Making a large initial investment in a storage archive solution is usually not a priority for facilities strapped for capital budgets. Still, there is increased pull for general digital imaging and archiving solutions because data storage has become business critical.

Return on investment (ROI) is an important consideration for any capital equipment purchase, and that includes information technology (IT). All too often, healthcare facilities view IT investments such as PACS with one eye open – decision-makers examine the costs savings, but don’t take into account the impact of new business opportunities.

More so than in previous years at RSNA, has the imaging informatics arena been less dominated by PACS, and more by new advanced visualization and analytics solutions such as 3D/4D imaging, CAD and multimodality image fusion.

April 10, 2008 – Siemens created the Asset Management and Tracking (AMT) tool that provides information on the location of medical devices via a Web portal or pocket PC in order to help hospitals provide better patient care, reduce costs, improve workflow and remain compliant.

April 9, 2008 - Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY) recently introduced the (HR 5711) Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2008 into the U.S. House of Representatives to create a reimbursement floor for mammography services in 2009 equal to 115 percent of that paid for the services in 2008.

The reimbursement would be subject to geographic area adjustment in the same manner as for other physicians' services covered under the same Medicare fee schedule section.

April 10, 2008 - Breast Ultrasound Computer Aided Detection (CAD) developer and manufacturer, Medipattern and OEM partner SonoCiné successfully demonstrated automated whole breast ultrasound in breast screening applications in China.

In direct comparison between a doctor performing breast scans via traditional 2D frozen frame imaging and automated whole breast ultrasound, the whole breast method found more pathology, said the company.

April 10, 2008 - SenoRx Inc. gained CE Mark approval to apply its SenoSonix with EnCor, an integration of its EnCor breast biopsy system with an Ultrasonix ultrasound imaging system; the two companies received 510(k) clearance in the U.S for the SenoSonix system in October 2007.

The vacuum-assisted EnCor breast biopsy system is integrated with an ultrasound system developed and sold by Ultrasonix Medical Corp. of Canada. The fully programmable, automated, multimodality, modular system offers both open and closed tissue collection.

April 10, 2008 – Three imaging centers selected NovaRad’s NovaPACS and NovaRIS solutions in hopes of enhancing patient service and streamlining image reading and reporting.

Delta Imaging LLC in Slidell, LA, purchased NovaPACS and NovaRIS, while North Dover Open MRI in Lakewood, NJ and Sinai Diagnostic Imaging in Brooklyn, NY, both purchased NovaPACS.

April 10, 2008 - The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology received a record number of abstract submissions for its annual meeting, Sept 21-25, 2008, totaling 2,036, about 400 more than 2007.

Submissions for all three categories grew, rising from 1,205 to 1,301, biology abstracts increased from 156 to 178 and physics abstracts increased from 312 to 556. Overseas submissions also increased from 187 European submissions to 240 this year. Asia submissions marked 312 this year, compared to 240 in 2007.

April 10, 2008 - The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre in Kaduna State, Nigeria, selected Viztek’s Onyx Acquire digital image management solution to work with its new MinXRay portable X-ray units, marking the first time in 30 years the center has had access to X-ray technology.

The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre is affiliated with the American-based program, President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) whose main focus is to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, as well as combat tuberculosis and leprosy.

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