Jonathan S. Batchelor[email protected]ISU.S. takes steps to ramp up HIT effortsThe past 30 years have seen a sweeping transformation in the way information is managed in nearly every sector of the American economy -- with the exception of healthcare. But the U.S. government, led by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is taking steps to change that with its continued commitment to developing a nationwide health information network, funding healthcare information technology (HIT) initiatives, establishing interoperability standards, and implementing regulatory reform.February 22, 2007Practice ManagementNew CMS rules put the brakes on IDTFsIn a sweeping bid to cut Medicare fraud, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new rules scheduled to go into effect February 26 that raise the bar for sites applying to be designated as an independent diagnostic testing facility (IDTF). The new compliance standards, issued late last month as a change request, could dramatically change how IDTFs conduct their operations.February 12, 2007MRIExternal anal sphincter defect findings nearly equivalent on MR, USEndoanal MRI and endoanal ultrasound demonstrate nearly equal capabilities for depicting external anal sphincter (EAS) defects in patients with fecal incontinence. A four-year, multicenter study from the Netherlands has found that both modalities are sensitive tools for preoperative assessment and both techniques can be used to depict surgically repairable anterior EAS defects.February 6, 2007Practice ManagementDRA's arrival forces imaging centers to adaptThe implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 has led outpatient imaging center administrators and business managers to deploy contingency plans that mitigate the effect of dramatic reimbursement cuts. These strategies suggest that striking changes will soon be felt throughout the U.S. market for diagnostic imaging.January 31, 2007Nuclear MedicineEBRT/brachytherapy prostate cancer combo shows long-term effectivenessThe pairing of external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) followed by brachytherapy has shown strong results in long-term relapse-free survival rates in prostate cancer patients, according to researchers of a new study. They found that low- and intermediate-risk patients experienced high disease-free survival rates with this treatment.January 24, 2007Nuclear MedicineNew tracer shows promise for PET/CT prostate imagingOne in six men in the U.S. will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to recent data. Unfortunately, conventional imaging techniques are limited for detecting, staging, and restaging this carcinoma. But a study by scientists at Emory University in Atlanta and researchers in Japan finds that a new radiotracer shows promse in evaluating and staging prostate cancer.January 17, 2007ISAuntMinnie.com Healthcare IT InsiderJanuary 14, 2007Molecular ImagingSPECT/CT enhances octreotide imagingIndium-111-labeled octreotide imaging has shown greater accuracy than CT or MRI scans in detecting somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors. But anatomic localization of these tumors solely based on octreotide scans is problematic, so these procedures are usually performed with CT or MRI. A recent study suggests that SPECT/CT in octreotide imaging can provide important diagnostic information to clinicians that is unavailable with planar whole-body scans.January 11, 2007Molecular ImagingAuntMinnie.com Molecular Imaging InsiderJanuary 7, 2007Practice ManagementRadiology practice valuation: You can't always get what you wantRadiology practice valuations are frequently contentious projects. The seller generally believes the determined value is too low, while the buyer often thinks it's too high. Although certain formulas exist for general business valuation, radiology practice and imaging center valuation requires that elements unique to the group and where it delivers care be considered.January 7, 2007Previous PagePage 3 of 82Next PageTop StoriesCTPET/CT identifies bone demineralization in breast cancer patientsPET/CT holds promise as an opportunistic osteoporosis screening tool in high-risk oncology subgroups.MRIIs MRI in patients with retained metal fragments dangerous?Womens ImagingAI shows promise as second reader in breast cancer screeningResidents/FellowsRad residents show interest in global health imaging, but face barriersAIInvestigators test ChatGPT-4 Turbo for radiology AI monitoring
