The Diagnostic Imaging facility management focus page provides information, videos, podcasts, and the latest news about workflow optimization, artificial intelligence, technology, radiology-radiologic technologist relationships, productivity, legislation, and reimbursement.
April 16th 2024
A new study shows that GPT-4 may offer comparable error detection rates to those of attendings and radiology residents in reviewing radiology reports, but researchers noted key caveats as well.
ACR site accreditation for MRI should be out by year's end
March 16th 1994Public pressure mounts to control modalityAn MRI site accreditation program under development by the AmericanCollege of Radiology could be in place as early as the end ofthis year, according to Dr. William G. Bradley Jr., chairman ofthe ACR's
China's huge potential dominates Asia prospects
February 16th 1994Contemplating an underequipped national health-care network of62,000 hospitals and 200,000 clinics is sure to whet the appetitesof most medical imaging marketers. Toss in a roaring economy growingat double-digit annual rates and people get excited about
Health Images cultivates existing center activity
February 16th 1994Imaging center firm Health Images of Atlanta has combined a nationalmanaged-care orientation with local, individualized center plansin an effort to boost income, according to W.A. Wilson, presidentand CEO. HI will hold off expansion of its large center
Interface firm builds OEM business
February 2nd 1994Signal Stream Technologies of Novato, CA, finalized its firstOEM supply contract with GE Medical Systems last month, providingadditional momentum to an already rapid business launch. The medicalimaging interface and image management company was started
Positron goes public with $16 million IPO
February 2nd 1994For the past year proponents of PET have been facing the unsettlingprospect of a reformed health-care system without room for mega-tickettechnologies like PET. PET developer Positron, however, has notlet uncertainty over PET's prospects interfere with
Mobile market problems avoided in modular arena
February 2nd 1994The recession in mobile imaging services last year created a trickle-downeffect for suppliers of component equipment, particularly mobilevans, according to one supplier. Lower MRI reimbursement rates made it harder for hospitalsto justify mobile
Hologic seeks product partnerships
December 29th 1993U.S. reimbursement prospects for bone densitometry are improving,with a growing list of state Medicare and Medicaid payors supportingthe procedure, according to David Ellenbogen, president of densitometervendor Hologic of Waltham MA. But the worldwide
Agfa builds new U.S. strategy focused on regional managed care
December 29th 1993Agfa has launched a major effort to provide digital and film imagingtechnology to U.S. hospitals operating in a restructured and capitatedhealth-care environment. The Ridgefield Park, NJ, vendor willhave a regionally based, six-zone sales and service
Mammography initiatives shape market prospects
December 15th 1993Regulatory turbulence unsettled the mammography profession andindustry this month. The experience may provide a lesson for forecastersof health-care reform: Political winds are often unpredictableand usually intense. Federal agencies made two major
Reform will speed shift to freestanding centers
November 17th 1993As U.S. health-care reform builds pressure for cost-effectiveand efficient provision of medical services, surgery will followmedical imaging into the outpatient, ambulatory center environment.Although capital will continue to flow into imaging center
Imaging sales sag in Europe, but vendors expect an upturn
November 3rd 1993Sales of medical imaging systems in Europe will finish the yeareither flat or down slightly from 1992 on account of general economicsluggishness and the desire of government authorities to restraingrowing health-care budgets. Signs are, however, that the
Strategic differences abort center merger effort
November 3rd 1993Consolidation continues to elude the U.S. imaging center industry.Merger discussions between NMR of America and Medical Resourcesfell through last week. The two center firms had signed a letterof intent to merge earlier in October (SCAN 10/6/93).
Magnevist wins approval for whole-body usage
October 20th 1993The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of MRI contrastagent Magnevist for whole-body applications, making the productthe first agent to be cleared for use outside the central nervoussystem. The FDA's action will improve Magnevist's
Lunar creates direct German base
October 6th 1993U.S. bone densitometry firm Lunar established a German subsidiaryin July to boost sales and improve service in the vendor's largestEuropean national market. While densitometry reimbursement hasdropped dramatically in Germany over the last several years,
NMR, Medical Resources combination heralds long-awaited consolidation
October 6th 1993Do you hear the sound of the other shoe dropping? Consolidationin the imaging center industry has long been anticipated. Theprocess may be on a roll now following passage of the federalMedicare/Medicaid ban on referring-physician ownership of
Cytogen restructures to focus on peptide agents
October 6th 1993Sluggish sales of its flagship monoclonal antibody nuclear imagingagent have prompted Cytogen to restructure operations with anemphasis on development of peptide-based agents. While the Princeton,NJ, company will continue to aggressively market its
Lunar enters niche MRI with Esaote agreement
October 6th 1993Any vendor--particularly a small one--hoping to break into theMRI market during these depressed times needs to find a more cost-effectiveMR mousetrap and a secure niche in which to sell it. Bone densitometrysupplier Lunar will use a North American MRI
Clinton plan remains mum on high technology
October 6th 1993When President Clinton unveiled his plan for reforming the nation'shealth-care system last month, he put an end to almost a yearof anticipation. For medical imaging companies, however, the formalrelease of Clinton's American Health Security Act of 1993
Picker builds in Europe with new relationships
September 16th 1993Picker International expanded its CT therapy simulation agreementwith Varian Associates last week to focus the joint marketingeffort worldwide, according to Christopher J. Peabody, Pickersenior vice president of international operations. This
Fischer reaches for ISO imprimatur
September 16th 1993Fischer Imaging is on the verge of being certified to the ISO9000 standard, a quality standard that began in Europe but israpidly gaining worldwide recognition as an indicator of quality. The Denver-based company passed inspection by a European
Extending capital proves service key
September 8th 1993Health-care angst and stalled purchasing don't make the best conditionsfor starting a medical imaging business. Depending on your focus,however, times could be worse. As hospitals keep their imagingsystems running longer, they need help in the areas of
Florida imaging providers zero in on managed care
September 8th 1993Recent developments in the Florida imaging center market couldprovide a blueprint for imaging companies seeking ways to prosperin the face of managed care. While Florida imaging services providersare taking different tacks, all are trying to profit from
Lorad's parent aids digital effort
September 8th 1993A technological jump-start from its parent company has aided Lorad'squest to develop a digital mammography system capable of full-viewbreast imaging. Lorad plans to show images from a prototype systemat this year's Radiological Society of North America
Stark law sets high hurdle for imaging services restructuring
August 25th 1993Self-referring physicians surrendered to the inevitable this monthafter Congress passed legislation outlawing self-referral forimaging services within the Medicare and Medicaid systems. Thelegislation is sure to throw the imaging center industry
HCFA may cut payments for multiple echo exams
August 25th 1993Medicare administrators are considering a cut in reimbursementfor multiple echocardiography modes performed in a single session.The proposal, which has encountered opposition from two cardiologyspecialty societies, could be a first step in reducing
MRI utility may expand in interventional arena
August 25th 1993Cheaper MRI isn't the only answer to growing health-care costpressures. While there is little doubt that MR system prices willstay level or drop as reimbursement is trimmed in the U.S., equipmentdemand may be strengthened by redefining the modality or
GE structure tackles global changes in regional demand and cost trends
August 11th 1993The world of medical imaging is changing fast. Competition amongimaging system vendors is hot. Price pressures are high and mounting.To stay viable, scanner suppliers must learn to react faster andoperate more efficiently. They must pick technical
Japanese study touts low-cost MRI
August 11th 1993Is there life for MRI after health-care reform? A recent studyof MRI diffusion in Japan suggests that the answer is yes--butat a price. MRI has frequently played the role of villain in the ongoingdrama of rising health-care costs in the U.S. The
RMI networks to secure managed-care contracts
August 11th 1993Tough times in the imaging center industry demand innovative solutions.While managed care has been portrayed as imaging's b¬etenoire, it presents an opportunity to increase patient referralsfor those willing to adapt, according to Swapan Sen, vice