With the rapid growth of medical information systems, picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) technology has become ever more central to the daily lives of radiologists allowing instant access to images within the same institution or remotely from other sources. This is your central resource for online information about advances in radiology informatics, from new vendors and systems to changes in regulatory standards.
Radiologists who use imaging-related electronic record-keeping could qualify for some of the $19 billion in economic recovery money set aside for electronic health record conversion if they meet the federal government’s definition of “meaningful use” for their records. More »
Despite a dismal start to 2009, most U.S. hospital radiology administrators expect restrictions against capital acquisitions to ease, giving them a chance to address their most pressing needs and acquire diagnostic imaging equipment later this year. More »
Health officials in the U.K. have added an extra hurdle for patients who wish not to be part of a large-scale electronic medical records program, requiring them to appear in person to explain why they want to opt out of the system. More »
The Obama administration has sent to Congress a budget that relies on radiology benefit managers to cut imaging utilization costs, mirroring a recommendation issued last summer by the Government Accountability Office. Just like that recommendation did, the budget proposal drew criticism from imaging... More »
The $1.1 billion in the economic stimulus plan committed to comparative effectiveness research may be good for weighing the relative merits of medical technologies, but it could slow their adoption and lead to European-style rationing, according to Obama administration critics. More »
At a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday, Republican senators questioned whether hefty expenditures for healthcare informatics in the Obama administration’s $825 billion stimulus package will actually help jumpstart the economy. More »
A five-year hospital audit showed PACS use leads to sustained improvements in productivity and reporting times, according to a recent U.K. study. More »
Gains attributed directly to healthcare IT are difficult to quantify. A large U.K. study that recently attempted to assess the impact of PACS and computerized physician order entry on clinical and operational efficiencies within the National Health System found each component associated with both... More »
Finding an acceptable way to facilitate distance learning can be a challenge, especially for multicenter residency programs. These programs require residents to rotate through offsite locations, meaning they are frequently unavailable to attend conferences held at the central site. More »
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act safeguards patient personal health information, but it also tends to complicate medical research by inhibiting access to medical records necessary to develop public health measures. More »
