Facility Management

Virtual fly-throughs have long been radiological vignettes—decorative designs skirting the border of clinical relevance. The movies, run back and forth, have entertained exhibit visitors for years. But Viatronix, a start-up workstation manufacturer

The gulf between payments for mammography and for MRI is narrowing. As reimbursement for these two converges and the technology advances, MRI may begin to challenge x-ray-based imaging as a primary breast screening modality.“Small MRI devices using

Vendors are increasingly emphasizing the development of devices that have proven clinical value. The reason is simple. These are the products that sell the best in a tight economic environment.The upside about developing such practical technology is that

It was billed as America's premier radiology network, offering the services of 300 radiologists from some of the most respected medical centers in the world: Bowman Gray, Emory, Brigham and Women's, Wake Forest, and UCSF. In the end, the big names could

TeleQuest, a teleradiology company that contracted with some of the nation’s most prestigious medical schools, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. TeleQuest was formed in 1994 to establish a nationwide network of luminary sites that would

With Internet-based communication becoming increasingly commonplace, consumers are looking to make some medical interactions more convenient, according to a survey commissioned by iMcKesson and conducted by Harris Interactive and Aria

Concerns that the use and sale of contrast agents would suffer under ambulatory payment classifications (APCs) were put to rest in late December when then-president Clinton signed the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000.The legislation, which

In what is being heralded by advocates as a landmark victory, President Clinton has signed legislation that overcomes a number of critical barriers to broader implementation of telemedicine. The new law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, 2001,

By Robert BruceEven as R2 Technology's ImageChecker CAD mammography system seems to be catching on with radiologists and patients, the company is starting clinical trials on a CT lung cancer detection system it believes will be even more successful.GE

By Robert BruceRoyal Philips Electronics announced last week that it has agreed to acquire ADAC Laboratories for $426 million, or $18.50 a share of ADAC's outstanding common stock. The offer is subject to regulatory approval. It is good until Dec. 12 and

HIMSS invests in telehealth as e-health wrestles with futureFirst annual meeting highlights real-world appsAmid all the talk about e-health and the Internet's inevitable role in healthcare, telemedicine has been playing the tortoise to

Dilon Technologies announced the first purchase order for its small digital gamma camera. The camera, which uses technology developed by the Department of Energy, can provide high resolution and positioning flexibility for breast imaging.The Dilon 6800,

Proposals in Congress to increase payments for digital mammography procedures have led to a split between the American College of Radiology on one side and vendors and an advocacy group on the other.With Congress poised to adjourn this week, the

Responding in part to concerns that screening mammography exposes women to unnecessary radiation, Sweden-based Sectra has developed a work-in-progress digital system that it claims can reduce x-ray exposure by up to 80%.The system, which has not been

Comprehensive Medical Imaging (CMI), a wholly owned subsidiary of radiopharmaceutical firm Syncor, has completed its acquisition of 13 imaging centers from U.S. Diagnostic, which is getting out of the imaging center business (SCAN,

While many publicly traded healthcare technology companies are struggling to satisfy investors these days, Agfa-Gevaert has definitely seized the opportunity provided by its 1999 IPO. The company is reporting better-than-expected financials again for the

Agfa bolsters Asian PACS presence with new management and strategyCooke to head up global Impax business groupWhile many publicly traded healthcare technology companies are struggling to satisfy investors these days, Agfa-Gevaert has

Toshiba America Medical Systems has restructured its sales and marketing organization, creating a matrix system with a strategic focus on end users running across all imaging modalities, according to Scott Eaton, director of the imaging center market

The American College of Radiology has halted efforts to move payment for screening mammography out of congressional control and into Medicare's relative value scale (RVS).Congress mandated reimbursement for screening mammography by Medicare and private

Japan is finally lifting its long-standing barriers to foreign imports, a move that could mean hundreds of millions of dollars more each year in sales to that country.U.S. trade officials have been negotiating for three years to change Japan's pricing

Despite the financial struggles of several large providers of imaging services in the U.S., the market for outpatient imaging centers and other shared imaging services remains healthy this year. Procedural growth may be slowing slightly, but it is still

The Health Care Financing Administration has granted Acuson’s AcuNav diagnostic ultrasound catheter pass-through Medicare reimbursement status for outpatient procedures, paving the way for its introduction into the electrophysiology market.The

HIS firms struggle for profits despite $20 billion market projectionsSome blame the BBA, others point finger at industry itselfWhat is ailing the health information systems (HIS) industry? Midyear financials are in, and despite

Hitachi Medical will be the exclusive distributor of ADAC Laboratories’ PET systems in Japan, the companies announced late last month. The distribution arrangement expands upon an agreement between ADAC and Hitachi that was struck last

Spacelabs targets consumers with new Web-based productsMonitoring firm launches blood pressure siteLike its longtime rival Agilent, Spacelabs Medical is busy Web- and wireless-enabling its standard patient monitoring and related product