enterprise imaging

I doubt any of us will forget 2016. Events, both tragic and bizarre, have owned the headlines and have provided more than a little water cooler fodder. As we close another year of activity within our own world of medical imaging, we too have had plenty to talk about. From acquisitions to rebranding; from new product releases to updated vendor platforms. There was nary a week that went by without something interesting hitting my feeds. Here are some important developments that I believe are making waves and setting the course for imaging, specifically enterprise imaging, as we move further into the second half of this second decade of the 21st century.
DR systems

With the New Year nearly upon us, the diagnostic imaging industry will finally begin to realize the effects of Section 502 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. For more than a year, the industry has been humming with talk of anticipated reduction of Medicare payments, expected to impact diagnostic imaging facilities still using analog and computed radiography (CR) technologies. As we are well aware, Section 502 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 provides that Medicare reimbursements will be reduced by 20 percent per year for providers submitting claims for analog X-ray studies beginning this year. From 2018 through 2022, payments for imaging tests performed on CR equipment will be reduced by 7 percent, with a 10 percent reduction beginning in 2023.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin enforcement of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, a piece of legislation that incentivizes healthcare providers to transition imaging departments to digital radiography (DR). 

ultrasound

The past decade has witnessed significant developments in ultrasound technologies, ranging from portable devices, wireless transducers to 3-D/4-D ultrasound imaging and artificial intelligence. Researchers and scientists are endeavoring on developing technologies that simplify diagnostic procedures, improve efficiency of clinicians and enhance image quality. These research and development activities focus on improving overall quality of patient care. In addition, manufacturers are placing an emphasis on implementing automation in premium-tier systems, portable devices and point-of-care (POC) solutions. The prime focus of vendors will be on offering cost-effective devices with growing innovation and competition in the global industry. 
CT, computed tomography

As hospitals begin replacing their first-generation 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanners after a decade of use, there are several considerations evaluation teams should think about when looking at the newer-generation scanners. Chief among these is the idea that more slices makes for a better scanner — which CT experts say is not necessarily the case, and there are costs versus benefits to consider when looking at high-slice systems.
Dose monitoring
cloud-based dose tracking

For all the benefits of medical imaging, most forms come with the inherent danger of radiation exposure. Public radiation exposure has increased significantly overall in the last 30 years, and according to a 2006 report from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), medical imaging accounted for nearly half (48 percent) of all public exposure that year. Several high-profile cases of excessive radiation exposure due to medical imaging have brought the discussion into the public eye, which in turn has spurred greater focus on radiation safety among healthcare facilities and their various regulatory bodies.

The theme for this year’s Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 102nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Assembly is “Beyond Imaging.”  This year’s conference invites radiologists to explore new ways to collaborate and envision their field beyond just imaging. The meeting will take place Nov. 27-Dec. 2, 2016, at McCormick Place in Chicago.  

radiotherapy

The Mayo Clinic defines radiation therapy as a type of cancer treatment that uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells, mostly getting its power from X-rays, but the power can also come from protons or other types of energy. Most often, it is in the form of external beam radiation therapy. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, more than half of all people with cancer receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment, making it one of the most common treatments for cancer.

In an effort to improve patient care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Information Services team is using data and advanced analytics to screen patients for venous thromboembolism (VTE). This innovative technology is being honored by Drexel University and CIO.com in their inaugural Analytics 50 award ceremony, which will be held on Nov. 9, 2016 at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business.

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