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.
Medical Resources IPO will back center buys
November 4th 1992Imaging center firm Medical Resources (MRI) has paid down itsdebt from a leveraged buyout two years ago, raised $6 millionin new capital through an initial public stock offering and isready to start buying centers, according to chairman Ernest J.DeSalvo.
ATL gain swims against slow ultrasound market
November 4th 1992ATL found itself swimming strongly against an ebbing tide in theultrasound market this quarter. The Bothell, WA-based dedicatedultrasound vendor reported third-quarter increases in revenueand income while the financial results of competitors
Shortage of FDG raw material threatens expanded use of PET
October 21st 1992Clinical development of positron emission tomography could behampered by an ongoing shortage of oxygen-18, the raw materialfor a widely used PET tracer. The shortage is forcing PET researchersto ration isotope supplies and cut back on studies just as
Intravascular firms dance a do-si-do
October 7th 1992Shifting alliances in intravascular ultrasound compose a dancechoreographed by companies with an eye on a market that just mightbe something--someday. Catheter firm Boston Scientific partedwith ultrasound vendor Diasonics in July to jump on the back
Aetna gives PET payment go-ahead
October 7th 1992Aetna Health Plans has joined the growing list of private insurancecompanies that have authorized reimbursement of positron emissiontomography scans. Aetna began covering PET scans early this year after the company'stechnology review board last winter
Efficiency requirements bring centers together
October 7th 1992An engine is driving the U.S. imaging center industry slowly butsurely toward consolidation of independents into regional andnationwide chains. While the octane in the fuel that feeds thisengine is regulatory restriction of referring physician
Medi-Cal cuts 9.5% from radiology fees
October 7th 1992California's state legislature resolved its budget stalemate lastmonth, but not before cutting 9.5% in Medi-Cal payments to radiologists,anesthesiologists and surgeons. The last-minute addition to thestate's budget bill is expected to save about $7
Metriflow pioneers trend to market niche MR
September 3rd 1992Niche MR may be an emerging market, but it is not a totally newfocus of corporate attention. Metriflow Medical Systems of Milwaukeeobtained Food and Drug Administration approval of its AFM-100blood flow scanner five years ago. The firm is just now
Rx Medical plans imaging expansion
August 26th 1992Rx Medical Services will leverage its experience in clinical laboratoriesinto a position in medical imaging. The company, based in NewportBeach, CA, last month made the first of what it hopes will bemany imaging center acquisitions with the purchase of
Former Toshiba GM spreads his wings
August 26th 1992Seven years of turmoil in the picture archiving and communicationsystems market has led to greater emphasis on productivity andcost-effective equipment. But radiology departments often assumethat adding new technology in PACS will automatically
Cytocare overcomes class action suit
August 12th 1992Cytocare squelched a class action suit in May that had been promptedby the firm's declining fortunes in the lithotripsy market anda corresponding drop in stock price. A Santa Ana, CA, federaldistrict judge granted the firm's summary motion to dismiss
Venture capital clash scuttles AMIC plans
August 12th 1992Venture capital firms provide essential funds to keep start-upcompanies afloat before they are ready to tap more advanced formsof financing. But the price for venture support is diminishedmanagerial autonomy. When entrepreneurs and investors don't seeeye
Center acquisitions putter along
August 12th 1992New imaging center acquisitions are running at a subdued pace,according to Terrance Gill, president of Medical Ventures in SolanaBeach, CA. Parent company of the nonprofit Cooperative MRI organization,Medical Ventures lined up private capital to back a
Resonex forms venture in orthopedic centers
August 12th 1992Independent MRI vendor Resonex will use its 50% position in anAtlanta imaging center company as a vehicle to build sales inthe growing orthopedic imaging niche, according to Gerald D. Knudson,president and CEO. Resonex of Sunnyvale, CA, helped form
Blue Cross/Blue Shield opts to reimburse for PET scans in brain tumors and epilepsy
August 12th 1992The nation's largest private insurer has endorsed reimbursementof positron emission tomography (PET) scans in brain tumors andepilepsy, and PET proponents believe federal payments are notfar behind. The recommendation to pay for PET comes from the Blue
MRI manufacturers feel pinch of slumping sales
July 29th 1992A downturn in new freestanding imaging center growth, coupledwith buyer anxiety in other health-care sectors, has made 1992a disappointing year for new MRI system placements in the U.S. Manufacturers will sell about 500 new systems in the U.S.
Imaging investors watch rollup reform progress
July 29th 1992Medical imaging investors are closely following efforts by federaland state lawmakers to reform financial rollups. While rollupabuses have largely occurred outside the imaging center industry,legal reform efforts could limit a promising channel for
Stark self-referral ban, cost caps in health bill
July 15th 1992A federal proposal to cut medical costs and boost health insuranceavailability has passed a critical Congressional juncture. Thebill would regulate national health-care spending through costcaps to doctors, hospitals and medical equipment manufacturers.
Technicare MRI manager takes high Summit slot
July 1st 1992John P. Heinrich is back in the MRI business, although indirectly.The former vice president of MRI at Johnson & Johnson's defunctTechnicare subsidiary was appointed president and COO of SummitWorld Trade in December. Summit, based in Hudson, OH, is a
Scandal sheet looks back on wild, wonderful ride
July 1st 1992This issue of DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SCAN is number 120, marking fivefull years of publication. It has been a wild and fun five yearsfor us. Few industries other than medical imaging could offerso much corporate drama and technological razzmatazz.SCAN's
CVIS launches IPO; sets SciMed agreement
June 17th 1992Cardiovascular Imaging Systems (CVIS) of Sunnyvale, CA, went publiclast month, raising about $10 million. The funds will help expandmarketing and development of intravascular ultrasound products,according to Richard M. Ferrari, president and CEO. CVIS
Cardiac PET hums; cost calls the tune
May 20th 1992A positron emission tomography utilization model developed bythe American Hospital Association indicates a strong clinicalrationale for PET. On the flip side, while some private payersreimburse the procedure, the modality's high cost and a reluctanceon
DVI lists in New York;funds center buildup
May 20th 1992DVI Health Services of Irvine, CA, switched its stock listingfrom the NASDAQ over-the-counter market to the New York StockExchange last week. At the same time, DVI offered 1.525 millionshares of common stock in New York at $10 per share. The
Toshiba sets two zones for field sales/service
May 6th 1992Toshiba America Medical Systems has completed restructuring ofits U.S. field sales and service organization for all imagingmodalities other than ultrasound. A two-zone system should improveToshiba's ability to respond to customers and coordinate
Signal Medical Services outlasts MTI non-compete
May 6th 1992Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Connecticut has acquired a 60% equityshare of Signal Medical Services, an imaging services firm basedin Farmington, CT. The deal was closed last month after Signalrejected an offer from venture capitalists from Atlanta.
Fee-for-scan converts mobile to fixed MRI
May 6th 1992Fee-per-scan payment plans are gaining popularity among institutionsconsidering fixed-site MRI. Greater difficulty for providers inqualifying for low-cost equipment financing has helped spur demandfor fee-per-scan financing. In a fee-per-scan plan,
MR center firm enters breast biopsy business
April 22nd 1992A new slant to outpatient imaging services may be in the offing:combination mammography screening and minimally invasive needlebiopsy centers. Breast-screening-only centers never gained much momentum, largelybecause of the low level of reimbursement
Center purchase effort stays close and personal
April 8th 1992Purchasing and operating successful imaging centers requires afocus on the personalities behind these businesses. A center runby a physician who maintains good relationships with doctors inthe community offers an acquiring imaging center chain
Procedure caps part of Florida self-referral bill
April 8th 1992In a surprise last-minute move, the Florida state legislaturehas imposed price caps on imaging procedures as part of a billbanning self-referral practices. Centers will be prohibited fromcharging more than 115% of the Medicare fee schedule for