Standardization, clinical decision support, integration and structuredreporting all are part of speech recognition’s path to the future, withmany vendors well on their way to offering these advances in the nearfuture. Some are already on the market.

It takes a lot of work to successfully implement an electronic medicalrecord system. Those who’ve done it say you cannot underestimate theplanning and preparation required, from workflow to training tomotivating everyone involved.

In the drive towards increased efficiencies, either implementing or upgrading automated physician reporting systems is a major goal for many imaging facilities. From computerized provider order entry (CPOE) to cardiovascular information systems practices and clinical departments are bringing new technology online designed to automate as much as possible of the physician reporting process. But to make it work, you’ve got to get your physicians on board.

After more than five years on the market, 3D options continue to evolveto better meet the diverse needs of radiologists, cardiologists and avariety of specialists.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina inCharleston, S.C., developed a dual-source CT scanner technique thatenables comprehensive diagnosis of heart disease based on a single CTscan, according a report in the March 4 issue of Circulation.

The Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology plans to integrate the Nationwide Health Information Network with the healthcare databases that Google and Microsoft launchedlast year, on which individuals can store their health records,according to the Health and Human Services Department.

Governor David A. Paterson has awarded $105 million in grants to 19community-based health IT projects, to help guide medical decisions andsupport the delivery of more coordinated, patient-centered care.

Visage Imaging, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercury Computer Systems,will reveal the latest innovations to its Visage Thin Client solutionsportfolio, and demonstrate performance levels and scalability forintegrated 2D, 3D, and 4D advanced visualization, at the Society ofComputed Body Tomography & Magnetic Resonance (SCBT-MR) 31st annualcourse, held this week in Charleston, S.C.