Scripps Proton Therapy Radiation Varian Medical Systems Pencil Beam Scanning
Scripps Proton Therapy Radiation Varian Medical Systems Pencil Beam Scanning

Until recently, cancer patients looking for a precise form of proton radiation therapy – "pencil-beam scanning" – had to narrow their search to about a half dozen centers in the United States that offer this treatment on a limited basis.

Guerbet, a contrast agent specialist for medical imaging, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a manufacturing plant for Lipiodol (ethiodized oil) Injection, in Montreal, Canada.

VitreaView, a universal viewer developed by Vital Images Inc. was featured in a live case study. Shafiq Rab, M.D., vice president and chief information officer at Hackensack University Medical Center, presented during the Interoperability Showcase, Feb. 25 at HIMSS 2014 in Orlando, Fla.

Viztek, a provider of digital software and hardware diagnostic imaging solutions, announced 45 percent year-over-year revenue growth from the 2011-2013 calendar years. The company experienced 20 percent growth in digital radiography (DR), and 15 percent growth in software. The PACS replacement market was particularly strong for the company, with 75 replacements in 2013. In the same year, Viztek also saw a significant jump in its customer base of hospitals with more than 200 beds.

Results of the 2013 HIMSS Security Survey show progress toward hardened security and use of analytics, but more work is needed to mitigate insider threat, such as inappropriate access of data by employees. Federal initiatives such as OCR audits, meaningful use (MU) and the HIPAA Omnibus Rule encourage healthcare organizations to increase the budgets and resources dedicated to securing patient health data. However, over the past year, 19 percent of respondents reported a security breach. Additionally, 12 percent of organizations have had at least one known case of medical identity theft reported by a patient.

The latest Soapware includes an order manager and continued progress toward 2014 meaningful use (MU). These features aim to deliver clinical value with maximum ease of use and also to meet MU 2014 requirements. Further features will be gradually added in future updates to continue to allow for a smooth transition and ample training time of MU 2014.

Philips partnered with SonoCiné Inc., a U.S. research, development and manufacturing company, to provide automated whole breast ultrasound (AWBUS) imaging for the Philips EPIQ and iU22 ultrasound systems.

The market for electronic health and medical records (EMRs) is set to experience rapid growth over the coming years, with EMR peer group value estimated to climb from approximately $10.6 billion in 2012 to $17 billion by 2017, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.8 percent, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.

Senates in Missouri (SB 639) and the state of Washington (SB 6050) have both advanced Breast Density Inform bills. The bills are now headed to their respective Houses of Representatives. Rhode Island has also introduced a Breast Density Inform bill (H7341).

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