Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a crucial component of healthcare to help augment physicians and make them more efficient. In medical imaging, it is helping radiologists more efficiently manage PACS worklists, enable structured reporting, auto detect injuries and diseases, and to pull in relevant prior exams and patient data. In cardiology, AI is helping automate tasks and measurements on imaging and in reporting systems, guides novice echo users to improve imaging and accuracy, and can risk stratify patients. AI includes deep learning algorithms, machine learning, computer-aided detection (CAD) systems, and convolutional neural networks. 

Executive news: CoActiv Medical

Richard Glenn was named southwest regional sales manager for CoActiv Medical.

Executive announcements: Breakaway Group names board members

Healthcare technology consulting firm The Breakaway Group has appointed five members to its advisory board.

Executive announcements: Spentel, TechniScan, Tyco Healthcare, U.S. Preventive Medicine

Medical transcription application service provider Spantel appointed Dale Kivi as vice president of business development.

Help wanted: Interoperability and the OR of the future

Health IT can be deployed to improve patient safety in acute careenvironments — the key is interoperability among thedisparate modern and legacy systems that crowd the OR, said Julian Goldman, MD, director, CIMIT (Center for Integration of Medicineand Innovative Technology) at Massachusetts General Hospital, speakingrecently at the HIMSS07 in New Orleans.

Executive announcements: Spring Medical Systems names new VP of sales

Spring Medical Systems, a leading provider of software solutions forphysicians, has named Sheryl Miller as vice president of sales andbusiness development.

Kennedy reintroduces PHR incentive bill

As expected, U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) recentlyintroduced a new version of legislation called “The Personalized HealthInformation Act.”

Executive Announcements: Cassling, MinXray

Cassling Diagnostic Imaging made several organizational changes to help meet projected growth and expand its leadership team.

Partnerships: CDW & Barco, Hitachi & Fuji

CDW Healthcare has signed an agreement with Barco to build anddistribute integrated medical imaging solutions based upon Barcomedical displays, Barco advanced visualization software solutions andworkstations from HP and IBM.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.