Since CD and DVD storage technology entered the medical imaging arena, they have provided a simple way to eliminate expensive film costs by archiving and distributing medical images among patients and physicians. What was previously just a market for simple archival and distribution seems to be transitioning into something more as many vendors are starting to offer image management solutions for static and dynamic images, adding accompanying educational supplemental materials on CD, DVD and even flash drives, to create a more complete, portable patient record.

Widespread health IT adoption in the United States is lagging, despite the promise of EMRs to reduce medical errors, improve quality of care, and overall cost of healthcare. While radiology is already reaping the rewards of speech recognition, many feel the technology holds the key for increased EMR utilization as well.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, collaborating with federal and state health agencies, has launched a new incentive program, specifically geared toward small- to mid-size physician practices, to drive the adoption of EHRs.

OASIS, an international open standards consortium, has formed a new group to standardize the way healthcare providers, hospitals, pharmacies and insurance companies exchange privacy policies, consent directives and authorizations within and between healthcare organizations.

Researchers in Beijing, China, have found a statistically significant increase in diagnostic accuracy when using Medipatterns B-CAD Version 2 on lesions less than 1 cm in size, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The gold-standard colonoscopy can occasionally miss lesions, especially on the proximal aspect of haustral folds and flexures or behind the ileocecal valve. The Third Eye Retroscope could provide a retrograde view that complements the forward view of a standard colonoscope, according to initial results from a study presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) conference in Orlando, Fla.

Barco has introduced a new version of its Voxar 3D advancedvisualization product that integrates into Fujifilms Synapse PACSplatform.

Daniel J. Sutherby, chief financial officer (CFO) of Abiomed, is resigning from his position.