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. 

iCAD appoints new CFO

Computer-aided detection developer iCAD announced that Darlene M.Deptula-Hicks has been executive vice president of finance and CFO.Deptula-Hicks has more than 25 years experience in financial managementpositions in the medical device and high-tech sectors.

Nurses: health IT improves care

A new study indicates that nurses believe health IT has strongpotential to improve patient care but cite significant challenges torealizing its full potential. The Nurses Talk Tech — coordinated byhealthcare technology and services company CDW Healthcare — evaluatedthe responses of more than 550 nurses in the United States.

Lawmakers address health-IT bill differences

One roadblock to the passage of recent health IT legislation is the general backupof bills currently awaiting a vote, but the other hurdle is conflictsbetween the bills themselves. Some health-IT experts have advocated forthe bills to be combined to raise the chances of passage this year.

State lawmakers to investigate their role in health IT

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has launched an18-month-long project to examine state governments’ role in health ITand how legislatures can advance the adoption of e-health records.

Teleradiology: Images from Here to There...Now

Large or small facility, day or night, the benefits of teleradiology are the same all around: timely access to good radiology care.

Handheld Devices Get a Grip on Healthcare

The tide is turning for handheld devices—as they become morefunctional, rugged and have longer battery life, they have become idealfor a multitude of tasks found in the healthcare arena. From betterrecordkeeping to quicker, more accurate treatment, clinicians have puthandhelds to the test with excellent results.

Editor's Note: Getting Connected

The industry has to formulate and gain consensus on commoninteroperability standards so healthcare can seamlessly, effectivelycommunicate.

Inside the Top 25 Connected Healthcare Facilities

It’s that time — we present our annual selection of the mostconnected healthcare facilities. Since health IT and interconnectivityare booming, this year we’ve upped the list from 10 organizations to25. The winners include large IDNs, community hospitals, academicmedical centers, an imaging center and an orthopedic center.

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.