Breast cancer screening has been on the forefront with the issue of breast density taking center stage. However, controversy surrounds the many contradicting studies that currently dictate the standards for breast cancer screening.

In a rare showing of bipartisan support, on April 14, 2015, Congress repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and approved a new framework to allow Medicare to transition from its current fee-for-service payment system to a value-based reimbursement system. The legislation (H.R. 2) eliminates the threat of annual cuts in Medicare payments to providers that were required under the SGR, which was approved more than a decade ago to control skyrocketing Medicare costs.

Established more than 30 years ago, Hawaii Radiologic Associates (HRA) has grown from its modest beginnings as Hilo Radiologic Associates to the Big Island of Hawaii’s most advanced radiology group. Today, the group of nine specialty trained radiologists provides diagnostic imaging services in four outpatient imaging centers located in East and West Hawaii and also provide professional interpretation services at four hospitals/medical centers around the island. 

As the saying goes, sometimes less is more — a maxim that is proving true in the world of medical imaging as remote viewing systems continue to advance. While some manufacturers are still utilizing software-based systems for reading and sharing imaging data, many are embracing browser-based models, otherwise known as zero-footprint viewers.
deconstructing PACS, VNA, enterprise imaging

Perhaps the biggest trend in health information technology today is the movement away from traditional picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and cardiovascular information systems (CVIS) to enterprise imaging and data management systems. This migration is important, because it will fundamentally change how clinicians have been accessing images and patient information for the past 20 years.
IBA's ProteusONE proton therapy system is now FDA cleared.
ProTom International's Radiance 330 proton therapy system.
Varian Medical Systems upgraded its ProBeam proton therapy system last year to allow IMPT.
Mevion's S250 proton therapy system.

Proton therapy has been on the rise in recent years, both in the United States and abroad, with more and more proton centers opening their doors to cancer patients around the globe. It provides an attractive alternative to conventional radiation therapy, as the directed beam more intensely attacks cancerous tissue while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and organs. In addition, radiation oncologists can control the depth to which the proton beam penetrates, and the beam will not travel any further, unlike traditional X-ray-based radiation therapy.

There have been several technology advances in PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) systems recently introduced by vendors. On the show floors of the 2014 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) meeting and the 2014 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting, Philips, Toshiba and GE Healthcare introduced new PET/CT systems.
radiation dose monitoring, cath lab dose monitoring, Raysafe
radiation dose monitoring, cath lab dose monitoring, Raysafe

It’s the invisible elephant in radiology — radiation exposure. As physicians, we know all too well that exposure to radiation should be limited to the least amount possible. We have all learned about the ALARA principle for keeping exposure low. We also take precautions on our patients’ behalf and educate them. But what about us? The physicians and technical staff who treat patients every day cannot avoid radiation exposure entirely. However, there is growing evidence that not only is radiation exposure detrimental to our health, but also many long-term cumulative effects are still unknown.

The ITN team has just returned from the Healthcare Information and Management Society’s (HIMSS15) annual conference in Chicago, where more than 43,000 healthcare IT professionals gathered to learn about and share information on optimizing healthcare outcomes using information technology. 

The ITN team has just returned from the Healthcare Information and Management Society’s (HIMSS15) annual conference in Chicago, where more than 43,000 healthcare IT professionals gathered to learn about and share information on optimizing healthcare outcomes using information technology. 
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