Diagnostic Imaging's Blog

Medical imaging for managed care plan doubles in 10 years

November 12, 2008 Medical imaging for managed care plan doubles in 10 years By James Brice A Seattle nonprofit managed care plan has experienced the same rapid growth in high-tech medical imaging utilization as federal health insurance programs. The 377,000-member Group Health Cooperative's per-beneficiary use of high-tech imaging more than doubled from 1997 to 2006, according to researchers from GHC's Center for Health Studies and the University of California, San Francisco. Their findings… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 12, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Organizers expand scope of Image Gently radiation reduction program

November 11, 2008 Organizers expand scope of Image Gently radiation reduction program By H.A. Abella The Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging is expanding the scope of its Image Gently awareness efforts. The move to protect patients from unnecessary exposure to imaging-related ionizing radiation includes the participation of CareCore National, a radiology benefits management company that will apply its guidelines to a member network of 28 million people. The Bluffton, SC, company… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 11, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments

MedCast provides residents better distance learning solution

November 11, 2008 MedCast provides residents better distance learning solution By Douglas Page Finding an acceptable way to facilitate distance learning can be a challenge, especially for multicenter residency programs. These programs require residents to rotate through offsite locations, meaning they are frequently unavailable to attend conferences held at the central site. Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have devised a remedy in the form of MedCast, a computer system… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 11, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Two-second CT scan turns into 65-minute ordeal for toddler

November 10, 2008 Two-second CT scan turns into 65-minute ordeal for toddler By Donna Domino Parents of a two-year-old boy are suing a California hospital after their son allegedly was subjected to more than 65 minutes of intermittent scanning in a CT machine, leaving him with radiation burns on his face and head. Jacoby Roth was taken to the 78-bed Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata, a small town 290 miles north of San Francisco, on Jan. 23. His parents, Carrie and Padre, took him to the… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 10, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Medical de-identification system addresses health records privacy issues

November 7, 2008 Medical de-identification system addresses health records privacy issues By Douglas Page The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act safeguards patient personal health information, but it also tends to complicate medical research by inhibiting access to medical records necessary to develop public health measures. A medical de-identification tool announced in September by researchers at the Regenstrief Institute at the University of Indiana offers a way around this… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 7, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments

The slippery slope of off-label promotion

November 6, 2008 The slippery slope of off-label promotion -- By Greg Freiherr When it comes to drugs, there is a huge gulf between off-label prescription and off-label promotion. One is legal, the other is not. For the most part, medical imaging doesn't get involved in either, although there are exceptions. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography is one. The first MR contrast agents were approved two decades ago, specifically to enhance cancer tumors of the central nervous system. Since then, their… Continue

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Radiology finds reassurance on sunny side of change

November 6, 2008 Radiology finds reassurance on sunny side of change By James Brice Radiology has already had more than its share of uncertainty in recent months. Markets for new projects have evaporated as reimbursement rates have been cut, the growth of imaging services revenue has slowed, financial capital is scarce, and potential investors have lost confidence in the economic engine of medical imaging technology. Obama’s election and the prospect of healthcare reform can help break through… Continue

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Brain blood flow plays role in fibromyalgia symptoms

November 6, 2008 Brain blood flow plays role in fibromyalgia symptoms By Rebekah Moan In a potential breakthrough study, French researchers used SPECT to identify brain abnormalities that present physiological evidence of fibromyalgia. The results quash the idea that diffuse, sometimes debilitating pain from the condition stems from anxiety and depression. Fibromyalgia afflicts between three million and six million people in U.S., according to the National Institute of Arthritis and… Continue

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Ultrasound foretells stroke risk based on carotid plaque morphology

November 4, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Ultrasound foretells stroke risk based on carotid plaque morphology By H.A. Abella Results from a large study by Italian investigators suggest that ultrasound can predict the risk of stroke in mostly asymptomatic patients based on the assessment of carotid artery plaque morphology, not just stenosis degree. Sonographic surveillance of plaque evolution could boost stroke prevention. Researchers have previously defined the role of vascular risk factors, such… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 4, 2008 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Teleradiology interpretations may differ from final reads

November 4, 2008 Teleradiology interpretations may differ from final reads By Douglas Page Major discrepancies in interpretations by teleradiologists and in-house radiologists occur in approximately 6% of commonly ordered CT scans, according to a new paper. The University of California, San Francisco-Fresno study identified eight major discrepancies due to teleradiology misinterpretation in 550 cases originating in an academic Level 1 trauma center (J Emerg Med 2008 Sep 22.[Epub ahead of… Continue

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Reverse-auction process for teleradiology creates a stir

November 4, 2008 Reverse-auction process for teleradiology creates a stir By Rebekah Moan A new eBay-like model for radiologists in which the lowest bid wins a contract has alarmed some people. They cite patient safety and quality as concerns, while others claim this move is the next step for radiology. Neuroradiologist Dr. Daniel Roubein launched Telerays in October. Hospitals and imaging centers post their requests for reads on the HIPAA-compliant website of the Houston-based business, and… Continue

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Multicenter trial confirms value of coronary CT angio

November 2, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Multicenter trial confirms value of coronary CT angio Negative predictive rate of 99% rules out disease in patients at intermediate risk of adverse event A 16-center clinical trial has put to rest lingering questions about the ability of 64-slice cardiac CT angiography to diagnose coronary artery disease for intermediate-risk patients. The ACCURACY Trial confirmed the positive findings of numerous single-center trials that preceded it, said… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 2, 2008 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Thin-client architecture taps 3D viewing for enterprise

November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Thin-client architecture taps 3D viewing for enterprise BY DOUGLAS PAGE Mr. Page is a contributing editor to Diagnostic Imaging. In a foundering national economy, it isn't surprising that capital budget constraint has become a huge issue in medical imaging. From this financial pinch, two subtrends have emerged in the area of 3D advanced visualization. First is the demand for thin-client servers that allow distribution of advanced visualization… Continue