The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have requested a combined $2.8 billion for health IT projects in the 2011 federal budget. The Department of Defense (DoD) is asking for $1.5 billion while the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is asking for $1.3 billion.

Imris has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NeuroArm Surgical Limited, a privately held company based in Calgary, Alberta, and its MR-compatible neurosurgical robot.

Did the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) make a mistake last year when it decided it would not reimburse for CT colonography (CTC)?

Medical transcription company MedQuist has entered into a stalking horse purchase agreement with clinical documentation company Spheris for its domestic business. The agreement must be approved by the courts, as the Franklin, Tenn.-based Spheris recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Siemens Healthcare and Microsoft have entered into a licensing contract to introduce Microsoft HealthVault in Germany.

Health IT companies Picis and iSoft have entered into a strategic alliance whereby iSoft will distribute, implement and provide international support for selected software from Picis high-acuity CareSuite.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking contractors to fully develop and execute a project to create a usability framework for health IT systems. The framework includes development, refinement and harmonization of HIT usability standards and certification process.

While the technology behind cardiac advanced visualization (AV) can create some amazing images, it provides much more than just a wow factor. Radiologists and cardiologists rely on it to help them increase productivity and workflow and reduce costs, diagnose more quickly and accurately, and better communicate results with referring physicians and their patients.