becoming a regular feature of radiology. He cites the use of automated algorithms in making the reproduction of images possible and decreases the dependence of radiologists on the skill of the operator. He explains that the adoption of the technology requires training and health facility managers to determine how it will fit in the workflow.

The article offers a reaction to the health reform law in the U.S. The author believes that lines have to be drawn with respect to the implementation of the healthcare reform law, such as the preservation of the physician community to be arbiters of patient care. He suggests that proposals in the law such as requiring physicians to make specific statements in some types of radiology reports or the mandate for a particular imaging procedure give rise to the need for more unnecessary testing and scanning procedures.

The article provides information on a study conducted by researchers from the Catholic University of Korea on the ability of radiologists to identify images of computed tomography (CT) that are altered with commercially available software.

The article deals with a pilot project of the American College of Radiology which focuses on the use of an electronic system that screens imaging orders for appropriateness. It mentions that radiologists are in-charge of controlling imaging utilization. The author adds that radiology benefit management companies develop and use authorization programs to control what imaging studies are permitted.

The article discusses the benefits and limitations of screening mammography. It is suggested that screening mammography may pose some risks of overtreatment and overdiagnosis, a limitation which is already trying to be addressed. Despite the limitation, the article suggests that mammography is still relevant in detecting breast cancer, and has been shown to decrease mortality rates by twenty to thirty percent.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor reminisces 30 years of the magazine, discusses developments in medical technologies since he started working for the magazine and introduces the cover story which was written by senior editor John Brice and has been devoted to celebrate the magazine's 30th anniversary.

The article reports on an online survey conducted among members of the diagnostic radiology community by the "Diagnostic Imaging." The survey revealed several concerns including respondents agreeing that healthcare reform should be accessible to most or all U.S. residents. It was also found that healthcare costs can be reduced by removing inefficient, redundant, and wasteful practices.

The article discusses possible reforms in the medical malpractice system. The author says that U.S. President Barack Obama's endorsement in finding sensible reforms in the medical malpractice system is an opportunity to correct what many believed is an already broken program. Several issues need to be tackled including fairness in treatment to both physicians and patients who may be harmed by medical errors, the costs of applying defensive medicine, and the cost of not exploring available solutions.

The article presents the author's views on an article published in the May 27, 2009 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine" (NEJM) praising the decision of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to deny Medicare coverage for Computed Tomography (CT) colonography. The said article reportedly said that studies of CT colonography did not show effectiveness in Medicare patients. The author noted that the NEJM writers had friends in the CMS. He hopes that physicians will ensure that politics does not affect scientific decisions.

The author addresses the debate over healthcare reform in the U.S. He relates the lessons he learned when he led the media coverage of a state legislature. He provides information on the Medicare Advantage program. He compares the costs of health insurance premiums and Medicare. He comments on the concerns of private insurance companies.

The author talks about the need for more colon cancer screening options in the U.S. He states that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed not to cover computed tomography (CT) colonography. According to the author, colon scans combined with fecal occult blood testing will not help improve colorectal cancer screening. The author cites several studies on colon cancer screening.

The author discusses the increasing number of aging physicians and radiologists in Pennsylvania as of March 2009. He is apprehensive about the report that the average age of medical practitioners in the area is 50 years old and 85 percent of which are older. He adds that the older population of physicians in the area can affect radiology in terms of low reimbursements. The author is critical of physicians who only buy the equipment and interpret the scans in the absence of radiologists.

The article presents the new portable radiography detectors which can operate independently in and outside the radiography room. As mentioned, the portable detectors can go where they are needed, capture images in a second for transmittal into a PACS thus eliminating problems on quality assurance and patient identification. It suggests that portable and wireless DR detectors present an answer on how to manage x-ray imaging in a busy hospital environment and further provides efficiency and reduction in medical errors.

The article presents the results of studies probing the data collected in the last 10 years regarding computed tomography (CT) reports. The research was led by Dr. Pragya Dang from Massachusetts General Hospital. Included in the results presented are the 50% increase in scans per adult patient, 3.61% increase in cumulative dose rates in adults, and the decrease in growth of CT scanning attributed to the implementation of electronic order-entry system.

The article focuses on the efforts of the news team of the periodical "Diagnostic Imaging" to review the topics discussed in the 2008 program book of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA). A subgroup of the articles published in the program book is further discussed in the annual "In Review" supplement and in the "Overread" and "Tech Watch" sections of the magazine.

The article focuses on several data mining strategies and how they can be used in diagnostic imaging discussed at the 2009 Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA) meeting. It notes that the rates of diagnostic imaging utilization varied by more than 56 percent in the U.S. It details the picture archiving and communication system (PACS)-based system developed by radiologists at University of California, San Francisco.

The author talks about the editorial of Professor Dr. Peter Rinck published in the December 2008 issue of "Diagnostic Imaging." According to him, Rinck has the clinical and scientific knowledge as well as business perspective which makes him a credible commentator on the National Science Foundation (NSF) controversy. He describes Rinck's column as a provocative and worthwhile article.

The article announces the addition of Rebekah Moan and Donna Domino to the staff of the periodical "Diagnostic Imaging."

This author reveals that a report from the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) says that advanced imaging procedures covered by the Medicare was adversely affected in 2007 by the deficit reduction law passed by Congress. The budget for imaging procedures fell by 12.7% to $12.1 billion. It highlights the details of the GAO report which reveal troubling information for the healthcare industry. Anecdotal evidence cited by the Access to Medical Imaging Coalition says that patients are being turned away from imaging the point of service.

The author looks at health insurance reforms proposed by U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. According to the author, McCain proposes a restructuring of the health insurance market in a way that would probably eliminate employer-provided health insurance and rely on tax credits for the purchase of private health insurance. Obama proposes a plan that continues to rely on employer-provided healthcare and taxes those who do not offer it to help provide coverage for the uninsured.

The author discusses the rights of news media to report issues on the impact of the proposed changes laws, rules and regulations affecting imaging. It focuses on the proposed rule changes in the practice of radiology which includes self-referral, anti-markup restrictions, and the qualifications for personnel at imaging facilities. He suggests that citizens must be kept informed by news media in order to be able to petition the government for changes in bad proposals.

The article looks at the problems encountered in the adoption of digital mammography. It discusses the difficulties of the transition from screen-film to digital imaging. The issues including increase in recall rates during the transition, the increasing media interest and political hype involving imaging are discussed. The benefits of digital mammography are also presented.