July 26, 2007 - Konica Minolta Medical Imaging recently announced that it has been awarded a three-year contract for computed radiography, laser imaging and medical imaging films with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems.

Specifically, the Konica Minolta Computed Radiography contract includes the new Nano CR single bay CR system, the Xpress CR System, the REGIUS 370 Upright Digital Radiography System, along with the first self-learning CR systems: IQue CR and IQue SE.

July 26, 2007 – Oregon insurance payor ODS Companies recently rescinded a statement made in June notifying healthcare providers in its network that it would no longer cover CAD due to negative results for the technology in a recent paper published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

News of the reimbursement cut created much concern throughout the imaging industry. CAD proponents worried that the move by ODS would encourage other third-party payors to join in the cut.

July 26, 2007 – NightHawk Radiology Holdings Inc. announced its revenue grew 66 percent to $37.9 million for the second quarter of 2007, ended June 30, 2007, from $22.9 million in the second quarter of 2006. The increase in adjusted net income was affected largely by redundant SG&A expenses, higher physician compensation levels, and interest on a debt facility – all associated with its recent acquisitions of Radlinx, TDS and Midwest Physician Services.

Siemens highlighted its MVision, a leading-edge IGRT system that is said to deliver outstanding image quality for accurate patient position verification and adjustment.

Designed to work with Siemens’ linear accelerators, MVision is the first commercial implementation of cone beam technology utilizing a standard radiotherapy treatment beam. MVision makes it possible for the megavoltage (MV) source used for treatment to also create a 3-D image of the patient, enabling clinicians to see inside the patient at the most appropriate moment.

Xoft announced that the first breast cancer patients have been treated using the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System. Designed to help reduce recurrence of breast cancer, the new therapy for early stage breast cancer uses a miniaturized X-ray source that can deliver localized, targeted radiation treatment in virtually any clinical setting under the supervision of a radiation oncologist.

Varian showcased at AAPM 2007 a new "smart" radiotherapy treatment planning tool that will reportedly enable clinicians to significantly reduce the amount of time needed to create sophisticated treatment plans for advanced treatments like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT).

July 25, 2007 — Patients admitted to Milton Hospital and New England Sinai Hospital and Rehabilitation Center should take a closer look at the bracelet wrapped around their wrist.

No longer just pieces of plastic with a barely legible name on them, bracelets at the two hospitals now have an electronic bar code that could prevent a life-threatening drug reaction. The two facilities are the first private hospitals on the South Shore to use a bar code and scanning system to prevent common medication errors and patient mix-ups.

July 25, 2007 - Outpatient Care Technology promotes its annual “Outpatient Excellence Award” for imaging centers, recognizing and honoring worthy facilities for their clinical, financial and operational accomplishments and achievements. But we need your help. Please nominate as many worthy imaging centers as you’d like by clicking on the red button in the left-hand column of the front page of OPCT Online (www.opctonline.net).

July 25, 2007 - The Cedara I-Response application from Cedara Software is designed to help evaluate, assess and monitor the effect of cancer therapy over time using data from multiple modalities. Not only does it provide tools for the standard anatomical measurements used for tumor assessment in cancer management and research, Cedara I-Response can also reportedly analyze both PET/CT and MR-based diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

July 25, 2007 - Outpatient Care Technology wants to recognize and highlight cancer treatment centers that creatively and effectively use intensity modulated and image guided radiation therapy (IMRT and IGRT) technology to deliver high-quality patient care. But we need you to tell us who these influential market leaders are. Please nominate as many worthy IMRT/IGRT cancer treatment centers as you’d like by clicking on the green button in the left-hand column of the front page of OPCT Online (www.opctonline.net).

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