While providers assume patients want shorter wait times and comfortable surroundings, patients were actually more concerned with feelings of support from their care team and developing an inter-personal relationship with providers, according to a recent survey published online Dec. 20 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

State legislation has played a role in boosting overall healthcare utilization rates in children with concussions, though the laws have done little to change CT scan rates specifically, according to a study published online Dec. 22 in JAMA Pediatrics.

The U.S. market for contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals will grow slightly through 2023, according to healthcare industry analysts with Decision Resources Group.

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A. Inc. (FDBU), a FUJIFILM Corporation subsidiary, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC, marking an important new chapter in the emergence of the Texas biosciences industry as a center for world-class development and manufacturing of life-saving biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology while providing FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies with expanded capacity for its growing vaccine capabilities. The completion of the previously announced Purchase Interest Agreement of Kalon Biotherapeutics, LLC, was made with the owners of Kalon: the State of Texas, acting by and through the Office of the Governor, and The Texas A&M University System. The announcement was made jointly today by Governor Rick Perry; officials of FUJIFILM Corporation, FDBU and Mitsubishi Corporation; Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC; and the Texas A&M System. Going forward, the company is now known as FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, LLC.

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) and Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ:VOLC), a global leader in catheter-based imaging and measurement solutions for cardiovascular applications, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, Philips will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Volcano for USD 18.00 per share, or a total equity purchase price of USD 1 billion (approx. EUR 800 million), to be paid in cash upon completion. The board of directors of Volcano has unanimously approved the transaction and recommends the offer to its shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015.

Millions of imaging tests are performed in the United States each year.  Although most of these exams are interpreted by a radiologist, patients usually receive their results from the ordering physician.  In many cases, the radiologist, as the imaging expert, is actually the physician best equipped to explain imaging findings. Lightbulb Radiology bridges this gap between the radiologist and the patient.

InnoLife, a consortium of 144 European companies, research institutes and universities, has been selected by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as the Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) for EIT Health. With a total volume of EUR 2.1 billion it is one of the largest public funded initiatives for health worldwide.

Increasing meaningful, one-to-one interactions at the local level can help radiologists continue to have positive influence on the providers who order imaging exams, according to an article published in the December edition of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.