Elekta has selected Birst, the global leader in cloud-based business intelligence (BI), to help clinicians, researchers and business managers exploit the potential of big data in their decision-making.

Delegates from academia and industry flocked to see the world's first commercial, cryogen free, 7.0T, preclinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging, which went on display for the first time at the recent joint ISMRM/ESMRMB meeting in Milan, Italy and the SNMMI meeting in St Louis.

Mobile AUC App Update Encourages Appropriate Use of TEE, Contrast and Stress Imaging

The American Society of Echocardiography Foundation (ASEF) launched the second version of its free mobile Echo AUC app at the ASE Silver Anniversary Scientific Sessions in Portland, Ore., last week.

There were several new cardiovascular ultrasound technology advances highlighted at the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) annual meeting June 20-24 in Portland, Ore. Among these was the first commercial software released to analyze vector flow imaging, a possible new way to help with early diagnoses of some types of cardiovascular disease prior to symptoms developing. Another technology of note was high-resolution 3-D reconstructions of vascular plaques and any associated angiogenesis vasa vasorum, which could be a new way to noninvasively identify vulnerable plaque.

Sonivate

More than 55 companies displayed their latest products and services at the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 25th Annual Scientific Sessions June 20-24 in Portland, Ore. The meeting is the largest for cardiovascular ultrasound. Highlights from the show floor included:
Greg Freiherr

April 8 has come and gone. Microsoft XP support is over. Our use of XP-based picture archive and communications system (PACS) should be as well. But it’s not. 

Along with the growing amount of data being collected in electronic medical records (EMR) and other information repositories is the growing need to dissect and analyze that data fast and efficiently. With hospitals and practices looking to maximize efficiencies and optimize quality within their operations, having a set of analytics tools can be a key strategy for moving forward with an evolving healthcare environment.

This year marked the first of Stage 2 Meaningful Use (MU) for eligible providers, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAH) that already completed the required years of attestation to Stage 1 — three years if beginning Stage 1 in 2011, two years for those who began after. The objectives for Stage 2 are similar to Stage 1: all providers must meet a set of  “core” objectives while also reporting on a number of available “menu” objectives, in order to attain MU certification and receive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. For Stage 2 MU, eligible professionals must meet 17 core objectives and three menu objectives; eligible hospitals and CAHs will need to meet 16 core objectives and three menu objectives.

In today’s healthcare environment, longstanding, volume-based models of healthcare delivery are giving way to models where payers are tightening their purse strings and putting a greater emphasis on treatment value. Medical imaging providers are increasingly looking for a strategy to streamline workflows, enhance referral networks, increase referrals and better manage imaging appropriateness. Advanced interoperability is that strategy.
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