Open source software has the potential to dramatically change and improve the way health IT is developed and pave the way to easier interoperability, benefiting patients and caregivers, according to a report recently released by the California Health Care Foundation.

Barco showcased its newest cost-effective PACS display system last month at HIMSS 2006 in San Diego, the Nio Color 2MP.

Privacy and security regulations and the maturity of available products are propelling the rapid growth of single sign-on software.

Although clinical information systems aren’t the main focus of HIMSS, the systems did manage to grab some of the spotlight. PACS – and a more intelligent flavor that adds patient information management to image management – for the ‘ologies’ was the buzz among vendors and presenters (see/link PACS More Than Just One Use). New and upcoming offerings will transcend radiology and even cardiology.

ONI Medical Systems Inc., a developer a high-field, 1.0T extremity MRI system, has named Peter Pellerito as president and CEO.

Health information exchange provider Hx Technologies has named David Kates as chief operating officer.

Radlink, Inc. has elected A. Redmond “Rusty” Doms, Jr. to its board of directors. Doms joins Thomas Hacking, chairman and chief executive officer, Richard Gerlach, president and chief scientist, Joe Davis and Dr. Ralph Hutchings on the board.