Archived News

The American College of Radiology has joined the battle against a much-maligned decision by Humana to restrict coverage for PET/CT imaging.

Back in October, the nation’s fourth largest commercial insurer notified plan members that they would not be eligible for positron emission tomography with concurrently acquired CT in many instances. Those include cardiac, gastric, esophageal or neurologic indications, along with total body PET/CT for screening.

Humana claimed that the technology is “experimental” and ““not identified as widely used and generally accepted,” drawing swift rebuke from nuclear medicine groups. Now, the college is joining in and asking the Louisville, Kentucky-based payer to reverse course.

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The practice of interventional radiology is vulnerable to medical errors and malpractice concerns and may require a renewed focus on patient safety, according a new analysis published on Tuesday.

That’s partly because of the subspecialty’s broad scope and rapidly evolving technology to support its physicians. Procedural complications account for about one-third of lawsuits against interventional radiologists, and worldwide data suggest that IR would benefit from rigorous process improvement, Boston University experts wrote in Radiology.

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December 17, 2020 — The key trends observed at 2020 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting all focused around COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and the impact it has had on radiology. The underlying question throughout the conference was how can the industry take the information from this past year and learn from it?

Alan Pitt, M.D., a neuroradiologist at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., sees the pandemic as a catalyst for change, and a way to reset how radiologists view healthcare. “We are an enabler of value of public health — taking care of as many people as possible and giving the highest value possible,” he stressed in a Philips Editor’s Roundtable during the conference. “It’s time to refocus: How many lives can we save? 2021 should be interesting. We need to keep up this level of urgency.”

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December 16, 2020 — During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers have been at the forefront of the battle against the life-threatening illness. Sadly, they are not immune to the effects of the disease. Many have contracted COVID-19, and some have died.

In a paper published Dec. 4, 2020, in the journal PLOS One, Junaid Razzak, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Emergency Care, and his colleagues estimated the impacts of COVID-19 on the U.S. health care community based on observed numbers of healthcare worker infections during the early phase of the pandemic in Hubei, China, and Italy, areas that experienced peaks in COVID-19 cases before the United States.

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CMS Imaging welcomes Crystal Weiser to the Team!

Crystal will be our new Medical Accounts Manager in Virginia. Crystal's first day will be Monday, December 14, 2020.

Please join us in welcoming Crystal!

November 20, 2020 — Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of diagnostic imaging and medical informatics solutions, will demonstrate the FDR D-EVO III, an industry-first, glass-free digital radiography (DR) detector with Irradiated Side Sampling (ISS) technology, and the latest additions to Fujifilm's Clinica family digital x-ray suites - FDR Clinica X OTC and FDR Clinica FS – during the 2020 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting. Previewed for the first time at RSNA 2019, the FDR D-EVO III DR detector is now available in 14 x 17 and 17 x 17 sizes across the United States. Engineered to improve detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for clearer images at lower doses, the FDR D-EVO III is currently the lightest 14x17 detector on the market with patented ISS. The groundbreaking detector could be paired with Fujifilm's advanced image processing options, such as Virtual Grid and Dynamic Visualization II. "Fujifilm is continuing its commitment to deliver innovative solutions by working with customers to learn how we can provide technology solutions that address their needs," said Robert Fabrizio, director of strategic marketing, modality solutions, Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc. "The leap-forward design of FDR D-EVO III provides imaging departments with a smart solution to endure tough medical environments and minimize life cycle costs. Imaging departments will be able to invest in a smart solution, while providing leading-edge technology to their patients that is built to last well into the future." In addition to the FDR D-EVO III and Fujifilm's line of DR detectors and mobile DR solutions, Fujifilm will spotlight its newest digital X-ray suites during the virtual RSNA show, including:

• The FDR Clinica X OTC Suite: Overhead mounted system featuring 'grab and go' manual positioning with auto tracking and automated long length stitching at the chest stand, the FDR Clinica X OTC Suite is an affordable DR solution with maximum functionality. Competitive features include a smart display on the X-ray tube head, generator controls integrated into the new FDX One Console acquisition workstation, and built-in detector connections to the rotating DR trays.
• The FDR Clinica FS: Targeted for orthopedic & ambulatory clinics, imaging centers, private practices and urgent care, the FDR Clinica FS is Fujifilm's latest high-quality, floor mounted cost-effective x-ray solution. The FDR Clinica FS is intended for use with FDR D-EVO II detectors featuring Fujifilm's proprietary ISS technology, which positions its capture electronics (TFTs) at the irradiation side, in contrast to traditional detectors.
• FDR Visionary Suite: Fujifilm's flagship fully auto-positioning system is getting new updates to step it up to the next generation. Designed to boost x-ray room efficiency, the upgraded FDR Visionary suite offers a variety of enhanced features, including rotating detector tray options, new higher performance x-ray tubes designed for lower noise and extended life, and retractable cables for the overhead tube system. To help speed technologist workflow, the suite also offers an optional new power assist mode (W.I.P.), providing lighter grab and go manual tubes positioning movements for the technologists. For precise imaging, the system is engineered for use with Fujifilm's proprietary ISS detectors to capture images with high sharpness and DQE, and lightning-fast preview and cycle times. The suite will feature new modern colors, is ergonomically designed and easy to operate, with minimal physical effort required so technologists can focus on patient comfort and safety.

An Article by Marty Stempniak

Johns Hopkins radiologists are warning about the possibility of unsuspected COVID-19 pneumonia cases cropping up during routine imaging exams, and the need for greater PPE diligence in the coming months.

Experts from the Baltimore-based institution gave the examples of two recent encounters in which patients presented with no symptoms while undergoing CT scans for other reasons. Both ended up having the novel coronavirus, and Megan Lee et al. believe the specialty must remain hyper-vigilant as it works through the pandemic-induced backlog of imaging exams.

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CMS Imaging, Inc. is monitoring Tropical Storm Eta and will execute our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida and Georgia, if necessary. Tropical Storm Eta has sustained 60 mph winds at less than 14 MPH approximately 210 miles from Cuba's western tip. Tropical Storm Eta will approach the Florida Gulf Coast later this week and possibly bring impacts from rain, wind, and storm surges.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. We stand prepared to maintain our high level of service to our clients. Our Charleston Call Center is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Customers seeking assistance outside regular business hours may obtain weekend service by calling our phone number, 800.867.1821, or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state, and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Eta.

We urge all those in the expected path of Tropical Storm Eta to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at https://www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

An Article by Marty Stempniak

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a rule on Thursday, requiring private payers to disclose negotiated rates for imaging and other services.

All told, the initial list covers 500 “shoppable services,” running from CT scans of the head and brain, down to foot and ankle x-rays. The administration said its goal is to compel consumers to seek out the best deals for their treatment.

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An Article by Matt O'Connor

More than 14,000 people have signed up for the Radiological Society of North America’s upcoming meeting, the group reported Monday. It’s the first online-only event in the history of the annual gathering.

Back in May, RSNA decided to cancel its in-person 106th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting because of the COVID-19 crisis. It’s only done so twice before, in 1943 and 1945, due to transportation and gasoline supply problems surrounding World War II.

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October 15, 2020

Although the importance of breast cancer screening should always be emphasized, the current issues surrounding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have led to a decrease in the number of women who are continuing to follow their usual mammogram schedule.

According to experts, neglecting to have vital cancer screenings puts an individual at a greater risk. Moreover, recent research has shown that, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 50 percent of the American women who are breast cancer survivors have experienced disruptions in their care, revealing critical flaws in disaster preparedness within the nation’s current healthcare system.

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Adoption of telemedicine has been a controversial subject in urgent care. While some operators have seen its benefits by way of increasing access for patients—and, over the past few months, in reducing risk of COVID-19 transmission—others have expressed concern that patients may “self-diagnose” and demand prescriptions without the benefit of a full examination. Read the Full Article*
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An Article by Whitney J. Palmer

Bringing mobile X-ray into nursing homes shortens the experience for patients living with dementia, helping them feel safe and calm.

Providers who have imaged patients with dementia know that the process can be delicate and complicated as many of these individuals can experience fear, anxiety, and even anger when they find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. But, new research out of Denmark indicates at-home X-ray can help solve this problem.

Investigators, led by J.M. Jensen, from the Health Sciences Research Center at the University College Lillebelt, launched an initiative in an nursing home in 2018. Their goal was to determine whether patients with dementia could respond better to X-ray services provided in their normal living space.

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An Article by Marty Stempniak

U.S physicians are, in fact, ordering medical imaging as a defense against malpractice claims, according to a new analysis released on Wednesday.

Studying national Medicare imaging trends over a 12-year period and lining them up against lawsuit payouts, experts from Emory University found a correlation. In particular, states with a high-risk level of litigation were positively associated with utilization of advanced imaging, researchers wrote Aug. 19 in JACR.

“Although causality cannot be asserted from our observational study, positive associations between paid malpractice litigation and subsequent advanced Medicare imaging utilization support the notion that U.S. physicians use medical imaging as a defensive medicine strategy,” concluded Alexander Villalobos, MD, with the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the Atlanta institution, and coauthors in health policy and economics. “Policymakers seeking to curb unnecessary healthcare spending should carefully consider the direct and indirect impacts of medical malpractice litigation on physician practice behaviors.”

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An article by James Coker

Healthcare institutions, particularly hospitals, have long been seen as a tempting target by cyber-criminals. Holding vast swathes of highly sensitive and valuable data, as well as having heavily interlinked IT systems and extensive use of IoT devices, modern organizations are both especially vulnerable and potentially highly lucrative should attacks be successful. Indeed, unlike most industries, cyber-attacks have the potential to directly endanger lives when it comes to healthcare.

Additionally, the scale and pressurized nature of the work in institutions like hospitals mean staff, focused on their critical roles, are highly susceptible to making security errors that open the door to cyber-criminals. Raj Samani, chief Scientist and fellow at McAfee, said: “Due to the size and nature of organizations within the healthcare industry, and the data they hold, our health service is often a target for cyber-attackers. The scale and variety of attacks are continually growing and evolving, and the tactics cyber-criminals use can be a combination of traditional phishing and vulnerability exploitation.”

Source

An article by Marty Stempniak

Add the World Health Organization to the growing list of experts advocating against the use of chest imaging to diagnose patients with COVID-19 in most cases.

The special agency of the United Nations just released its own set of recommendations on radiology’s role in assessing and managing those with the novel coronavirus. WHO does not endorse chest imaging for diagnosing the disease—unless lab tests are unavailable, or results are delayed—but noted that scans can be a useful tool for managing COVID patients.

WHO said several countries have asked for guidance in the use of chest imaging during the pandemic, with the agency publishing the results of its literature review Thursday in Radiology. A recent global survey conducted by the International Society of Radiology found “important variations in imaging practices related to COVID-19” that needed to be addressed, the authors noted.

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CMS Imaging, Inc. is monitoring Hurricane Isaias and will execute our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas if necessary. Hurricane Isaias is now a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 80 mph moving at less than 17 MPH approximately 15 miles from the Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas. The forecast cone keeps the storm off the east coast of Florida and moving toward the Carolinas, but part of Central Florida is still within the cone.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. CMS Imaging will continue to watch the situation very closely and will, if necessary, implement our Storm Contingency Plan. We stand prepared to maintain our high level of service to our clients. Our Charleston Call Center is open today, Friday, July 31, 2020, and if the storm takes the projected path will be open as usual on Monday, August 3, 2020. In the unlikely event, the storm takes a dangerous turn and threatens Charleston; we will close our call center and switch to a secondary location. In the event, our secondary location is also affected; we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our regular phone number, 800.867.1821, or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state, and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Isaias.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Dorian to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at https://www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

An article by Marty Stempniak

The two most prominent radiological societies in the U.S. are urging the federal government to proceed cautiously in its pursuit of artificial intelligence models that operate autonomously.

RSNA and the American College of Radiology spelled out their concerns in a letter sent to the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday. In it, top officials from the two groups said they believe it’s unlikely the FDA can provide assurances of such technology’s safety in imaging care, absent further testing, surveillance and other methods of oversight.

They recommend that the FDA waits until such AI algorithms have a broader penetration into the healthcare marketplace, prior to granting its approval in the future.

Source

An article by Whitney J. Palmer

Healthcare institutions, particularly hospitals, have long been seen as a tempting target by cyber-criminals. Holding vast swathes of highly sensitive and valuable data, as well as having heavily interlinked IT systems and extensive use of IoT devices, modern organizations are both especially vulnerable and potentially highly lucrative should attacks be successful. Indeed, unlike most industries, cyber-attacks have the potential to directly endanger lives when it comes to healthcare.

Additionally, the scale and pressurized nature of the work in institutions like hospitals mean staff, focused on their critical roles, are highly susceptible to making security errors that open the door to cyber-criminals. Raj Samani, chief Scientist and fellow at McAfee, said: “Due to the size and nature of organizations within the healthcare industry, and the data they hold, our health service is often a target for cyber-attackers. The scale and variety of attacks are continually growing and evolving, and the tactics cyber-criminals use can be a combination of traditional phishing and vulnerability exploitation.”

Source

An article by Marty Stempniak

AU.S physicians are, in fact, ordering medical imaging as a defense against malpractice claims, according to a new analysis released on Wednesday.

Studying national Medicare imaging trends over a 12-year period and lining them up against lawsuit payouts, experts from Emory University found a correlation. In particular, states with a high-risk level of litigation were positively associated with utilization of advanced imaging, researchers wrote Aug. 19 in JACR.

“Although causality cannot be asserted from our observational study, positive associations between paid malpractice litigation and subsequent advanced Medicare imaging utilization support the notion that U.S. physicians use medical imaging as a defensive medicine strategy,” concluded Alexander Villalobos, MD, with the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the Atlanta institution, and coauthors in health policy and economics. “Policymakers seeking to curb unnecessary healthcare spending should carefully consider the direct and indirect impacts of medical malpractice litigation on physician practice behaviors.”

Source

An article by Whitney J. Palmer

After taking a nearly 70-percent hit to imaging volume during the COVID-19 pandemic, mammography service lines are beginning to churn toward full volume again. It is a process that will look different for each practice or facility based upon their continued local infection rates, as well as their size. But, according to industry leaders, there are a set of best practices that will help groups hit their post-COVID stride quicker.

To this point during the outbreak, the mammography landscape has looked very little like the traditional environment with all screening services halted and many appointments postponed. And, there is scant indication that the return to “normalcy” will, indeed, be a re-start of business as usual.

Source

An article by Whitney J. Palmer

After taking a nearly 70-percent hit to imaging volume during the COVID-19 pandemic, mammography service lines are beginning to churn toward full volume again. It is a process that will look different for each practice or facility based upon their continued local infection rates, as well as their size. But, according to industry leaders, there are a set of best practices that will help groups hit their post-COVID stride quicker.

To this point during the outbreak, the mammography landscape has looked very little like the traditional environment with all screening services halted and many appointments postponed. And, there is scant indication that the return to “normalcy” will, indeed, be a re-start of business as usual.

Source

When a patient with possible COVID-19 presents at the radiology department, it can trigger a number of urgent steps that include isolation, testing, strict cleaning protocols and the use of scarce personal protective equipment. Wanting to provide physicians with a clear process to report and launch these next steps, Harvard Medical School experts have devised an easy and “unambiguous” new reporting process for patients who possibly have the disease.

Others—such as the Dutch Radiological Society—have previously designed such reporting and data systems. But those do not specifically address radiology department workflows, including contact tracing and communication, experts wrote Thursday in JACR. They’ve now implemented a “locally designed” reporting system at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, with 71% of reports using the recommended terminology in the first two months.

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"As the convener of the world’s largest radiology meeting with over 50,000 attendees from 137 countries, our ability to conduct RSNA 2020 in Chicago is impacted by global public health considerations. With a mission that focuses on health and patient care, the primary consideration for RSNA is the health and safety of attendees, presenters, exhibitors, staff, and by extension, the global community. Therefore, we concluded it would be impossible to safely conduct RSNA 2020 in person and have decided to hold RSNA 2020: Human Insight/Visionary Medicine as an exclusively virtual event. The RSNA 2020 Virtual Meeting will be held completely online November 29 - December 5." - RSNA President James P. Borgstede, MD

Source

An article by Whitney J. Palmer

For nearly two months, much of radiology’s imaging volume has been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the green-light for imaging centers to re-open their doors for non-urgent scans. While there’s no exact date that will work for everyone to begin elective imaging again, the time is coming when facilities may feel comfortable doing so.

But, before you raise the curtain on the growing backlog of studies, there are many safety, workflow, and personnel considerations you must address. To help you along the way, the American College of Radiology (ACR) released guidance Wednesday, in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, that can guide you to safely resuming non-emergent imaging.

Source

An Article by Jesse Orrico/Unsplash

Lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome have taken center stage as the most dreaded complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. But heart damage has recently emerged as yet another grim outcome in the virus’s repertoire of possible complications.

COVID-19 is a spectrum disease, spanning the gamut from barely symptomatic infection to critical illness. Reassuringly, for the large majority of individuals infected with the new coronavirus, the ailment remains in the mild-to-moderate range.

Yet, a number of those infected develop heart-related problems either out of the blue or as a complication of preexisting cardiac disease. A report from the early days of the epidemic described the extent of cardiac injury among 41 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: Five, or 12 percent, had signs of cardiovascular damage. These patients had both elevated levels of cardiac troponin — a protein released in the blood by the injured heart muscle — and abnormalities on electrocardiograms and heart ultrasounds. Since then, other reports have affirmed that cardiac injury can be part of coronavirus-induced harm. Moreover, some reports detail clinical scenarios in which patients’ initial symptoms were cardiovascular rather than respiratory in nature.

Source

April 14, 2020

Shimadzu Corporation is announcing the release of its “2019 Novel Coronavirus Detection Kit”, with sales beginning on 20th April. For the time being the kits will only be available in Japan, but preparations are underway to export these kits overseas from May onwards.

Current PCR methods for the detection of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) require the labor-intensive steps of RNA extraction and purification from samples collected via nasopharyngeal swabs or similar. This presents an obstacle to rapid detection when dealing with large numbers of samples. This detection kit eliminates the steps of RNA extraction and purification, significantly reducing the amount of work required to prepare samples, and moreover halves the overall time required for PCR detection from over 2 hours to approximately 1 hour. When using a PCR device with the capacity for 96 samples, the workflow for all 96 samples can be completed within 1.5 hours. In addition, the omission of manual RNA extraction reduces the risk of human error.

The “2019 Novel Coronavirus Detection Kit” uses Shimadzu’s unique Ampdirect technology*1 and has been developed based on the pathogen detection manual from the Japanese National Institute for Infectious Diseases*2. This technology works to prevent proteins, polysaccharides, etc. contained in the biological sample from inhibiting PCR, allowing the PCR reaction solution to be added directly to the biological sample without the need for extracting and purifying DNA or RNA. Until now, Shimadzu has developed and released pathogen detection kits using Ampdirect technology for detection of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, salmonella, norovirus, etc., and is now applying this well-cultivated technology to detection reagents for the novel coronavirus.

*1: Ampdirect is a trademark of Shimadzu Corporation.
*2: Japanese National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Pathogen Detection Manual for 2019-nCoV”

An Article by Marty Stempniak

INTERPOL has been forced to issue an alert to global police about the heightened risk of ransomware attacks on hospitals and other front-line organizations as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The law enforcement organization said it issued a Purple Notice to all 194 member countries, highlighting the scale of the threat. Its Cybercrime Threat Response team claimed to have detected a “significant increase” in attempted ransomware attacks.

“As hospitals and medical organizations around the world are working non-stop to preserve the well-being of individuals stricken with the coronavirus, they have become targets for ruthless cyber-criminals who are looking to make a profit at the expense of sick patients,” said Interpol secretary general Jürgen Stock.

An Article by Marty Stempniak

The American College of Radiology is urging physicians to only deploy computed tomography in very specific circumstances to assess coronavirus patients. And CT “should not be used” to screen for—or as a first-line test to diagnose—the virus.

ACR’s assertion comes the same day that the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. As of early Wednesday afternoon, there have been almost 122,000 cases of the disease, with 4,373 confirmed deaths. Another 66,000-plus individuals have also recovered from it.

With limited availability of viral testing kits and concerns about their specificity, some hospitals have taken to using chest x-ray or CT to assess patients with the virus. However, ACR urged radiologists to use extreme caution in this practice.

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CT should not be used as first-line tool against coronavirus, ACR warns following pandemic declaration "CT Should Not Be Used As First-Line Tool Against Coronavirus, ACR Warns Following Pandemic Declaration". 2020. Radiology Business. https://www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/care-delivery/ct-scan-coronavirus-chest-x-ray-radiology-covid-19?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=RB-COVID19.

February 18, 2020

According to a recent report in TechCrunch, over one billion medical images from patients around the world — including CT scans, X-Rays, ultrasounds — are available online for download to anyone with "an internet connection and free-to-download software.” It’s a pretty jarring number and while it is sure to get people talking, the question is: will this revelation change anything?

More vulnerabilities are being found in in the healthcare space, and yet very little action seems to come as a result. It’s a damning indictment on the state of digital risk management in healthcare today, but the fact is that it’s not even surprising anymore.

While more than 50% of healthcare leaders report that “contending with fast evolving cyber threats” is the single greatest challenge facing the industry, 32% still admit to never auditing their medical devices for known vulnerabilities!

Read the Full Article*
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Source:
Oranski, Safi. 2020. "Is Anyone Paying Attention To Healthcare Security?". Infosecurity Magazine. https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/opinions/paying-attention-healthcare.

As reported in our"January 2020 Blog - Walmart Health enters the healthcare marketplace", Walmart cut the ribbon on it's newest full-care clinic in Calhoun, Georgia with the asssitance of actor, Mark Wahlberg. The new Calhoun facility will offer primary and urgent care, labs, x-rays and dignostics, counseling, dental, optical, and hearing services as well as community health classes through a partenrship with Tivity Health. These services are in addition to the full-service pharmacy already in the store. This new urgent care center will offer upfront pricing for their services similiar to the previously-opened Walmart Health in Dallas, Georgia. The upfront pricing model will aloow patients to know exactly what the cost of services will be prior to making their appointment. In a time where many rural healthcare facilities are on the brink of bankruptcies, Walmart is using their existing facilities to ensure that the people of these communities have a easy access to healthcare.

Press Release / Mortsel, Belgium / 29th January 2020

As announced on December 2, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Agfa-Gevaert Group decided to enter into exclusive negotiations with Dedalus Holding S.p.A. to sell a part of Agfa HealthCare’s IT business (the “Business”). Today, both parties announce that they have signed the share purchase agreement, under which Dedalus S.p.A. would acquire 100% of the Business at an enterprise value of 975 million Euro, subject to regular working capital and net debt adjustments.

The transaction is subject to customary employees’ consultations, regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Both parties aim to close the transaction in the course of Q2 2020.

The Business consists of the Healthcare Information Solutions and Integrated Care activities, as well as the Imaging IT activities to the extent that these activities are tightly integrated into the Healthcare Information Solutions activities. This is the case mainly in the DACH region, France and Brazil.

(End of message)

About Agfa

The Agfa-Gevaert Group develops, manufactures and distributes an extensive range of analogue and digital imaging systems and IT solutions, mainly for the printing industry and the healthcare sector, as well as for specific industrial applications.

Agfa’s headquarters and parent company are located in Mortsel, Belgium.

The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 2,247 million euro in 2018.

January 23, 2020

On January 14th, 2020 Microsoft released patches for a vulnerability that if exploited would allow malicious software to appear as though it was from a trusted, legitimate source. This vulnerability bypasses Windows’ ability to verify cryptographic trust, permitting an attacker to create a false certificate to sign malicious code. The NSA, in their cybersecurity advisory, “assesses the vulnerability to be severe” and the “consequences of not patching the vulnerability are severe and widespread”. This vulnerability could facilitate easier spread of vulnerabilities like ransomware undetected. Microsoft patches ensure the cryptographic certificate is completely validated and currently are the only mitigation.

According to Microsoft, this vulnerability is not being actively exploited, although they assess this vulnerability likely to be exploited in affected operating systems. Patches have been issued for Windows 10, Server 2016, Server 2019. A Security bulletin will be issued shortly to provide guidance to our field support channel mitigate this vulnerability. This announcement will be updated as necessary to advise of further developments. Shimadzu Medical Systems continually monitors for major vulnerabilities such as these. We will continue to monitor this threat and update this announcement with any additional product protection guidance or any known threat or exploit information related to this vulnerability. Additional information from Microsoft and the security community are listed below.

• Microsoft Security Bulletin: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0601
• Tenable: https://www.tenable.com/blog/cve-2020-0601-nsa-reported-spoofing-vulnerability-in-windows-cryptoapi
• Microsoft MSRC Blog: https://msrc-blog.microsoft.com/2020/01/14/january-2020-security-updates-cve-2020-0601/
• MITRE CVE: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-0601
• NSA Cybersecurity Advisory: https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jan/14/2002234275/-1/-1/0/CSA-WINDOWS-10-CRYPT-LIB-20190114.PDF

An article by Marty Stempniak

One prominent Chicago pediatric hospital is launching an “Abandon the Shield” campaign to begin moving away from using lead protection for patients during imaging exams this spring. Another a few miles away is mulling the same, despite the initial “shock” clinicians felt when presented with the idea.

Across the country, this movement away from shielding is beginning to take hold, Kaiser Health News detailed in a prominent report issued Jan. 15, and also published in the New York Times. At least a dozen U.S. hospitals have already changed their policies on protection during x-rays and many more are starting to have the conversation, one expert told the news outlet.

Doing so, however, has not always proven easy, with most healthcare consumers convinced that shielding is necessary during any imaging test.

Source:
Hospitals increasingly abandoning shielding in radiology as movement takes hold across US "Hospitals Increasingly Abandoning Shielding In Radiology As Movement Takes Hold Across US". 2020. Radiology Business. https://www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/care-delivery/hospitals-abandon-shielding-radiology?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=rb_news

U.S. hospital groups have challenged the Trump administration’s rule that requires them to be more transparent about prices they charge patients for healthcare services, according to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday.

The plaintiffs, including the nonprofit American Hospital Association (AHA), are looking to block the rule issued last month that mandates hospitals to publish pricing information of their services on the internet.

“The rule ... does not provide the information patients need. Mandating the public disclosure of negotiated charges would create confusion about patients’ out-of-pocket costs, not prevent it,” the plaintiffs said.

Source:
Hospital groups file lawsuit to block Trump's price transparency rule "Hospital Groups File Lawsuit To Block Trump's Price Transparency Rule". 2020. U.S.. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-us-hospitals-idUSKBN1Y81YY.

January 3, 2020

An Article by Jazmin Goodwin

Google’s artificial intelligence system can identify breast cancer more accurately than radiologists, according to a study published in Nature on Wednesday.

The model, created in collaboration with cancer researchers and Google Health, was trained on X-ray images, known as digital mammography, from women in the U.K. and U.S. to spot signs of breast cancer in the scans. Researchers used mammograms from 76,000 women in the U.K. and more than 15,000 women in the U.S., according to Google Health.

Source:
Goodwin, Jazmin 2020. Usatoday.Com. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/01/03/google-ai-system-can-beat-human-experts-spotting-breast-cancer/2795100001/.

December 18, 2019

According to a spokesperson for Fujifilm to Reuters, the global imaging company is purchasing Hitachi's diagnostic imaging line of service.

Fujifilm is reportedly offering $1.7 billion for Hitachi's CT, MR, and Ultrasound line of products and services. This purchase, when finalized, will allow Fujifilm to challenge Siemens, GE, Philips, and Canon.

Check back for any additional details on this industry-changing deal.

December 16, 2019

An Article by Marty Stempniak

Radiology program directors must build an active presence on Twitter or risk putting their institutions at a “distinct disadvantage.”
,br>Imaging experts from several institutions across the country made that call to action in a recently published opinion piece. They note that numerous important functions of this job now often occur on social media, from networking to education, presenting opportunity for career growth without straining their budgets.

December 6, 2019

An Article by Marty Stempniak

Hundreds of small and independent physician practices are concerned that congressional proposals to address surprise medical bills could have other “devastating unintended consequences” on radiology and other specialties.

Almost 900 docs spelled out those qualms in a sharply worded letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders sent Thursday, Dec. 5. Adopting too rigid of guidelines for payment could unintentionally arm insurers that already are using a “take-it-or-leave-it” approach to negotiations with independent practices, they wrote.

December 2, 2019

TUSTIN, CA, December 2, 2019 – As part of Canon Inc.’s global medical business strategic realignment, the X-ray business operations within Canon U.S.A., Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary Virtual Imaging, Inc. will transfer to Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. (CMSU) effective January 1, 2020.

The global medical imaging market is anticipated to expand extensively year over year by 2025, fueled by the aging population coupled with the need for early stage detection of chronic disease. As the leading medical imaging market globally, the U.S. represents the largest opportunity for future growth.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., introduced the flat panel detector into the U.S. market in 1997 and Virtual Imaging, Inc. incorporated these detectors into their portfolio of X-ray systems. Today’s announcement of business realignment will build on this strong legacy. This transfer will help Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., accelerate additional opportunities for growth while continuing to elevate the customer experience by providing a single entity from which to access significant technology advancements and purchase equipment, as well as obtain service and applications support.

As a result, Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., will add vital digital radiographic and mobile offerings to its current X-ray portfolio of multi-purpose and fluoroscopic systems, significantly expanding its product line to be one of the broadest in the industry.

“This strategic move offers customers Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc.’s world-class and unified experience for equipment purchases, service and education solutions,” says Toshio Takiguchi, senior managing executive officer, Canon Inc., and president and CEO, Canon Medical Systems Corporation. “At Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., our priority is always focused on supporting our customers by providing them with consistent, industry-leading X-ray systems sales, service and applications support.”

Learn more about Canon Medical’s X-ray technology at this year’s RSNA annual meeting in Chicago, December 1 – 5, 2019 (Booth #1933, South Level).

About Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc.
Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., headquartered in Tustin, Calif., markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and interventional X-ray equipment. For more information, visit Canon Medical Systems’ website at https://us.medical.canon.

About Canon Medical Systems Corporation
Canon Medical offers a full range of diagnostic medical imaging solutions including CT, X-Ray, Ultrasound, Vascular and MR, as well as a full suite of Healthcare IT solutions, across the globe. In line with our continued Made for Life philosophy, patients are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to provide medical professionals with solutions that support their efforts in contributing to the health and wellbeing of patients worldwide. Our goal is to deliver optimum health opportunities for patients through uncompromised performance, comfort and safety features.

At Canon Medical, we work hand in hand with our partners - our medical, academic and research community. We build relationships based on transparency, trust and respect. Together as one, we strive to create industry-leading solutions that deliver an enriched quality of life. For more information, visit the Canon Medical website: https://global.medical.canon.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2018† and was named one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2019. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

November 25, 2019

MELVILLE, NY, November 25, 2019 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to introduce the new CXDI-702C and CXDI-402C Wireless Detectors from Canon Inc. These new detectors offer customers the superb quality and reliability, as well as the features and accessories, of the CXDI-710C, CXDI-810C and CXDI-410C Wireless Detectors. Both the CXDI-702C and CXDI-402C Wireless Detectors have received FDA 510(k) clearance for sale in the United States of America¹.

As seen by their open, curved external cover, the CXDI-702C and CXDI-402C Wireless Detectors were designed by Canon Inc. with usability in mind, helping to facilitate both the user and patient experience. With the lightweight handgrips, users are able to comfortably and easily hold and handle the detectors on all four sides. Additionally, the detectors were designed by Canon Inc. to provide certain limited protection from dust and splashed water with limited ingress of both permitted.

“We are excited to add the CXDI-702C and CXDI-402C Wireless Detectors to the Canon U.S.A. product portfolio as they align with Canon’s commitment to developing high-quality diagnostic imaging devices with the goal of helping to improve the quality of life for patients,” says Tsuneo Imai, vice president and general manager, Healthcare Solutions Division, Business Information Communications Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “These detectors were designed by Canon Inc. to meet clinical professionals’ demand for a cost-effective detector technology with the ability to benefit multiple types of diagnostic imaging facilities, and Canon U.S.A. is happy to make them available to its customers.”

Canon U.S.A. invites guests at Radiological Social of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting 2019, taking place Saturday, November 30, 2019 through Friday, December 5, 2019 at McCormick Place in Chicago, to see the new CXDI-702C and CXDI-402C Wireless Detectors firsthand in the Canon U.S.A. booth #3706. The booth will also feature additional products from the Canon line of diagnostic imaging devices.

For more information about Canon radiography solutions available from Canon U.S.A., Inc., please visit https://www.usa.canon.com/dr.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2018† and was named one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2019. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

¹ FDA clearance does not in any way denote FDA approval of these devices.

November 18, 2019

Torrance, CA — November 18, 2019 ‐ Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce that they have released the FLUOROspeed X1 edition, patient side conventional RF table system.

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS) has introduced a new radiographic/fluoroscopic (RF) system called the FLUOROspeed X1 edition, a conventional RF table system offering high image quality and a multitude of features that improve work flow and operator efficiencies thereby contributing to lower cost of care.

As the newest U.S. based product in the FLUOROspeed series, the FLUOROspeed X1 edition with its 665 lb. static patient weight capacity (500 lb. all motion weight capacity), easily performs both bariatric and routine daily fluoroscopic and radiographic exams. “The X1 is an outstanding RF system offering a costeffective balance of functionality to support a wide range of general RF applications, such as chest, abdomen, or extremities along with Upper GI’s, modified swallows and even joint injections” says Charles Cassudakis, Director of Radiographic and RF modalities for SMS. “An ambidextrous control handle for the imaging deck along with fingertip access to APR’s, image recording functions and site‐specific programmable function buttons, are all standard on the new X1 RF system, all improving room workflow,” continues Cassudakis.

Jim Mekker, Product Director for SMS emphasizes that, “The X1 was designed and built from years of collecting user feedback specifically from and for the US marketplace and the result is a remarkable, user friendly and highly effective RF system with exclusive features like a park anywhere imaging deck. Additionally, the X1 is built with Shimadzu’s world renown durability and reliability. This system belongs in every X‐Ray department nationwide.”

The FLUOROspeed X1 edition conventional RF system, designed with patient side table controls for the operator, is practically priced and comes equipped with a 17”x17” dynamic digital X‐ray detector (FPD) in the table bucky allowing it to both be used for fluoroscopy as well as radiographic exams. With its 31.5‐ inch aperture opening between table top and deck, the X1 is the ideal digital RF system providing access for imaging patients in wheelchairs, yet it can fit in smaller rooms where space is limited. Furthermore, by adding a second X‐ray tube on an overhead rail, the system functionality and versatility of the room increases exponentially.

The FLUOROspeed X1 edition received FDA 510(k) clearance in August 2019 and is now available for sale throughout the US.

About Shimadzu
Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X‐Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada. Its sales and marketing office is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and its direct operations has headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Visit Shimadzu Medical Systems USA at www.shimadzu‐usa.com or call (800) 228‐1429.

November 14, 2019

An Article by Marty Stempniak

Receiving that initial lung cancer diagnosis is not the death sentence that it used to be for some Americans, with more surviving the disease than ever before.

The American Lung Association made that assertion in its newest State of Lung Cancer report, released on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Almost 22% of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer are still fighting five years later, up from 17.2% just a decade ago. That’s a 26% increase according to the ALA, one that’s partly attributable to better screening using low-dose CT scans to catch the cancer early on.

November 4, 2019

An Article by Marty Stempniak

Radiology industry advocates expressed disappointment on Friday, Nov. 1, after federal officials finalized a policy that industry advocates said could cost the imaging field billions.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2020, which will take effect on Jan. 1. One aspect of the now finalized rule has drawn ire from the American College of Radiology, which estimated that changes could cut radiology payment by $450 million in one year alone, and $5.6 billion over the next decade.

October 31, 2019

An Article by Ana Dolcet and Steve Nzitunga

As a radiographer working in general radiology, you will be familiar with famous sentences like ”let me take one more, just to be sure” or “I don’t think this is lateral enough to visualize the pathology.” If you work in a radiology department, you’ll certainly have experienced some of these cases in your professional life:

1. The patient moves during the examination
2. The quality of the image is insufficient due to the technique
3. The field is more collimated than it should be and leaves out part of the region of interest
4. An artifact appears on the image
5. The wrong body part is examined
6. The wrong patient is examined

An Article by Michael Walter

The American College of Radiology (ACR) has added four new topics and 15 revised topics to the ACR Appropriateness Criteria.

The four new topics explore major blunt trauma, pancreatic cysts, pneumonia in immunocompetent children and suspected placenta accreta spectrum disorder. Revised topics include dementia, female infertility, hemoptysis and more.

MORTSEL, Belgium, Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- All Agfa DR solutions delivered with the MUSICA Digital Nerve Center provide efficiency and intelligence – driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning*.

• Agfa's MUSICA powered DR solutions can save up to four (4) minutes per exam versus systems without MUSICA.
• Cyber-security tools – embedded in the MUSICA Nerve Center help protect patient data and prevent disruptions to patient care.
• MUSICA consultancy services with real intelligence further enhances value based care.
• Comprehensive, scalable DR portfolio and innovative technologies deliver high-quality imaging at low dose.
• Agfa's new, groundbreaking DR unit will be launched and showcased at the event.

• MUSICA Analytics uses data to enhance performance and quality of care, teaming up with the users along the lifecycle of our solutions.
• MUSICA 3+ can solve imaging issues with the most demanding clinical requirements such as bariatric patient radiography
• Digital Tomosynthesis for multi-slice image reconstruction,
• Deep Learning algorithm automatically rotates the image as it should be presented to the radiologist,
• Advanced Dose Management through Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL) and Extended Dose Reporting
• Full Leg Full Spine (FLFS): New Anatomic Stitching algorithm increases success rates dramatically
• Compliance to the latest healthcare standards: HIPAA, IHE, EMR, DICOM, NEMA,…

“Fast MRI” scans, which use quicker imaging techniques and don’t require sedation or ionizing radiation, can identify traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in young patients, according to a new study published in Pediatrics.

The authors explored data from more than 200 patients recruited from June 2015 to June 2018. All patients were six years old or younger and also underwent head CT scans.

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CMS Imaging, Inc. continues to monitor Hurricane Dorian and is executing our Storm Contingency Plan in North Carolina. Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 1 storm with winds exceeding 90 mph and is currently traveling along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The storm has created a large number of power outages in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Our Charleston and Jacksonville Offices are open with limited staff. Our Charleston Call Center is currently taking calls at our regular phone number, 800.867.1821, or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who currently require service, we will assess the area, and if safe, we will dispatch our service engineers in order of contact. For those areas still affected by the storm, we will begin dispatching our field service engineers once the federal, state, and local authorities have deemed it safe.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. continues to monitor Hurricane Dorian and is executing our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 2 storm with winds exceeding 110 mph and is currently traveling northwest along the northeastern coast of Florida. The storm is expected to stay out to sea but will bring tropical-storm-force or hurricane-force winds to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

To ensure the safety of our team members and their families, CMS Imaging's Jacksonville Office is closed, and our Charleston Office and Call Center will close today at 12:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. We will transfer all of our calls to our secondary off-site call center starting at noon. In the event, our secondary location is also affected; we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our regular phone number, 800.867.1821, or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

Based on the forecast from the National Weather Service, we expect to reopen our Jacksonville Office on Thursday and our Charleston Office and Call Center on Friday.
For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state, and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Dorian.
Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. continues to monitor Hurricane Dorian and has begun executing our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 3 storm with winds exceeding 120 mph and is currently stationary off the coast of the Bahamas before it's expected travel up the East Coast. The storm is expected to stay out to sea but will bring tropical-storm-force or hurricane-force winds to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

To ensure the safety of our team members and their families, CMS Imaging's Charleston Office and Call Center will close today at 12:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. We will transfer all of our calls to our secondary off-site call center starting at noon. In the event, our secondary location is also affected; we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our regular phone number, 800.867.1821, or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state, and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again tomorrow, and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is monitoring Hurricane Dorian and will execute our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas if necessary. Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 5 storm with winds exceeding 180 mph moving at less than 5 MPH up the east coast of Florida. There is a level of uncertainty if the hurricane will make landfall, and if so, where it will come ashore.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. The governors of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have issued State of Emergency orders. Additionally, the governors of Georgia and South Carolina issuing Mandatory Evacuations along their respective coasts.

CMS Imaging is watching the situation very closely and will if necessary, close our Charleston and Jacksonville offices if the storm presents a danger to our employees. Our Storm Contingency Plan is in effect, and we stand prepared to continue our high level of service to our clients. Because of the Labor Day holiday, our Charleston Call Center is closed today, Monday, September 2, 2019. In the event, the storm takes a dangerous turn and threatens Charleston; we will close our call center and switch to a secondary location. In the event, our secondary location is also affected; we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our regular phone number, 800.867.1821, or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state, and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Dorian.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Dorian to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at https://www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again tomorrow, and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

An article by Nicole Lou, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today

As the medical community braces for implementation of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) by the Jan. 1, 2020 deadline, some wonder if it's even feasible or if another program delay is on the horizon.

The policy, aimed at reducing unnecessary testing, mandates that all advanced diagnostic imaging orders go through an algorithm that provides key confirmation codes required when Medicare is billed later on for the service.

Dubbed a "clinical decision support mechanism" (CDSM), this software processes each CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, and PET order before spitting out its verdict to the ordering professional: "appropriate," "maybe appropriate," or "rarely appropriate," according to a certain set of appropriate use criteria (AUC).

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An article by Paramjit “Romi” Chopra, M.D.

A mobile C-arm is a medical imaging device that is based on X-ray technology and can be used flexibly in various ORs within a clinic. The name is derived from the C-shaped arm used to connect the X-ray source and X-ray detector to one another. Since the introduction of the first C-arm in 1955, the technology has advanced rapidly. Today, mobile imaging systems are an essential part of everyday hospital life; specialists in fields such as surgery, orthopedics, traumatology, vascular surgery and cardiology use C-arms for intraoperative imaging. The devices provide high-resolution X-ray images in real time, allowing the physician to monitor progress at any point during the procedure and immediately make any adjustments that may be required. Consequently, the treatment results are better and patients recover more quickly. Hospitals benefit from cost savings through fewer follow-up operations and from minimized installation efforts.

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Torrance, CA — August 8, 2019 - Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce that they have received FDA 510(k) clearance for the FLUOROspeed X1, patient side conventional RF table system.

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS) has introduced a new radiographic/fluoroscopic (RF) system called the FLUOROspeed X1, a conventional RF table system offering high image quality and a multitude of features that improve work flow and operator efficiencies which contributes to lower cost of care.

As the newest U.S. based product in the FLUOROspeed series, the FLUOROspeed X1 with its 665 lb. static patient weight and 500 lb. all motion weight, easily performs both bariatric and routine daily fluoroscopic and radiographic exams. “The X1 is an outstanding RF system offering a cost‐effective balance of functionality to support a wide range of general RF applications, such as chest, abdomen, or extremities along with Upper GI’s, modified swallows and even joint injections” says Charles Cassudakis, Director of Radiographic and RF modalities for SMS. “An ambidextrous control handle for the imaging deck along with fingertip access to APR’s, image recording functions and site‐specific programmable function buttons, are all standard on the new X1 RF system, all improving room workflow,” continues Cassudakis.

Jim Mekker, Product Director for SMS emphasizes that, “The X1 was designed and built from years of collecting user feedback specifically from and for the US marketplace and the result is a remarkable, user friendly and highly effective RF system with exclusive features like a park anywhere imaging deck. Additionally, the X1 is built with Shimadzu’s world renown durability and reliability. This system belongs in every X‐Ray department nationwide.”

The FLUOROspeed X1 conventional RF system, designed with patient side table controls for the operator, is practically priced and comes equipped with a 17”x17” dynamic digital X‐ray detector (FPD) in the table bucky allowing it to both be used for fluoroscopy as well as radiographic exams. With its 31.5‐inch aperture opening between table top and deck, the X1 is the ideal digital RF system providing access for imaging patients in wheelchairs, yet it can fit in smaller rooms where space is limited. Furthermore, by adding a second X‐ray tube on an overhead rail, the system functionality and versatility of the room increases exponentially.

The FLUOROspeed X1 received FDA 510(k) clearance on August 5th, 2019 and is now available for sale throughout the US.

About Shimadzu
Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X‐Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada. Its sales and marketing office is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and its direct operations has headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Visit Shimadzu Medical Systems USA at www.shimadzu‐usa.com or call (800) 228‐1429.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new draft guidance titled Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment.

The MR environment presents unique safety hazards for patients and other persons with medical devices near or inside an MR system. This draft guidance, when finalized, is intended to:

• Provide recommendations on testing for assessing the safety and compatibility of medical devices in the MR environment
• Identify test methods that address specific hazards and provide recommended format for MRI Safety Information in medical device labeling
• Submit comments on the draft guidance.

A newer imaging technique, PSMA PET/CT, may be able to identify the location of prostate cancer recurrence better than traditional methods, according to new findings published by The Lancet Oncology.

PSMA PET/CT, or prostate-specific membrane antigen imaging, is not yet approved by the FDA, but researchers have been exploring its potential in recent years. A team from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles compared the performance of PSMA PET/CT with the treatment currently recommended for locating prostate cancer recurrence, 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT.

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Earning the American College of Radiology (ACR) Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) designation can help imaging providers stand out among the competition—if they’re willing to do what it takes to achieve that goal. A two-part presentation at the AHRA 2019 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, examined the DICOE assessment process from the perspective of a hopeful applicant and a medical physicist who helps perform on-site evaluations.

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North Charleston, SC, July 22, 2019 - CMS Imaging, Inc is proud to announce the first clinical installation in the United States of the Intelli-C at ImageCare, LLC. The Intelli-C, which is distributed nationally by Alpha Imaging, LLC, is a multipurpose tilting C fluoroscopic imaging system that offers true versatile imaging explicitly designed to accommodate the needs of busy healthcare facilities, imaging centers, or hospitals. The Intelli-C now offers ImageCare, LLC the extended ability to provide their patients low-dose, high-quality images for procedures ranging from radiographic, serial, and fluoroscopic X-ray procedures all on one system.

"We have been working with the Intelli-C for a few months now. It provides all that I need in my practice of diagnostic and interventional radiology. The configuration allows me to perform interventional procedures, gastrointestinal procedures, pain management applications, and orthopedic interventions, with low-dose radiation, without compromise in image quality. Even at low pulse rate fluoroscopy, there is excellent visualization of target structures," said Dr. Timothy P. Close, M.D. of Image Care, LLC. "If an imaging center or small hospital has only one fluoroscopy or procedure room, they should have this equipment. In a busy hospital setting, this room provides flexibility and a broad spectrum of applications to complement diagnostic and therapeutic procedures," Dr. Close continued.

For more information on the Intelli-C, visit – https://intelli-c.cmsimaging.com.

About CMS Imaging, Inc.
CMS Imaging, Inc. is the premier healthcare solutions provider specializing in the sales and service of diagnostic medical imaging equipment. Founded in 1987 in Charleston, SC as an independent service organization, CMS Imaging has expanded its product line to include MRI, CT, Digital X-Ray, Advanced Fluoroscopic Systems, Software, and Informatics. For more information, please contact CMS Imaging at 800.867.1821 or info@cmsimaging.com.

About ImageCare, LLC
ImageCare, LLC is Northeast Columbia's (South Carolina) only full-service outpatient radiology facility. We specialize in diagnostic procedures and provide a wide range of imaging services. Our radiologists are fellowship-trained and board-certified by the American Board of Radiology. ImageCare provides a written report to the referring physician's office within 24 hours and offers physician-to-physician call reports in cases that involve significant abnormalities.

About Alpha Imaging, LLC
Alpha Imaging, LLC headquartered in Willoughby, Ohio, was established in 1986 and is one of the country's largest independent distributors of medical imaging equipment and related products and services. For more information, please contact Alpha Imaging at 800.331.7327 or info@alpha-imaging.com.

TORONTO (PRWEB) July 22, 2019

MedCurrent Corporation, a leader in radiology clinical decision support (CDS) solutions, today announced a partnership with CMS Imaging Inc., a premier healthcare solutions provider based out of South Carolina specializing in the sales and service of diagnostic medical imaging equipment. This partnership will see CMS Imaging distribute MedCurrent's OrderWise® clinical decision support platform as part of its comprehensive catalogue of health informatics solutions.

Starting January 1, 2020, ordering professionals across the US will be required to consult CDS when ordering advanced diagnostic imaging (MR, CT, NM, PET) for Medicare outpatients as initially set forth in the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA, 2014). To meet the requirements of this mandate, only qualified CDS mechanisms (CDSMs) and Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) developed by qualified provider-led entities (qPLEs) may be used.

Fully qualified as a CDSM by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, MedCurrent's OrderWise guides ordering providers through clinical decision pathways to help them seamlessly order the right diagnostic imaging tests for their patients. In the U.S., OrderWise incorporates diagnostic imaging guidelines from Intermountain Healthcare (IH), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Foundation—all qualified provider-led entities.

"This partnership means that CMS Imaging customers now have access to a qualified clinical decision support solution that enables more appropriate care while meeting the regulatory requirements", said John Adziovsky, CEO of MedCurrent. “We’re very excited to be working with CMS Imaging as their proven track record in the medical imaging space and dedication to customer service is a key driver to ensuring that customers are successful in their CDS journey.”

“At CMS Imaging we pride ourselves on providing our customers with comprehensive and best-in-class solutions. OrderWise by MedCurrent provides our physicians with an organized and efficient solution to improve the quality of care of their patients by ordering the correct imaging procedures,” said Tom Pompeii, Vice President of Sales at CMS Imaging.

MedCurrent and CMS Imaging will be showcasing at AHRA 2019 Conference between July 21-24, 2019 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado. Please visit MedCurrent at booth #306 or contact CMS Imaging at info@cmsimaging.com to learn more about MedCurrent OrderWise.

About MedCurrent
MedCurrent is a physician-founded Clinical Decision Support (CDS) company focused on improving the quality of care and managing health system costs through our innovative and scalable solution, OrderWise®. Our solution enhances the clinical decision-making process with real-time, evidence-based guidelines integrated at the point of care to improve health and healthcare delivery. Deep healthcare experience, superior technology, and business agility make MedCurrent a global leader in CDS solutions. For more information, please visit http2://www.medcurrent.com.

About CMS Imaging
CMS Imaging, Inc. is the premier healthcare solutions provider specializing in the sales and service of diagnostic medical imaging equipment. Founded in 1987 in Charleston, SC as an independent service organization, CMS Imaging has expanded its product line to include MRI, CT, Digital X-Ray, Advanced Fluoroscopic Systems, Software, and Informatics. For more information, please visit CMS Imaging at https://www.cmsimaging.com.

WAYNE, N.J. and TORRANCE, Calif., July 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., a leader in medical imaging systems and healthcare IT, along with Shimadzu Medical Systems USA today announced a collaborative agreement that will accelerate the commercialization of Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) in the US healthcare market. Konica Minolta, Inc. and Shimadzu Corporation collaborated on the development of DDR incorporating Konica Minolta's new advanced image processing and Shimadzu's RADspeed Pro radiographic imaging system. The companies will co-market the DDR technology in the US market. DDR is an enhanced X-ray technology that enables clinicians to analyze and quantify the dynamic interaction of anatomical structures with physiological changes over time to enhance diagnostic capability and efficacy.

In clinical studies conducted by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, DDR has been shown to provide a more comprehensive assessment of pulmonary function and pulmonary mechanics than a conventional chest X-ray, as well as visualization of respiratory kinesiology. In a poster presented at the American Thoracic Society 2019 annual meeting, Mary M. O’Sullivan, MD, associate professor of pulmonary medicine, and Stephen I. Zink, radiologist and assistant clinical professor of diagnostic, molecular and interventional radiology, both at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, reported that DDR delivers a contextual understanding of dyspnea and other pathophysiologic abnormalities, and provides an earlier and more comprehensive understanding of the etiology of dyspnea. Of 16 diaphragm abnormalities identified, six were minimally or non-visible on the chest radiograph while the remaining 10 were better defined. Two cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) not seen on the chest radiograph were detected using DDR. Prior studies by Mount Sinai concluded that DDR may be a clinically relevant option to assess COPD severity in the acute setting, and for patients unable to perform pulmonary function testing.

“Shimadzu has long been a valued partner of Konica Minolta with an exceptional reputation for providing high-quality radiography systems and we look forward to continuing the relationship as we bring DDR to the US market,” says Guillermo Sander, Director of Marketing, Digital Radiography, Konica Minolta Healthcare. “Based on the clinical data provided by Mount Sinai and several academic hospitals in Japan, we believe that DDR may have an immediate impact in the diagnosis and management of patients with pulmonary diseases. By joining forces with Shimadzu, we strive to accelerate clinical acceptance of this novel technology that may increase the quality and accuracy of diagnosis and reduce the need for additional tests.”

“The continuing relationship between Shimadzu Medical Systems USA and Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas deepens the imaging solutions available in the conventional ‘rad’ room,” says Tom Kloetzly, VP of Sales and Marketing at Shimadzu Medical Systems USA. “Dynamic Digital Radiography will deliver extraordinary pulmonary dynamic imaging, along with the data analytics required to analyze and diagnose difficult diseases and injury processes. This can now be performed in a conventional radiographic environment, delivering much needed cost savings and equipment efficiencies.”

Konica Minolta Healthcare and Shimadzu will introduce DDR on the RADspeed Pro at the 45th Annual Meeting of the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA), in booths #711 and #803, respectively.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.
Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

About Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS)
Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a division of Shimadzu Precision Instruments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is its medical business subsidiary in USA.

Shimadzu Corporation, an international enterprise founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic imaging equipment including conventional (Rad & RF), interventional (Cardiovascular) and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with a Sales and Marketing office located in Cleveland, Ohio and Southwest Direct Operations headquartered in Dallas, TX.

For further information about Shimadzu Medical Systems USA or other activities of Shimadzu in North America, please visit us at www.shimadzu-usa.com.

For the past twelve years, Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. has partnered with AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management in support of the Putting Patients First program, awarding grants dedicated to improving patient care and developing best imaging practices in the areas of CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray and Vascular. This collaboration seeks to advance patient care, safety and cybersecurity in imaging through grants that fund programs, trainings and seminars at IDN/hospital systems, local hospitals and imaging centers.

In 2019, eight (8) grants will be awarded according to the following categories:

• Six (6) grants of up to $7,500 each will be awarded to single-site hospitals and imaging centers.
• Two (2) grants focusing on diagnostic imaging
• Two (2) grants focusing on pediatric imaging
• One (1) grant focusing on MSK
• One (1) grant focusing on oncology imaging
• Two (2) grants up to $10,000 each will be awarded to an Integrated Delivery Network (IDN).

“For over a decade, Canon Medical has provided $685,000 to the Putting Patients First program which has made possible more than 70 grants focused on bringing a wide range of innovations in diagnostic imaging to help advance patient care,” said Angelic Bush, CRA, FAHRA, past president, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management. “Today, cost burdens in the healthcare industry make the need for a grant program like Putting Patients First more important than ever to help continue to drive change and improvement in the health care industry.”

Putting Patients First applicants are judged on their program plan and ability to share best practices. The applicants’ programs should address one or more of the following:

• Reducing radiation and/or contrast dose
• Reducing the need for sedation
• Improving communication with patients
regarding the process
• Improving patient comfort
• Improving the overall clinical pathway

“It has been exciting to watch this program successfully evolve in conjunction with the changing needs of the market, starting with hospitals and then opening up to Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs). From the beginning, this program has opened doors for the innovative ideas and solutions presented by health care and imaging professionals in local communities around the country that are helping to shape the future of health care,” said Catherine Wolfe, senior director, Global Marketing and Communications, Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. “Alongside AHRA, we share a commitment to patient safety and education and this program is representative of Canon Medical Systems’ Made for Life philosophy to improve the quality of life for all people.”

All eligible facilities are encouraged to apply by completing an application at www.ahra.org/PatientsFirstProgram. The deadline to apply is October 21, 2019, and the winners, selected by the AHRA, will be announced in January 2020.

For more information: https://us.medical.canon, https://global.medical.canon, www.ahra.org.

MELVILLE, N.Y., July 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Displaying a range of digital radiography (DR) solutions, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, and Virtual Imaging, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., are proud to join medical imaging professionals from across the country at this year's AHRA annual meeting and exposition, hosted by the Association for Medical Imaging Management. The 2019 AHRA is being held at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Conference Center in Denver, Colorado from Sunday, July 21 to Wednesday, July 24. Attendees interested in learning more about Canon U.S.A.'s and Virtual Imaging's array of digital imaging solutions are encouraged to visit booth #1103.

"We are honored to once again participate at the AHRA annual meeting and provide industry professionals a glimpse into our efficient, high-quality medical imaging equipment and solutions," said Tsuneo Imai, vice president and general manager, Healthcare Solutions Division, Business Imaging Communications Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. and president, Virtual Imaging, Inc. "This gives us an opportunity to show our dedication to advancing diagnostic imaging technology capabilities and meet challenges experienced in medical imaging."

Products that will be featured within the Canon and Virtual Imaging booth include:

• RadPRO® Mobile 40kW FLEX PLUS Digital X-Ray System
  This system provides a user-friendly experience, as seen through its multi-touch supported display that enables intuitive finger movement operations such as zoom, pan, and list scrolling when used with CXDI Control Software NE, as well as the single-click Multiple Image Processing and Advanced Edge Enhancement functions for viewing of PICC lines and catheters. The Enhanced Workflow Package, which enables exams to be completed at bedside without the need of a separate workstation, and the wireless Distributed Antenna System (DAS), which can increase wireless range up to 40% over single point access systems, are both unique, patented items that are beneficial in addressing productivity and workflow demands.


• DR Tablet Solution
  Built for customers continuing to make the move to digital radiography from analog technology, this solution, which is offered by Virtual Imaging, includes a tablet and choice of CXDI wireless detector that includes CXDI Control Software NE. The auto-detection mode of the detector allows X-rays to be automatically detected at exposure without the need for a typical generator interface.
• 
  Single Shot Long-Length Imaging
  The Single Shot Long-Length Imaging feature of CXDI Control Software NE Version 2.17 stitches long length images into a single image using multiple compatible CXDI detectors, a single x-ray exposure and the automatic stitching capability of the CXDI Software.
  
  This new software feature, when used with certain CXDI wireless detectors and a specially configured stand5, offers an efficient long-length imaging workflow for whole spine or long leg exams without the need for multiple x-ray exposures. The detectors can be removed from the stand and used with other compatible systems as a cost-effective investment consideration.

For more information about radiography solutions from Canon and Virtual Imaging, please visit https://www.usa.canon.com/dr.

Recent advances in digital radiography (DR) are increasing demand for whole spine imaging before, during and after back surgery, according to Gregg R. Cretella, national director of clinical operations for Fujifilm Medical Systems, USA.

“Spine surgeries in the United States — probably worldwide — are on the rise,” he told Imaging Technology News. “Digital radiography vendors have (developed) advanced DR technology that better supports spine imaging.”

Breast cancer is the global leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women across the world.1 From our perspective, improved treatment options and earlier detection could have a positive impact on decreasing mortality, as this could offer more options for successful intervention and therapies when the disease is still in its early stages.

In 2019, according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 268,600 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an additional nearly 63,000 women will receive word they have non-invasive disease. To confirm the accuracy of these diagnoses—and to properly stage any newly identified cancers—these women will undergo approximately 1.6 million breast biopsies.

TORRANCE, CA – June 17, 2019 – Shimadzu Medical Systems USA has introduced a new configuration for the SONIALVISION G4 (SVG4) universal digital R/F table system. The new configuration, known as the G4 LX, offers a 180 cm SID expanding Shimadzu’s RF product portfolio with an addition to an already high performing system.

With the 180 cm SID configuration, the SVG4 brings additional functionality for making chest exposures with the table in the vertical position. In institutions where only small rooms are available, the 180 cm SID is used for making chest exposures where RF exams are needed but the space is not available to add a CTM and wall-stand. The LX gives better utilization of an RF system for making radiographic type procedures and is designed to perform a wide variety of examinations like: angiography, endoscopy, video fluoroscopy for gastrointestinal series, swallowing exams, orthopedic exams, and general radiography. The system acquires high resolution images rapidly while using very low radiation dose levels. The ergonomic design is patient friendly and hygiene-focused and accommodates all sizes of ambulatory and stretcher/wheelchair confined patients offering workflow-efficiency features to help improve technologist productivity.

All SONIALVISION G4 system configurations combine a 17” x 17” flat panel detector (FPD) with Shimadzu’s next generation digital imaging platform. The ultra-small pixel pitch and high contrast maximizes the FPD performance and is easily switchable from large-to-small fields-of-view to cover a wide range of anatomical imaging, from finger tips to the entire chest or abdomen. Also, the larger 202.5 cm movement range of the SONIALVISION can capture images of the entire body without moving the patient.

When imaging in long spine and extremities, Shimadzu’s Breakthrough Technologies such as Slot Radiography is available as an advanced application option. With its lower dose profile and accurate measuring capabilities, Slot Radiography is an excellent choice for pediatric and orthopedic practices and departments. Shimadzu also offers large format Tomosynthesis on the SONIALVISION series which is ideal for clear visualization of bone around metal implants by eliminating overlapping structures. Patients can be imaged either supine or upright (weight bearing).

With special features for every type of exam, the SONIALVISION series helps minimize radiation dose exposure levels to the patient at every step. A seamless tabletop that can support a patient weighing up to 700 lb (318 kg) in the horizontal position for bariatric procedures offers easy cleaning and incorporates safety features to facilitate safe access and egress by patients. The G4 LX provides a productive and comfortable workflow to enhance convenience and operability for the technologists who use it.

Shimadzu sales offices throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean are now accepting orders for the 180 cm SONIALVISION G4 configuration.

About Shimadzu

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan, and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional, and digital X-ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California, with sales and service offices located throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada. Its sales and marketing office is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and its direct operations has headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Visit Shimadzu Medical Systems at www.shimadzu-usa.com or call: (800) 228-1429.

An Article by Micahel Walter from Radiology Business

One of the biggest ongoing trends in healthcare in recent years has been the increased focus on educating women about breast density. Dense breast tissue can obscure small masses and lower the sensitivity of mammograms, making it especially vital that women know their options if mammography reveals they have dense breasts.

The physicians at Mercy Hospital Jefferson, a 251-bed community hospital in Festus, Missouri, understand the seriousness of this topic. The hospital has long strived to be a “one-stop shop” for patients, providing them with everything they need so that no long drives to nearby St. Louis are required, and speaking to women about breast density is an important part of that dedication.

“It is imperative to identify a patient with dense or extremely dense breast tissue,” says Christine Ormsby, MD, a fellowship-trained breast radiologist at Mercy Hospital Jefferson. “It affects a radiologist’s ability to interpret the mammogram and affects the patient’s risk of developing breast cancer. Because of this, and depending on other factors such as family history, these patients may need supplemental screening in addition to yearly mammograms.”

When patients do need supplemental screening, one common choice is ultrasound. MRI is technically more sensitive, but it is costly for patients and there are numerous limitations.

“That’s why ultrasound is so beneficial,” Ormsby says. “It’s not as expensive and there aren’t the contraindications to consider that we can see when trying to schedule an MRI. Whenever any patient has dense breasts, and especially in the setting of additional risk factors, I immediately recommend they undergo ultrasound.”

In 2017, Mercy Hospital Jefferson made a decision that helps Ormsby recommend ultrasound with the upmost confidence: it installed Hitachi’s SOFIA 3D whole breast ultrasound system.

Easy to use, easy to love

Ormsby had no prior experience using the SOFIA technology when she joined Mercy Hospital Jefferson in 2018, and Hitachi went out of its way to make that transition as quick and easy and possible. The company sent representatives to the facility for two days to train her, showing her how patients should be positioned for every kind of examination and answering every question she had.

“The training was very thorough,” she said. “They even gave me a business card with their contact information at the end so I could reach them directly if I ever had questions, something I really appreciated.”

It took no time at all for Ormsby to feel comfortable with the new system. And she has only needed that business card one time since she first trained, to ask a specific question that Hitachi’s representatives answered right away.

One of Ormsby’s favorite things about SOFIA is it can perform so many different types of examinations. It allows users to perform automated breast ultrasound (ABUS), handheld ultrasound, ultrasound-guided breast biopsies, tissue elastography and more, providing convenience unlike anything she had ever experienced with an ultrasound solution.

“It’s so helpful to see images on the same machines with the same settings,” she says. “When you’re viewing lesions and trying to evaluate them from one imaging system to another, it can lead to quite a bit of variation in how the images look. But having all the images being performed on the same machine, it takes that variable out and provides much more consistency.”

By performing such a wide variety of tasks, SOFIA also helps Mercy Hospital Jefferson remain committed to offering as many services as possible. Some patients may not have resources for travel, or may not be able to take time off work for multiple appointments. Bringing in solutions that can do more than just one thing are especially helpful in those instances.

“We always make a point of trying to institute the most effective and efficient services available,” Ormsby says. “We know each patient’s time is valuable.”

Making connections and providing comfort

Breast cancer screening is one of the single most complex healthcare issues for patients to understand, with organizations promoting conflicting recommendations and the technology evolving at a rapid rate. Adding breast density to the equation has added to the confusion for some patients, but Ormsby says SOFIA has helped her discuss these topics with women. It also gives her the opportunity to clarify which screening guidelines she believes are the best for patients.

“SOFIA has served as a tool for educating patients about the continuing need for screening every year—not every two years, as some organizations have recommended—and the importance of supplemental screening,” she says. “It opens the door for conversations between the patient and the physician.”

Another patient-friendly aspect of this system is how fast it works, securing a 3D volume dataset of the patient’s breast with a single 30-second radial sweep. And women are also scanned while in the prone position, allowing them to remain covered during the entire examination. These features—as well as the multiple layers of memory foam and rounded, curving edges—help make patients feel more comfortable, keeping anxiety at a minimum.

“Our patients understandably come with high levels of stress and anxiety, uncertain of what will be found,” Ormsby says. “We try to do all that we can to ease their mind. Our goal is to try to decrease the stress as these patients navigate the process.”

It’s yet another way patients have benefited from Mercy Hospital Jefferson’s decision to install SOFIA. Every interaction—every examination, every conversation—adds up, and the solution’s impact will only grow as time goes on.

Source:

More than two billion files—including approximately 4.4 million medical imaging files—have been exposed online across various storage technologies, according to a new report from Digital Shadows. Approximately 4.7 million healthcare-related files overall were exposed.

“As with all of the cases we discuss in this paper, not every single one of the exposed files is going to contain something sensitive,” according to the report. “However, the sheer amount of information exposed illustrates the extend of individuals’ privacy violations, and or regulations like HIPAA in the United States.”

In today’s healthcare environment, there’s an ever-growing expectation that your contribution to patients’ clinical experiences will go beyond capturing and reading an image. Instead, it’s now largely understood you’ll play a more interactive role in their diagnostic journeys.

However, for many patients, coming to you for a diagnostic study can be unsettling. Therefore, some responsibility falls to you to alleviate their fears and provide them with a comfortable, informative interaction.

Countless articles have been written over the years about whether or not AI technologies will ever replace radiologists for good, leading to a mass extinction like something out of the Jurassic period. According to a new commentary in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence, however, radiologists have no reason to fear being replaced—as long as they are willing to embrace AI and adapt to these changing times.

Author Curtis P. Langlotz, MD, PhD, department of radiology at Stanford University, wrote about this subject in detail. These are four reasons, according to his commentary, that AI will not be replacing radiologists:

1. Radiologists have been down this road befores
2. Radiologists know how to adapt and take charge
3. An accurate algorithm ≠ an accurate radiologist
4. Autopilot didn’t replace pilots

Deep learning (DL) may be able to help healthcare providers predict how patients will respond to intravenous thrombolysis, according to a new pilot study published in Academic Radiology. This, the authors noted, would lead to better stroke care by improving the patient selection process.

April 23, 2019 — Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas Inc. announced that its Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) technology, introduced at the 2018 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company says DDR represents the next evolution in X-ray imaging with the ability to capture movement in a single exam and is a fundamental change in the way clinicians can utilize radiography.

DDR produces medical images that depict movement and can be fully annotated, including diagrams, to help radiologists provide a more detailed clinical finding. DDR, an enhanced X-ray technology, enables clinicians to observe the dynamic interaction of anatomical structures, such as tissue and bone, with physiological changes over time. By bringing advanced cineradiography capabilities to X-ray, a primary diagnostic tool that is widely available worldwide, DDR can help address global healthcare issues such as access, cost and quality of care. By providing quantifiable clinical information, DDR may increase the quality and specificity of diagnosis, helping clinicians rapidly answer clinical questions resulting in higher individualized care and reduced need for additional tests.

Two clinical areas where DDR can have an impact are in musculoskeletal (MSK) and thoracic imaging. DDR supports the diagnosis of MSK conditions by providing views of full patterns of articulatory mobility. Today, orthopedists rely on external motion and static X-ray to assess joint stability and spinal movement. With DDR, orthopedists and MSK specialists can acquire a full view of the MSK system in the supine and prone positions to view changes in the bone and articulations throughout the full range of motion. This information can be used to assess and monitor the spine and joints, such as the shoulder, knees, wrists and ankles. This enables the orthopedist or MSK specialist to provide a more detailed diagnosis quicker, reduce the need for additional imaging tests and enhance the quality of care.

In thoracic and pulmonary imaging, DDR provides a full view of chest, lung and organ movement during the respiratory cycle. DDR also helps quantify movement, enabling the radiologist and pulmonologist to provide an enhanced assessment of pulmonary function to help determine the cause for dyspnea (shortness of breath). The potential causes for dyspnea are extensive and there are numerous tests used in diagnosis. In one imaging exam, DDR helps clinicians assess lung function, track lung movement to detect asymmetry (latent, paradoxical, limited or no movement), and differentiate asthma, obstruction, restriction or mixed conditions.

DDR may overcome the limitations of pulmonary function tests, spirometers and static X-ray images that cannot identify differences between the left and right lung. With DDR’s advanced image processing and enhancement, physicians may track lesions that move throughout the respiratory cycle and identify blood vessel patterns and parenchymal abnormalities or pulmonary embolisms in many cases without a contrast agent. A bone suppression algorithm may help physicians differentiate calcifications from bone structures. Additional measurement tools can help identify and quantify differences in lung movement, which can be used to estimate lung volume; an edge tracking tool provides a graphical representation of lung movement throughout the respiratory cycle.

Konica Minolta is completing studies with clinical partners and will commercially release the technology later in 2019. The company will showcase orthopedic applications for DDR at the American Association of Orthopedic Executives (AAOE) 2019 Annual Meeting, May 5-8 in Nashville, Tenn., and demonstrate thoracic and pulmonary applications for DDR at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, May 17-22 in Dallas.

TORRANCE, CA – April 18, 2019 - Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, receives a #1 customer experience score ranking from IMV research.

In the recent, “Benchmarking for 2019: Understanding the Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Customer Experience: Executive Summary”, Shimadzu Medical Systems USA was the only manufacturer who received the highest rankings in all customer touchpoints examined.

Based on IMV’s executive summary, the results are from 327 US-based diagnostic imaging customers who were ranked in: Equipment Awareness, Equipment Knowledge, Equipment Selection, Equipment Integrity, Service Provided, Manufacturer Support, and Satisfaction and Loyalty.

The objective of IMV’s Executive Summary is to:

• Provide diagnostic imaging equipment manufacturers with the ability to benchmark the customer experience enjoyed by their customers against those of competitors
• Identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of each manufacturer on each customer touchpoint
• Determine the relative importance of each touchpoint in the customer experience lifecycle.

About IMV
IMV, established in 1977, is a recognized leader in market research and online publishing for the medical imaging and clinical diagnostic instruments markets. Visit IMV at: www.imvinfo.com

About Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS)
Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a division of Shimadzu Precision Instruments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is its medical business subsidiary in USA.

Shimadzu Corporation, an international enterprise founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic imaging equipment including conventional (Rad & RF), interventional (CardioVascular) and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with a Sales and Marketing office located in Cleveland, Ohio and Southwest Direct Operations headquartered in Dallas,Texas as well as Direct Service and Sales in the greater Chicago area.

For further information about Shimadzu Medical Systems USA or other activities of Shimadzu in North America, please visit us at www.shimadzu-usa.com

Delays getting radiology imaging results from the NCH Healthcare System has prompted some physicians to send patients elsewhere for diagnostic testing.

“It is not a great confidence builder,” said Dr. Richard Kravis, a concierge physician, adding that he has waited four days for chest X-rays. “We are seeing significant delays.”

Other physicians say slow turnaround time for imaging results — such as X-rays and CT scans — was problematic a while ago but appears to be on the mend.

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Alan H. Matsumoto, M.D., Daniel Picus, M.D., and James B. Spies, M.D., selected for distinguished and extraordinary service to SIR or the discipline of interventional radiology.

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Healthcare research firm MD Buyline, has released its User Satisfaction Rating for Q1 2019 to its vendor subscribers.

We are excited to announce that Shimadzu received the highest ratings in all six categories in the Radiography and Fluoroscopy ranking, and stands alone with a 9.3 in the composite rating. The R/F product line includes the Fluorospeed 300 and SONIALVISION G4.

Laura Findeiss, M.D., FSIR, an interventional radiologist and chief of service for the department of radiology at Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, assumed the office of president of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) on March 26, during the society's Annual Scientific Meeting in Austin, Texas.

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Be it films, digital images, or integrated file-sharing systems, radiology has historically been the leader in applying technological advancements to workflow and patient care. That trend shows no slackening.

According to industry leaders, 2019 will again be a year where you’ll be introduced to new technologies and see wider-spread implementation of new tools to enhance the way you work and provide services to your patients.

1. Liquid Biopsy
2. Deep Learning
3. Computing Platforms
4. Patient Comfort

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With the continuous improvements and advancements in medical imaging, the industry has witnessed growth in diagnostics. This trend has only progressed. The explosion of digital space has opened new opportunities for companies in the pharmaceutical industries. MRI and CT have historically relied on the human eye to analyze and identify whether a patient needed treatment or not; however, all this has changed due to the advancements in medical imaging.

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TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, announces that The Shimadzu School of Radiologic Sciences has been approved by the Midwestern State University (MSU) Texas Board of Regents.

The MSU Texas Board of Regents approved a corporate sponsorship agreement with Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a division of Shimadzu Precision Instruments, Inc. The sponsorship provides medical equipment and a 10-year service plan for the University's radiologic sciences program. In recognition of the $2.4 million value of the sponsorship, the Board approved the naming of The Shimadzu School of Radiologic Sciences in honor of the company.

"We are honored to enter into this agreement with Shimadzu Medical Systems," said MSU President Suzanne Shipley. "Our students and faculty will have access to state-of-the-art technology that is rarely afforded (or accessible) in an educational setting."

Through the agreement, SMS will provide multiple X-ray rooms, as well as turnkey installation of the equipment, on-demand training on its use, and complete parts replacement for 10 years on the equipment. The new equipment will be installed in the new health sciences building, scheduled to open for instruction in fall 2019.

"This is a giant step forward for MSU Texas and for the radiologic sciences," said James Johnston, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "I know the national leads of the organizations that accredit, certify, and establish how we practice radiography in the United States and to the extent they were able to research, this is the first corporate naming of a radiologic science program in the United States."

Johnston said he is already fielding questions from other institutions as to how this partnership might be duplicated. He credits the reputation and leadership of MSU Texas's radiologic sciences over the decades in attracting such a valuable partnership.

The radiology program at MSU Texas began in 1972 and today is a forerunner in medical imaging education through quality classroom instruction and detailed clinical practice.

"The promising partnership between Shimadzu Medical Systems USA and Midwestern State University affords students access to educational opportunities and training to prepare them to be leaders in the field of radiologic sciences," states Akinori Yamaguchi, President of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA.

The partnership presents a unique opportunity for both institutions, as this is the first corporate and public educational partnership of its type in the radiological sciences.

About Midwestern State University (MSU Texas)

Midwestern State University, located in Wichita Falls, Texas, is known for its strong programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences as well as accredited professional programs in mechanical engineering, social work, nursing, radiologic science, respiratory care, athletic training, and business, among others. Midwestern State is the only Texas university to become a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC). Home to more than 6,000 students, MSU Texas boasts an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students may choose from more than 60 majors and have access to more than 100 organizations across campus.

About Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS)

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a division of Shimadzu Precision Instruments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is its medical business subsidiary in USA.

Shimadzu Corporation, an international enterprise founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic imaging equipment including conventional (Rad & RF), interventional (Cardiovascular) and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with a Sales and Marketing office located in Cleveland, Ohio and Southwest Direct Operations headquartered in Dallas,Texas as well as Direct Service and Sales in the greater Chicago area.

For further information about Shimadzu Medical Systems USA or other activities of Shimadzu in North America, please visit us at www.shimadzu-usa.com.

For more information, contact:
Frank Serrao, Marketing Manager
marketing@shimadzu-usa.com

AI can predict a woman’s survival rate and response to treatments for ovarian cancer more accurately than current methods, according to research published online Feb. 15 in Nature Communications.

The machine learning software developed by researchers at Imperial College London in the U.K. and the University of Melbourne in Australia could help clinicians administer the most appropriate treatments to patients more quickly and may be used to classify patients into groups based on subtle differences in textures of their cancer shown on CT scans.

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Looking back on 2018, technological advancement in radiology was the hot topic at nearly every national conference in the industry. That’s a trend that has every indication of continuing in 2019.

According to industry leaders, continued progress in artificial intelligence (AI) will largely take center stage even if wide-spread implementation continues to lag. But, alongside this progress, you’ll likely see more emphasis on patient interaction and patient-centered care, as well as a changing educational landscape for residents.

Diagnostic Imaging spoke with several thought leaders to see where they think the industry is headed over the next 12 months.

1. Artificial Intelligence
2. Interoperability
3. Patient empowerment
4. Patient interaction

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For the third year running, radiology is seeing a lull in coding and reimbursement changes.

But, while there are relatively few alternations to how you should code for—and will get paid for—your services, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you should pay attention to this year to maintain a healthy bottom line. And, according to industry leaders, you can also take active steps in this direction.

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The latest news could be a move that ultimately puts Amazon in direct competition with urgent care centers for some patients. The company has been trying to forge a new link in the healthcare supply chain by getting into the home health test market.

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CMS Imaging is happy to announce and congratulate David Brooker on his promotion to Vice President of Field Services, effective January 22, 2019. David will continue to lead the Field Services Team and will report directly to John Sloan.

Additionally, Mike Mariani has accepted the newly created position of Vice President of Service Sales. Mike will focus on enhancing relationships with our existing customers and building new relationships with healthcare facilities in our territory to sell extended service contracts. Mike's new position is effective January 22, 2019.

Let's all congratulate David and Mike on their new positions.

Have you wondered how space travels effects humans? Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently analayzed CT scans of astronauts who spent six months at the International Space Station. Though previous studies only compared the pre-flight and post-flight scans, this new study also includes ultrasounds of the astronauts while in space.

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By: Subrata Thakar
Unnecessary imaging is a serious problem in the United States. So what can be done about it? A new analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association explored that very question.

The industry has combated unnecessary and wasteful diagnostic imaging by implementing appropriate use criteria and educating physicians, but more needs to be done. These are three strategies suggested by author John P. A. Ioannidis, MD, DSc, of the Stanford Prevention Research Center in California, and colleagues:

1. Educate patients
Healthy individuals and patients can be educated abut radiation risks, intravenous contrast and the possibility of incidental findings. The use of flowcharts and diagrams may illustrate the potential “detrimental effects” of further testing, the authors added.
“Instead of the current typical pretest conversation, which generally involves a clinician simply notifying the patient that imaging is ordered, a shared decision-making process requires comprehension of the likely gains versus the potential detrimental effects of testing, including the detection and investigation of unrelated findings,” the authors wrote.
Shared decision-making, the authors wrote, allows for improved transparency and decreased confusion regarding follow-up and treatment. Also, communicative interventions may need to occur at multiple times during a single patient interaction so that patient safety is adequately addressed.
2. Focus on the target
Lowering the image sensitivity of anatomy that is not the primary target could result in fewer unrelated findings, the researchers wrote. Some may argue that the limited image may not allow for the radiologist to make an accurate diagnosis. The authors said, however, that this may be true for more complicated cases, but not for most patients.
“Although this approach would not reduce the number of initial tests, it could potentially prevent the cascade of tests that follow an incidental finding,” the authors wrote.
3. Ask radiologists to serve as gatekeepers
Additionally, instead of just interpreting examinations, radiologists may also need to become “gatekeepers” to regulate what tests should be ordered or not ordered.
“This would require embedding radiologists more routinely as consultants in clinical encounters that contemplate ordering imaging tests,” Ioannidis and colleagues noted.

Source
Thakar, Subrata. “3 Strategies to Control Wasteful Imaging.” Radiology Business, 8 Jan. 2019, www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/quality/3-strategies-control-wasteful-imaging?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=rb_news.

Whole-body PET/MRI shows potential to provide physicians with a “one-stop-shop” for staging high-risk prostate cancer patients, according to new research published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

The authors compared the performance of 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI with clinical nomograms currently being used to determine risk by conducting a retrospective study on 73 patients. Two common prediction tools—Partin tables and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram—and 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI were used to predict each patient’s risk for advanced disease. Those predictions were then compared with various histopathologic results.

Overall, the whole-body PSMA-targeted PET/MRI imaging produced positivity rates comparable with both the Partin tables and the MSKCC nomogram.

“Our results showed that PSMA-targeted PET/MRI performed equally well to established clinical nomograms for preoperative staging in high-risk prostate cancer patients and provided additional information on tumor location” co-author Andrei Gafita, MD, of the Technical University of Munich in Germany, said in a news release from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. “Translated into a clinical setting, the use of this imaging technique for preoperative staging might support treatment planning that may lead to improved patient outcomes.”

Source
Walter, Michael. “Whole-Body PET/MRI Shows Promise for Staging High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients.” Radiology Business, 12 Dec. 2018, www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/care-delivery/whole-body-petmri-s-high-risk-prostate-cancer?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=rb_news.

On Sunday, December 19 NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was injured as a result of a sack by Raiders' defensive end Clinton McDonald. At half-time Roethlisberger had his ribs x-rayed. Because the X-Ray machine was out of date, the results were inconclusive, the team's General Manager Kevin Colbert delayed the quarterback's return to the game. Roethlisberger did end up returning to the game in which the Steelers lost.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are two titanic trends driving the future of medical imaging, according to an in-depth analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. The study’s authors also assessed other trends that continue to gain momentum.

“The medical device industry is undergoing rapid change as innovation accelerates, new business models emerge, and AI and the Internet of Things create disruptive possibilities in health care,” wrote author Alan Alexander, MD, and colleagues from the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company in New York City.

AI and blockchain: Leaders of the pack

Alexander et al. used data to explore the current state of the medical imaging industry and observed that AI and machine learning (ML) are, not surprisingly, the hottest ticket in town.

“This cluster has the greatest number of startups (32), the highest volume of investor transactions (more than $500 million), the greatest revenue, and strong investor interest and potential for further growth,” the authors wrote. “Furthermore, there has been keen interest from radiologists in improving work efficiency, given the number of specialty-specific publications, presentations, and opinion articles in this space.”

A lot of the companies in this space specialize in one specific modality, they added, with 22 percent of companies focused on CT and another 13 percent each focused on MRI and mammography.

“CT and mammography lend themselves most readily to AI because attenuation information can be used in the learning algorithms,” the authors wrote. “Other modalities present challenges: the interpretation of multisequence images in MRI, the user variability in ultrasound, and 2-D limitations in x-rays.”

AI and ML have the ability to help specialists interpret studies more quickly and some algorithms can even detect abnormalities “not readily visible to the human eye.” These technologies can also help with cost savings, the researchers noted, due to how they can prevent unnecessary readmissions and cut down on wasteful imaging.

Blockchain, on the other hand, is even newer than AI and ML. The authors noted numerous ways blockchain can help radiology.

“It could help prevent the kind of data breaches that have recently occurred in health care and, if breaches do occur, blockchain can enable continued functioning after the event,” they wrote. “The technology is likely to underpin further use cases for cyber- and data security in concert with data sharing, as well as AI computing through the use of ML algorithms across distributed ledgers. Blockchain will also support the distribution of graphics processing units to drive AI analysis and analytics and facilitate further ML endeavors.”

Another key reason blockchain is so important is that it can help imaging providers with the massive amount of data they are required to maintain and securely share with patients and other physicians. Blockchain has already helped the banking industry with its own “large data needs,” and it could do the same for medical imaging.

3 additional trends to keep an eye on

• 3D visualization, virtual reality and image-guided intervention: Startups in this space have been around for a long time and raised significant funds, the authors wrote. 3D printing, surgical simulation platforms and surgical prosthetics are just three examples of why these technologies are getting more and more attention throughout the industry.
• Intraoperative technologies: Alexander and colleagues warned all businesses serving imaging professionals that this is an area rapidly growing in importance. “Imaging is becoming a crucial aspect of intra-operative planning and execution, particularly for applications requiring extensive data acquisition in real time,” the authors wrote. “It can enhance precision during surgical interventions and improve outcomes. Intra-operative techniques span all modalities, including ultrasound, MRI, and fluoroscopy, and they often require portable capabilities.”
• Nuclear imaging: “As nuclear imaging grows and moves away from metabolic imaging for cancer localization to pathology-specific cancer diagnosis (for instance, the combining of ligands specific to prostate or breast cancer with radioisotopes for definitive diagnosis), imaging companies will have increasing opportunities to engage in cancer diagnostics, and potentially therapeutics as well,” the authors wrote.

Source
Walter, Michael. “2 Key Trends Driving the Future of Medical Imaging (and 3 to Keep an Eye on).” Radiology Business, 5 Dec. 2018, www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/healthcare-economics/2-key-trends-future-medical-imaging-ai-blockchain?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=rb_weekly.

The Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America held it's meeting in Chicago's McCormick Place from November 25th - 30th. Here are some of the highlights from the show.

Shimadzu Medical Sytems
Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, presented theTrinias Unity C16, the Sonialvision G4, the RADspeed Pro EDGE Package, the RADspeed fit and the MobileDaRt Evolution MX8.

Shimadzu also presented the FLUOROspeed X1 (Work in Progress). This new addition to their fluoroscopic lineup will be an elevating conventional RF table, featuring a 650lb patient capacity, a large apperture for swallow studies, and have the ability to park deck in any any position.
See photos below.

Canon USA and Virtual Imaging
Canon USA and Virtual Imaging Showcase RadPRO® Digital Radiographic Systems at Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting

CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, and Virtual Imaging, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A. announce today that they will showcase their lines of radiology offerings at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 104th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, from November 25-30, 2018. Guests to South Hall, booth #1938 will have the opportunity to experience an array of RadPRO radiology solutions, which function on the Windows® 10 Operating System.

"We are pleased to share the latest innovations from Canon and Virtual Imaging with healthcare providers at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago," said Tsuneo Imai, Vice President and General Manager, Healthcare Solutions, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. and President, Virtual Imaging, Inc. "Precision, intuitive design and efficient workflow are critical to providing the best options for care, and Canon and Virtual Imaging keep these needs top of mind during the development of their products and services."

Ideal for radiology professionals who require proven technologies to aid performance, productivity and workflow, the RadPRO1 Mobile 40kW FLEX PLUS Digital X-Ray System will be on display. The System features a multi-touch supported monitor that when used with CXDI Control Software NE enables more intuitive touch operations, such as zoom, pan, double-tap zoom, WW/WL adjustment, laterality marker dragging and list scrolling – all of which are possible by using the operator's fingers in place of keyboard or mouse activity.

Additional system features include an LED status indicator light that assists the end user in confirming the system status, a CXDI Wireless Detector battery charger affixed to the mobile system, and the patented Enhanced Workflow Package and wireless Distributed Antenna System (DAS).

Attendees can also see and learn about the RadPRO OMNERA® 400A Auto-Positioning Digital Radiographic System. This system enables fast and effortless precision positioning thanks to its fully motorized auto-positioning that provides servo tracking to both the wall stand and table. An easy to operate overhead tube crane with 10-inch, touch-screen display helps make exams as simple as selecting a protocol and pressing a control. Additional features include detector charging in wall stand and table, and optional automatic stitching capability.

Additional products and systems on display include:

• DR Tablet Solution helps usher in the move to digital radiography. It consists of a tablet2 and choice of a CXDI Wireless Digital Radiography System which includes CXDI Control Software NE. The auto-detection mode of the detector allows for X-rays to be automatically detected at exposure without the use of a typical generator interface and cables.
• RadPRO URS Universal Radiography System provides motorized movements that can be controlled from three different locations for more operator flexibility. It has a small footprint for space-conscious facilities and its superb flexibility makes it easy and cost-effective to install and use without compromising imaging capability.
• RadPRO FM Floor-Mounted Radiography System offers a floor-mounted tube stand, 4-way float table, and chest stand, making it a robust solution ideal for most medical imaging applications. The freestanding tube stand requires no wall or ceiling supports for fast installation.
• CXDI-710C/810C/410C Wireless Digital Radiography Systems deliver high-resolution images at fast preview times, resulting in low radiation dose to the patient.
• CXDI Control Software NE v2.17 is a new feature release offering multi-touch support, Advanced Edge Enhancement, Multiple Image Processing, and other features.

See photos below

For more information about radiography solutions from Canon U.S.A. and Virtual Imaging, please visit https://www.usa.canon.com/dr.

About Virtual Imaging, Inc.
Virtual Imaging, Inc., a Canon company, combines unmatched experience, extensive resources and broad business functions. Virtual Imaging collaborates with large hospitals, imaging centers, private physician offices and government organizations to support them in becoming efficient, high-performance healthcare providers and professionals with the latest in digital radiography technology. Virtual Imaging assists in the forward advancement of its clients, from strategic planning to day-to-day operations, with a commitment to providing products and services for diagnostic equipment, imaging solutions and digital flat panel technology. In addition to healthcare organizations, Virtual Imaging also provides solutions to the U.S. veterinary market and to the security industry – a field deployable radiography system for military use and a full-body security screening system to help address certain security needs of jails, prisons and other high-security environments.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2017† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2018. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com.

Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Brings Motion to X-ray with Dynamic Digital Radiography at RSNA 2018

For the first time, radiologists will be able to view motion from standard X-ray images without fluoroscopy. Konica Minolta Healthcare is bringing digital radiography (DR) to life with the ability to visualize movement using conventional X-ray. Known as Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR)* or X-ray in Motion™, this revolutionary new modality captures movement in a single exam and allows the clinician to observe the dynamic interaction of anatomical structures, such as soft tissue and bone, with physiological changes over time. The value of DDR in thoracic imaging is promising, allowing clinicians to observe chest wall, heart and lung motion during respiration. DDR goes beyond pulmonary function; Konica Minolta is exploring its use in orthopedic applications of the spine and extremities. This new capability will be showcased at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), being held November 25-29 in Chicago, in Konica Minolta’s booth 1919.

“DDR may dramatically change the diagnostic and patient management paradigms for respiratory diseases and other pathologies including orthopedic injuries,” says Kirsten Doerfert, Sr. VP of Marketing, Konica Minolta Healthcare. “With X-ray images in motion, clinicians can see structures in a way they have never been able to see before, enhancing their ability to better manage patients based on individual characteristics and bringing precision medicine further into focus for radiology. The potential benefit is significant."

DDR is an enhanced version of a standard DR system that rapidly acquires up to 15 sequential radiographs per second for up to 20 seconds of physiological movement, resulting in 300 X-ray images with a dose equivalent to about two standard X-rays. Since the DDR system also performs all conventional X-ray studies as well as motion radiographic studies, it is a cost-effective solution that provides greater diagnostic capability in an economical package.

In the US, 74% of all radiologic studies are radiography1 and nearly 44 percent of hospital-based X-ray imaging exams are thoracic2. While access to CT, MR and nuclear medicine may be limited in regions throughout the world, X-ray is an essential primary diagnostic tool that is widely available in developed nations at a fraction of the cost. There are also potential cost savings for healthcare systems globally by reducing the need for more advanced, and more expensive, imaging techniques.

“We are enabling clinicians to see more than a static image," says Guillermo Sander, Director of Marketing, Digital Radiography, Konica Minolta Healthcare. "By digitally capturing movement, DDR may deliver quantifiable clinical information that has the potential to increase the quality and specificity of diagnosis. With DDR, clinicians may better understand the pulmonary effect of neuromuscular disorders, diagnose and manage patients with respiratory conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and evaluate post-operative changes in patients with lung cancer, lung cysts and other pathologies."

Konica Minolta developed DDR with the global healthcare goals of higher quality care, greater access and lower cost in mind, supporting clinicians throughout the world in making better decisions, sooner.

1 Herrmann TL, Fauber TL, Gill J, et al. Best practices in digital radiography. Radiol Technol. 2012 Sep-Oct;84(1):83-9.

2 IMV Market Research, 2017 X-ray/DR/CR Market Outlook, Sept. 2017.

*Dynamic Digital Radiography is not FDA cleared.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

Neusoft
2018 is a historic year for Neusoft Medical Systems, which marks the 20th anniversary. This year is its 19th participation in RSNA. It comes with latest products, which is Powerful and Proven.

The equipment, endowed with powerful functions and profound stability and consistency, and showcased at Neusoft’s booth, attracted a lot of attention. They can be utilized to increase patient care accessibility and reduce cost.

Neusoft employees from different countries made detailed introduction of newly released products to partners and customers.

Neusoft released new technology in all areas of diagnostic imaging at RSNA 2018. AI is not only a buzz word, it’s a reality for Neusoft.

On one hand, Neusoft’s AI (NeuAI) has received attention and recognition in the academic circle, and on the other hand, it has been implemented in Neusoft’s newly released products, including NeuViz Glory CT (*510k pending), NeuMR 1.5T (*510k pending), NeuAngio 30C DSA (*510k pending), NeuWise PET/CT (*510k pending) and Mobile CT Unit.

By: Rich Haridy
After over a decade of development, the world's first full-body medical scanner has produced its first images. The groundbreaking imaging device is almost 40 times faster than current PET scans and can capture a 3D picture of the entire human body in one instant scan.

Called EXPLORER, the full-body scanner combines positron emission tomography (PET) and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Following years of research, a prototype, primate-sized scanner was revealed in 2016. After expansive testing, the first human-sized device was fabricated in early 2018.

Developed in a collaboration between scientists from UC Davis and engineers from Shanghai-based United Imaging Healthcare, the very first human images from the scanner have finally been revealed. The results are being described as nothing short of incredible and the research team suggests EXPLORER could revolutionize both clinical research and patient care.

"The level of detail was astonishing, especially once we got the reconstruction method a bit more optimized," says Ramsey Badawi, chief of Nuclear Medicine at UC Davis Health. "We could see features that you just don't see on regular PET scans. And the dynamic sequence showing the radiotracer moving around the body in three dimensions over time was, frankly, mind-blowing. There is no other device that can obtain data like this in humans, so this is truly novel."

The new EXPLORER scanner offers remarkable improvements over current imaging systems. As well as offering faster scans, producing a whole-body image in as little as 20 to 30 seconds, the device is effectively up to 40 times more sensitive than current commercial scanning systems.

This means the scanner can produce detailed images using significantly lower doses of radiation tracers than are currently needed. The higher sensitivity also allows clinicians to image certain molecular targets that are beyond the limits of current scanning systems.

"The tradeoff between image quality, acquisition time and injected radiation dose will vary for different applications, but in all cases, we can scan better, faster or with less radiation dose, or some combination of these," says Simon Cherry, from the UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Perhaps the most exciting and novel application of this new scanning system is its ability to capture entire body images in single momentary scans. Current PET systems are fundamentally slow and inefficient due to the necessity of having to scan single slivers of the body at one time. Over a long stretch of 30 or 40 minutes all these smaller images are aggregated into a larger 3D image, however this significantly limits the ability of clinicians to measure the effects of something moving across the entire body in real time.

The EXPLORER promises an entirely new kind of diagnostic imaging that could, for example, measure blood flow or the way a person takes up glucose, in real time across the entirety of the body. The new imaging system still has some testing and verification ahead before it moves into commercial production but Cherry is optimistic it shouldn't be too long before it is available to hospitals and research bodies worldwide.

"I don't think it will be long before we see at a number of EXPLORER systems around the world," says Cherry. "But that depends on demonstrating the benefits of the system, both clinically and for research. Now, our focus turns to planning the studies that will demonstrate how EXPLORER will benefit our patients and contribute to our knowledge of the whole human body in health and disease."

The new research will be presented at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Source:
Haridy, Rich. "World's First Full-body Medical Scanner Generates Astonishing 3D Images." New Atlas - New Technology & Science News. November 20, 2018. Accessed November 20, 2018. https://newatlas.com/full-body-scan-explorer-medical-imaging/57303/.

The AHRA has announced that Daniel Kelsey, MBA, CAE will be their new Chief Executive Officer. He previously served as the CEO for the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Mr. Kelsey comes to the AHRA with over 20 years of expereince working with non-profit organization specifically working with strategic plannin and business development.

“As a veteran of the healthcare association world, I’m very excited to join AHRA, the preeminent organization for imaging leaders, who set and live up to high standards for quality care and innovation,” Kelsey said in a prepared statement. “All of my professional experience will enable me to enhance AHRA’s commitment to member success and education, advocacy, and certification. I look forward to upholding the AHRA’s strong priorities and financial soundness, while expanding its reach to increase the impact and awareness of the organization.”

“Dan’s strategic drive, distinguished career in the association management community, and passion for membership make him the perfect choice to lead AHRA and help shape the strategic focus and advocacy efforts of the next phase of its development,” Bill Algee, AHRA president, said in the same statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome Dan aboard.”

The CEO roles was previously held by Ed Cronin, Jr.for fourteen years. Mr Cronin retired earlier this year.

Wayne, NJ, November 7, 2018 – At RSNA 2018, Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. will showcase new features and tools for the Exa Enterprise Imaging platform. Exa is a breakthrough solution comprised of multiple modules, including PACS, RIS, Billing and specialty viewers, across a single, shared database that can be used individually or together for a complete Enterprise Imaging experience.

“As technology continues to evolve and mature, we have worked to keep Exa on the forefront of Healthcare IT advancements,” says Kevin Borden, VP of Product, Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, HCIT. “With input from our customers, we developed a series of new and advanced features and tools that will help radiologists increase productivity, enhance communication with peers and other clinicians, and improve the patient experience. With this, facilities can maximize the value of their Exa investment while providing excellent patient care.”

The new features include:

• Exa Voice Recognition transforms the user interface of Exa transcription into a more customized and user-based reporting experience that allows each radiologist to report in their most efficient manner. Exa Voice Recognition is truly zero footprint (ZFP), as there is nothing to install on workstations. Voice recognition and dialect detection used in the application have been dramatically improved to more accurately capture dictation and support more languages.
• Exa Chat is an easy-to-use system that lets users communicate one-on-one or with entire departments. It allows radiologists to quickly and securely discuss and share patients, studies, approved reports and more. This helps improve communication within and between the outpatient imaging center and hospital radiology department, with the assurance that patient health information is being communicated in a secure manner.
• Exa Peer Review is embedded into the radiologists' workflow to quickly share and reference specific patients, studies, approved reports and more. Exa Peer Review has customizable criteria including percentage of studies, total number of studies, RVU based or value based on modality and/or exam and timeframe per criteria. Exa Peer Review is built into the Exa Platform, eliminating the need for managing third-party peer review systems.
• Exa Patient Kiosk is a self-service tool that allows patients to easily check-in virtually or on-site for appointments, update demographic and insurance information, and complete and sign electronic forms. It’s available online through the Patient Portal and on-site via tablets with touchscreen capabilities. This new feature will ease bottlenecks in the front office, decrease patient wait times and improve the overall registration process, leading to a better patient experience.
• An improved Study Form Template helps the department move to a paperless workflow with an easy-to-use form builder to create forms more quickly and easily than ever before in Exa. The user-friendly form builder interface delivers greater flexibility and customization options than previously available.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.
Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader of integrated, best-in-class intelligent innovations in imaging technology. As a globally recognized leader, Konica Minolta is committed to helping healthcare providers make better decisions sooner by delivering new solutions that increase productivity, improve clinical outcomes and enhance the patient experience throughout the healthcare system. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

By: Jef Williams and Laurie Lafleur

Every year in late November tens of thousands of diagnostic imaging professionals from all over the globe descend upon the city of Chicago to learn what’s new in the industry, visit the technical exhibits and network with colleagues — both old and new — at a variety of professional meetings and social gatherings.

2018 has been an interesting year for health innovation. More than $15 billion in investment capital was poured into digital health firms in the first half of the year alone — outperforming every previous year overall for the past decade and amounting to 70 percent more than in the first half of 2017.(1) With new innovations and applications seemingly popping up everywhere, we were curious to learn how this would shape attendees’ hopes and expectations at this year’s RSNA.

We reached out to more than 3,500 diagnostic imaging professionals, including healthcare executives, radiology and IT leaders, radiologists, technologists and clinicians to ask about their top reasons for attending the show, and what new and exciting innovations they are hoping to see and learn about this year. The results are in!

Who’s Coming?

Given the steadily increasing number of mergers and acquisitions between provider organizations in industry it is no surprise that there will be significant representation from integrated health enterprises at this year’s show, followed (not so closely) by independent hospitals, outpatient centers, private practices, and teleradiology providers (see below).

The majority of attendees fall into front-line roles including radiology administrators, practicing radiologists and technologists. There is some representation from clinical and IT leadership, but very little at the executive level. This is indicative of the importance of experience from the ‘trenches’ and the level of influence retained by such stakeholders within their organizations — even in an environment of consolidation, expansion, and change (see below).

What are Their Top Reasons for Attending?

Continuing education (CE) and visiting the technical exhibit were in close contention for the top reason for most respondents attending RSNA this year, once again demonstrating the show as a destination for scientific and technological education, advancement and procurement. Of course, one cannot dismiss the popularity of social and professional networking events — and the many dinners and happy hours that are sure to be well attended (see below).

What are the Top Trends for RSNA 2018

By aggregating the responses to questions related to continuing education (CE) topics of interest, active shopping plans for the technical exhibit, and what new innovations/ technologies and associated applications respondents were most excited to see at this year’s show we were able to identify five key trends for RSNA 2018 (which we will expand upon in the following sections):

• Continued shift toward subspecialty practice
• Focus on optimization rather than replacement
• The nebulous potential of artificial intelligence (AI)
• Cloud confusion
• What didn’t make the list?

Trend #1: Continued Shift Toward Subspecialty Practice

Once again imaging modalities are the most popular shopping list item among RSNA attendees this year, with 30 percent of respondents noting that they will be actively shopping for new modalities — in particular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound systems — at the show this year. Following this trend, advances in modality technologies and best practices lead in terms for CE topics of interest, with 30 percent of respondents planning to attend sessions related to scientific and technological innovation, dose management and imaging workflow optimization across a wide array of specific clinical specialty applications, once again with a heavy emphasis on MRI.

Driven by shifting reimbursements and growing consumer demand for specialized care services, this trend highlights the increased focus on subspecialty practice, and subsequently image acquisition workflow. Consequently, healthcare organizations are seeking to leverage new technologies to enable more accurate diagnosis, improve clinical outcomes and derive increased value from their imaging service lines.

Trend #2: Focus on Optimization Rather Than Replacement

For those who are actively shopping at this year’s show, analytics/business intelligence (BI) and AI were in contention for second place at the top of the list, with 21 percent and 20 percent of respondents, respectively. The top reasons cited for adopting these technologies include:

• Improve workflow efficiency and reduce manual effort for technologists and radiologists
• Increase patient throughput and modality utilization
• Improve accuracy of interpretation results
• Gain prospective and retrospective insight into quality and organizational performance

Conversely, taking a popularity hit from previous years was enterprise imaging systems and PACS replacements, each appearing on fewer than 9 percent of attendees’ shopping lists. This is a surprising statistic, given the strong focus on both of these topics at previous shows.

Combined, these statistics highlight a strong shift toward optimization of existing systems and workflows and away from large-scale system replacements, and a demand for evidence-based decision making for both clinical and operational roles. This results in a greater-than-ever need for interoperability between vendors — especially up-and-coming BI and AI companies — to support the level of integration required to deliver on the expectations of this year’s shoppers.

Trend #3: The Nebulous Potential of AI

It should come as no surprise that AI was a leading topic for both CE sessions and the technical exhibit. At a high-level most respondents noted that they were looking to AI to optimize workflow, improve efficiency and accuracy, and increase satisfaction scores for providers and patients alike. These are common yet ambiguous answers that continue to reinforce trend #2 above, however very few respondents offered specific examples when asked what specific use cases and benefits respondents are hoping AI could offer. This is highly indicative that AI is still in its healthcare infancy, and that the industry in general continues to be unsure about what the most immediate and impactful applications of this emerging technology could be.

With AI appearing in numerous CE sessions and vendor booths, this year’s show should provide some much-needed education about what AI is, the role of related machine and deep learning technologies, and what they mean for healthcare. However, it remains to be seen whether RSNA 2018 will shed some light into which near-term applications will really take off in the diagnostic imaging realm, and whether vendors will be able to move the needle in terms of adoption in 2019.

Trend #4: Cloud Confusion

Somewhat unexpectedly, cloud-hosted solutions demonstrated a lack of interest among active shoppers, appearing on only 7 percent of respondents’ shopping lists, and not appearing at all on lists related to CE topics of interest or exciting new innovations. This is a surprising result, given the continued pressure on healthcare organizations to operationalize budgets and reduce cost, and eludes to lingering uncertainty regarding the technical, operational, or economic feasibility of vendor-managed infrastructure, systems and data within the industry at large.

Cloud technology has become a standard data model in many other industries, and offers several advantages including reduced operational complexity and capital expense and improved redundancy and security. The lack of adoption to-date reinforces healthcare’s slow movement to new technologies in general, which is further exacerbated by the confusion resulting from differing capabilities, pricing models, and business cases across vendors in the industry. Ultimately, spurring adoption of this new(er) technology in healthcare will begin with education regarding the capabilities and benefits of cloud-hosted environments so that IT leaders can become informed consumers and gain the confidence and trust required to move forward.

Trend #5: What Didn’t Make the List?

Equally telling to what respondents identified as ‘hot topics’ is what didn’t make the cut. A couple of the technologies that have been leading headlines and water-cooler conversations in 2018 include blockchain and consumer wearables, however they failed to emerge as top-of-mind for respondents when asked what new and exciting innovations they were hoping to see at the show.

Blockchain

Most popular for its applications in the financial industry, blockchain has been lauded for its potential in managing patient identities and sharing information and images between unaffiliated domains, as well as for the role it could play in supporting population health, AI and machine learning by aggregating data and making it accessible for research and algorithm training purposes. However, very few within the healthcare industry truly understand what blockchain is and how it works, and more questions than answers exist when it comes to the feasibility of deploying this resource-intensive technology, which is likely why it failed to make an appearance.

Consumer Wearables

Innovations like the Apple Watch with the ability to take ‘anytime, anywhere’ ECG readings continues to be a popular topic of discussion. While a good idea in theory, care providers have challenged whether the industry is ready for this type of innovation — citing questions such as how the resulting information can be meaningfully shared with and used by care providers, what to do when there is an inevitable influx of false positives to manage, and how will this fit into existing reimbursement models? These are not trivial concerns, which is why it is likely too soon for this type of technology to make a meaningful appearance on the RSNA 2018 agenda.

Conclusion

The trends identified for RSNA 2018 reinforce that the industry’s top priorities continue to be measurably improving the quality, scalability and cost of care. Imaging leaders and practitioners alike are cautiously looking to technology to provide transparency into clinical and business operations, optimize workflow and resource utilization, and improve interpretation accuracy.

While the rate of adoption typically lags behind the pace of innovation in healthcare, it will be interesting to see if this year’s show will provide the knowledge and confidence needed to diffuse some of the industry’s newer technologies into clinical practice in 2019.

About the Authors

Jef Williams is Managing Partner at Paragon Consulting Partners LLC. With decades of Healthcare IT experience, he has a diverse and creative approach to problem-solving and solution design. He specializes in assisting organizations with organizational strategy, operational improvement, software design and selection, and enterprise imaging deployment initiatives. Williams contributes to the industry at-large as a member of the AHRA, IHE and by participating in the HIMSS-SIIM working group.

Laurie Lafleur is a senior imaging consultant at Paragon Consulting Partners, providing consultative and advisory services for healthcare and technology organizations. Having worked with care providers and vendors across Canada, the United States and Europe, she brings over 18 years of relevant experience in software engineering, product marketing, and business strategy within the Healthcare IT and imaging informatics industries. She is a member the IHE Radiology Planning Committee, and serves as a technical advisor on an academic Software & Electronics Engineering advisory board.

Reference

1. 2018 Forbes, ‘Theranos? Whatever. Healthcare startups have raised $15 billion so far this year’, https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2018/07/09/theranos-whatever-healthcare-startups

Published from:

Williams, Jef, and Laurie Lafleur. "5 Trends to Watch for at RSNA 2018." Imaging Technology News. November 09, 2018. Accessed November 13, 2018. https://www.itnonline.com/article/5-trends-watch-rsna-2018.

Patients prefer to receive imaging results as soon as possible, according to new research published in Radiology. They also want that information to come from their physician and over the telephone, not through a patient portal.

“Although hospitals are implementing [patient portals] at an accelerated rate, there is a lack of guidance regarding how best to release potentially sensitive information such as radiologic test results, which fosters variability in hospital policies,” wrote lead author Matthew S. Davenport, MD, of Michigan Medicine and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues. “Some centers may prioritize the ability of the physician to communicate results before a patient is able to see them whereas other centers may prioritize the ability of the patient to view the results without physician oversight.”

Davenport et al. noted that it sometimes takes physicians one or two weeks to find time to communicate results to a patient. A patient portal, meanwhile, can allow results to be shared within three days, but there may not be physician oversight. Either time frame may increase anxiety on the part of the patient.

The researchers sought to measure patient preferences regarding the method of communication and the timing of when imaging results should be communicated. A total of 418 patients completed a “discrete choice conjoint survey” following an imaging exam from December 2016 to February 2018. The survey consisted of three questions regarding patient preferences for receiving results for a potential or known cancer diagnosis.

Overall, the researchers found that 43 percent of the surveyed patients had experience with an online patient portal. Of those who had experience utilizing it, 95 percent liked like the process. About 61 percent of patients said they would use the portal in the future.

“We found that when given a series of choices in the context of a known or possible cancer diagnosis, patients preferred to receive imaging results as soon as possible, from their physician, and over the telephone,” Davenport and colleagues noted. “In the clinically relevant scenario of immediate release of results followed by short-term follow-up, an office visit at seven days will be more preferable than immediate release if immediately released results are not followed by an office visit within two days or a telephone call within six days.”

The survey also revealed that most patients did not want to receive their imaging results before their physician—rather, they wanted the results at the same time or after their physician received the results. The telephone was the overall preferred method of communication, followed by an office visit and then the patient portal. Not surprisingly, those who had prior experience with a patient portal were less likely to want to wait for their results in comparison to those who did not have previous experience with such a system.

In an accompanying editorial, author Ronald L. Arenson, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, noted that online portals please most patients as they are very timely and do not impact a physician’s time. There is one caveat, however: cancer.

To combat the anxiety around embargoed receipt of cancer imaging communication, Arenson suggested that physicians should be able to have their reports embargoed until the physician can review. Another option would be to give patients the choice between an immediate release or waiting for the physician to review.

“Our results can be used to inform local policy and indicate that the embargo period can and possibly should vary by site, depending on the availability of referring physicians and their extender staff to contact patients with results,” Davenport et al. concluded. “Future study into offering patients the ability to customize the use and length of their specific embargo period may be warranted because different patients and those in different age groups may have different wishes with regard to receipt of sensitive imaging results.”

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor the aftermath of Hurricane Michael and its effects in Florida.

Our Charleston Call Center is open and accepting service and part related phone calls and will continue to operate under normal conditions. For service calls, please call us at 800.867.1821, email us at service @cmsimaging.com, or visit our website.

Service in Florida and other affected areas will return to normal where conditions allow our Field Service Engineers to commute to facilities safely. Counties under a Mandatory Evacuation* order from the governor will not be serviced until that order is lifted. Counties under Voluntary/Phased Evacuations** orders will be serviced on a case by case basis depending on the conditions of the roads and the safety of our staff.

All service calls submitted during the evacuations will be responded to in the order they were received.

FedEx and UPS delivery services have begun operation in all areas, not under emergency evacuation orders and deliveries will start today.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor Hurricane Michael and has begun to execute our Storm Contingency Plan along the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend Coast, and surrounding areas. Hurricane Michael is now a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150mph. These winds will also occur well inland across portions of the Florida Panhandle, southeast Alabama, and southwestern Georgia as the core of the hurricane moves inland. The worst of the storm surge is expected later today and tonight with a possible 9 to 14 feet of inundation. Heavy rainfall from Michael could produce flash flooding from the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region into portions of Georgia, the Carolinas, and southeastern Virginia.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. In compliance with the governor of Florida service operations in those areas affected by the storm have been suspended. CMS Imaging will continue to monitor the decisions made by the governors of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina with regards to the possible suspension of service in subsequent areas.

Our Storm Contingency Plan is in effect, and we stand prepared to continue our high level of service to our clients. Our Charleston Call Center is operating under normal conditions. In the event the Charleston area is impacted by the effects of the storm, we will switch to our secondary call center. Should our secondary location also be affected, we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our usual phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

Additionally, FedEx and UPS delivery services have suspended pickup and delivery service in some affected areas. Expect delivery delays in accordance with FedEx and UPS delivery suspension. For more information on deliveries, please visit UPS and FedEx.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Michael.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Michael to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again tomorrow, and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor Hurricane Michael and has begun to execute our Storm Contingency Plan along the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend coasts and surrounding areas. Hurricane Michael is now a Category 2 storm and has the potential of making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday evening.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. Governor Scott of Florida has issued mandatory evacuations along ten counties, as such service operations in those areas are subject to suspension as the storm nears.

As the storm proceeds inland, it has the potential of impacting our service operations throughout inland Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Our Storm Contingency Plan is in effect, and we stand prepared to continue our high level of service to our clients. Our Charleston Call Center is operating under normal conditions. In the event the Charleston area is impacted by the effects of the storm, we will switch to our secondary call center. Should our secondary location also be affected, we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our usual phone number, 800.867.1821, email at service@cmsimaging.com, and by visiting our website.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Michael.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Michael to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.gov.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at https://www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again tomorrow, and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Michael a storm that is expected to become a hurricane. Michael is now located just east of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is expected to make landfall along the Alabama / Florida Panhandle later this week. Current forecasts expect Michael to be a Category 2 storm when it impacts the US coastline. The storm is then expected to swing northeast and impact Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina before heading back out to sea.

It is imperative to us as an organization that all of our clients and team members remain safe in the affected areas. It is also our mission to ensure that all of our clients continue to receive the excellent service to which they are accustomed.

Our teams in both Jacksonville, FL and Charleston, SC will continue to monitor the official weather updates from our federal, state and local authorities. Our Service Management Team and Service Engineers will be presented with an operational plan for their specific territories once the path of the storm becomes more definitive.

We have already put in place a contingency plan for the areas not expected to be directly impacted by this storm. In the event our Charleston Call Center is directly affected by the storm, we will automatically switch to an offsite call center to receive and dispatch our service calls. In the event the offsite location is also affected, we have planned a tertiary location where our calls will be answered. All call centers can be reached at our usual phone number, 800.867.1821 via email at service@cmsimaging.com, or our website at https://www.cmsimaging.com/servicerequest.html.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by the storm.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Michael to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again today, and another Storm Alert will be issued tomorrow.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Plan.

CMS Imaging would like to welcome Steven Oeth to the team as an Associate Field Engineer in the Oxford, MS territory. Steven's first day will be October 22, 2018!

Please join us in welcoming Rocky Lester to our Sales Team! Rocky joins CMS Imaging as a Medical Accounts Manager in lower South Carolina and Eastern Georgia. Rocky will be taking over for Karen Kadavy as she transitions to Management role within the CMS Imaging Corporate team. Rocky comes to CMS with many years of experience selling diagnostic x-ray equipment in the Northeastern United States. Rocky's first day with CMS will be October 15, 2018.

CMS Imaging is also welcoming Howard Johnstone to our Service Team! Howard will be joining CMS Imaging as our new Customer Service Manager. Howard is replacing Tammy Smith as she transitions to an administrative role with our Project Management Team. Howard's first day will September 27, 2018.

San Diego—TCT 2018 - September 21, 2018 – Shimadzu Medical Systems USA and Change Healthcare, have entered a partnership through which Shimadzu will offer Change Healthcare Cardiology™ Hemo, along with its Trinias line of angiography systems. The announcement was made today at the annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT 2018) meeting in San Diego.

More than 130 million adults in the U.S. are projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2035. The costs associated with caring for CVD are unsustainable, and reimbursement models are shifting. To support providers looking to grow their cardiovascular service line and implement technology while maintaining financial responsibility, augmenting the Trinias line is part of a complete interventional lab package.

“We are proud to solidify a partnership with Change Healthcare, and extend the capabilities of their cardiology hemodynamics solution to achieve a shared initiative of providing healthcare organizations with solutions that help them meet their operational and quality initiatives,” said Tim Stevener, Director of Cardiology NA for Shimadzu Medical Systems. “Our companies are well aligned to provide an unmatched cardiology offering. With this collaboration, we look forward to a promising relationship with Change Healthcare.”

“This partnership shows our commitment to continue to work with other industry leaders to provide options for customers that will help them grow their business while providing quality care to the populations they serve,” said Aaron Green, SVP and GM, Cardiology, Change Healthcare. “The combination of the Trinias system and Change Healthcare Cardiology Hemo provides a unique offering for organizations looking for a complete solution with mutually exclusive benefits to meet the high demands of a hybrid interventional lab.”

Trinias is a unique single plane system available in floor or ceiling mounts or as a Bi-plane mounted system, offering unmatched design movements around the patient. Change Healthcare Hemo is the integrated hemodynamic monitoring system for cardiology departments that need to aggregate hemodynamic data, waveforms, and images in one cardiac patient record. The combined offering is now available through Shimadzu and its reseller network.

About Shimadzu

Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with Direct Operations headquartered out of Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; and the greater Chicago area. Visit SMS at: www.shimadzu-usa.com or call (800) 228-1429.

Arabzadeh, Payman, et al. “Disaster Strikes-What's the Plan for Your Urgent Care Center?” Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, 29 Aug. 2018, www.jucm.com/disaster-strikes-whats-plan-urgent-care-center/.

Urgent message: Urgent care centers exist to help people who need to see a healthcare professional today. When that need coincides with a natural or manmade disaster, every location must have a plan of action to ensure any downtime is minimal, staff needs are met, and the business is able to survive.

Introduction
No region of the country—for that matter, no state, town, neighborhood, or block—is immune from disabling disasters. Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, forest fires, earthquakes, even lightning strikes don’t care whether yours is a single location owned by the physician on duty, part of a hospital system, or the flagship of a national chain. Urgent care centers face the same risks as any other structure, while at the same time existing for the purpose of helping area residents who need medical care right away.

The challenge is, how do you ensure you’re prepared not only to protect your business, but to ensure your staff’s personal and professional needs are met and that your patients have somewhere to turn no matter what else is going on in the world?

We invited a handful of true leaders in our industry just that. Here’s what they had to say.

Do you have an operational disaster plan specific to your urgent care clinic in place? If so, how often is the plan reviewed and updated?

ARABZADEH: Davam Urgent Care does have an operational disaster plan in place, and it’s reviewed and updated at least biannually. It takes into account multiple forms of potential disasters. We have every new hire read it prior to coming on board. However, we also communicate with the staff throughout the year to keep everyone educated and up to date on procedures necessary in times of potential disasters.

LAMELAS: We have a well-developed and time-tested plan that addresses each location, operations, corporate, staffing, etc. We review it yearly, before the start of every hurricane season in Florida. We also always all sit down at the end of every hurricane season, or after any actual disaster, to do a postevent analysis. We review what happened, our performance, and any immediate improvements that might be needed going forward. We learn something new from every hurricane.

SELLARS: Many of our urgent care centers are also located in areas vulnerable to hurricanes, so our centers—our entire business—could lose a great deal if we didn’t have the right disaster plan in place. Besides direct damage in areas where low elevations and local waterways invite flooding, we need to be prepared for other consequences including power outages, infrastructure and property damage, mold, and contaminated water supply. Not many businesses can withstand being put on hold for very long, so our disaster plan is reviewed at least annually, sometimes more often depending on the need.

AYERS: We consult with independent, network, and hospital-affiliated urgent care centers across the country. The disaster risks, needs, and mitigation strategies vary significantly by region of the country. In California, it may be earthquakes and wild fires, hurricanes along the East and Gulf coasts, and blizzards or tornadoes in the Midwest. We advise every urgent care to have a disaster and business continuity plan in place that’s appropriate for the risks in their operating area. All new staff members should be oriented on the plan, annual training should occur on the plan (just prior to the season of highest risk), and the plan should be reviewed by leadership at least annually for relevance and detail. It’s also a good idea to engage in disaster simulations—to actually walk through everyone’s role and the steps to be followed.

Who do you communicate with on a governmental level regarding curfews, civil disaster plans (eg, a formal state of emergency), and your ability to open your urgent care clinic?

BEVIS: The director of the county Emergency Management System is our point of contact in local government before and during disasters.

ARABZADEH: Constant communication with local government is key to making sure our community knows whether we are available to help in a disaster situation. They usually can get out information faster and to a broader audience then we might be able to. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, about an hour away, we were in touch with our local fire department to let them know whether we were open or closed. The more people know their options for securing medical needs, the better off the community will be.

LAMELAS: We do not have ongoing, direct communication unless the health department, local municipalities, fire rescue, and police departments reach out to us. Having weathered a few hurricanes since opening here in south Florida in 2005, they all know we stay open as long as safely possible, and then try to reopen locations that are safe and have electricity or a generator as soon as possible. We do, however, keep an up-to-the-minute list of all our open sites and times on our webpage. Social media and radio are ideal for keeping the public informed.

SELLARS: One challenge is that phone systems, the internet, and cell phones may fail or be unreliable during a disaster. Trusted relationships are important to surviving a disaster situation; those may include our hospital partners caring for our patients should our centers be closed; local, county, and state government offices that have certain expertise and resources available in relieving disaster-related problems beyond our capabilities; and local media and social media outlets to provide updates to the community on operating hours and status. We also communicate with our vendors and other business partners as needed, and law enforcement agencies if necessary.

AYERS: Emergency medical services, hospital emergency rooms, and primary care providers should be aware of the urgent care center’s availability in case of a natural disaster. Developing local relationships and keeping others appraised of the urgent care’s operating status can result in referrals to urgent care when physician offices are unavailable, and knowing that ambulatory, nonemergent patients can walk in to urgent care can open capacity for first responders and hospital EDs to focus on more acute needs in the community. Because urgent care benefits from patient referrals, it’s always a good idea to develop relationships with community providers, regardless of whether there’s a disaster.

How do you decide who to schedule if you do stay open?

SELLARS: Our chief operating officer serves as the Incident Commander during any disaster situation and works with the owners, partners, and other members of the administrative team to initiate and coordinate all aspects of the Emergency Preparedness Plan.

BEVIS: First we decide if it is safe for patients and our staff to be open. From there, our regional directors work with staff to determine who is able to cover shifts.

ARABZEDAH: Yes, in the event of a disaster, scheduling is based on who is available to come in, depending on the severity of the disaster. Those who have not been affected, and can safely come to work, come help if possible. We have an in-house communication program that we used to keep in constant communication with the staff during normal working hours, as well as in disaster situations. The leadership team continually monitors and discusses implementation of these plans on a disaster-by-disaster basis.

LAMELAS: We are not open during the hurricane, and we try to close 24-36 hours before the event, depending on the storm, since the track is not as well established until then. I make that final call with input from my executive team and weather reports. As a physician, I always want the patients to come first, without risking the safety of our staff, and like to say, “We are here for our patients and because of our patients.”

Who can (or should) be on call if needed?

LAMELAS: From an urgent care operations perspective, that is the single most difficult part of dealing with any hurricane here in south Florida. School and daycare closings that force parents to stay home, people being evacuated from their homes or having difficulty traveling because of downed trees or power lines, as well as big and small things you would have never thought of, affect staffing. We try to determine which staff live in an evacuation zone, then create a list of staff and providers willing to take calls and be available. Lots of people step up during these difficult times and perform above and beyond what is expected. Others do not. It is always good to hope for the best, but be prepared by staffing extra employees, calling them in advance of their shifts, and having on-call staff and back-up plans. The most important thing is to communicate clear and concise messaging with staff before and after the hurricane.

SELLARS: While no staff members are expected to take any action that may endanger his/her life, all clinical staff members are considered essential and are expected to report to work to provide medical care to the community. Disaster on-call teams are established to provide additional coverage at high-volume clinics.

What if staff members have been affected directly by the disaster?

SELLARS: Adequate staffing is critical to meet increased healthcare demands during and after a disaster. However, staff may become both victims and responders when a disaster occurs. When this happens, staff member availability may be impacted for the first several days following a disaster. At Premier Health, we make every effort to assist staff members with their own personal disaster planning by incorporating preparedness efforts into our overall communications.

LAMELAS: We try to be supportive of our staff and keep open lines of communication, emails, group text, phone contact, radios, etc. on an ongoing basis. If employees have been personally affected, we try and shift them around between open sites so they can keep their hours/pay, give bonuses and extra personal time for outstanding performance, and even have been very charitable to them in times of need.

AYERS: Larger urgent care providers often have an employee assistance fund, to which employees can apply for support when facing individual hardship. Employees can donate to help their peers and there’s a review process to determine which requests are funded. Smaller operators will provide direct contributions, paycheck advances, or collections among employees. Also, its’ very common for employees to be able to donate their unused paid time off to colleagues in need.

And what’s the procedure for letting staff and patients know when your location has been affected—by physical damage or power outages, for example? Do you refer patients elsewhere on your website or building signage?

ARABZADEH: We use our social media network (Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram, website, etc.) to get information directly to our patients. We do our best to find out which alternate locations, whether it be hospitals, emergency rooms, or other urgent cares, are open and to pass the information along to our patients until we can get our location back up and running.

BEVIS: In 2017 we had an automobile crash into our front lobby. Our immediate priority was to ensure the safety and health of our patients and staff. Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt. We did, however, have to immediately close the clinic. We called 911, and local fire and police departments arrived quickly to secure the area. We announced on signage, social media, and phone messages that we would close temporarily. Patients were referred to neighboring clinics.

LAMELAS: MD Now locations have been affected in different ways over the years—loss of power, window and building damage, floods, etc., so we have had single and multisite closures. In addition to our website, social media, and front-door signage, we use our office phone outgoing message to refer patients to our open sites or the ED. We email our corporate accounts and call patients proactively to reschedule appointments. After the storm, we do status call three to five times a day between management teams and corporate, and also group texts. It’s helpful to have a few different methods of communication available.

SELLARS: We utilize an Emergency Notification Call Tree to communicate with staff members. It’s distributed to all staff and posted at all worksite locations. Communication may be in the form of text, phone, email, social media, or through a dedicated emergency message phone line with recorded message updates. The Incident Commander coordinates messages with senior managers, regional administrators, and other associates that may include hospital command centers, media, insurance carriers, utility services, law enforcement, and others. If necessary, patients may be referred to affiliated entities through press releases, on websites, social media channels, LED signs, and temporary signs. In short, it’s important to have a plan to communicate before, during, and after a disaster through alternate channels, if necessary.

What have you learned from prior natural disasters that would be relevant to operating your urgent care clinic?

SELLARS: We’ve experienced catastrophic flooding, civil unrest, and three hurricanes in markets where we operate urgent care centers in the past year. All of these situations required the activation of our Emergency Preparedness Plan. The most important lesson we’ve learned is to have a well-developed disaster plan in place, and to clearly and emphatically communicate that plan to all staff members before a disaster occurs. Advanced planning is critical to ensure the plan is implemented and executed effectively. That said, what may look good on paper doesn’t always apply in a real-life situation, so it’s extremely important to spend time not just preparing but to regroup after the disaster to make necessary adjustments.

ARABZADEH: We have had the luxury of having “only” one major disaster in our tenure here, but it was a horrible hurricane that resulted in catastrophic flooding. From that we have learned to always expect the unexpected. There was no way anyone could have prepared for the amount of damage and destruction that occurred. Our biggest takeaway was the fact that constant communication with your staff and outside emergency services will ensure the quickest and safest possible road to recovery.

LAMELAS: Four very important lessons: 1) Frequent communication is the single most important factor. 2) Planning, preparing, and training far in advance of any storm or event is essential, as is reviewing the disaster plan annually. 3) Selecting a responsible and available executive team and managers/supervisors, with a clear chain of command is a requirement. 4) Order extra medications—both in-house meds and dispensed prescription meds—plus certain vaccines, such as tetanus, and address proper storage issues. Other essential medical supplies, water, and even toilet paper have to be stocked, as well, upon increased probability of hurricane impact by weather models.
Not all valuable lessons come from within urgent care, by the way. I actually am very impressed and would like to model our clinics to perform as well as the most time-tested hurricane-impacted business in south Florida: believe it or not, Publix Supermarkets. They have weathered these storms for over 87 years, and they’re among the last to close and first to reopen. As urgent care operators, we need to think outside the box (or typical healthcare) and consider all industry “best practices.”

AYERS: You have to balance what’s right for the employees, patients, and what’s needed in the community. One client decided to keep its centers open during a blizzard (an unusual occurrence in their temperate climate), notifying its primary care and hospital ED partners that the urgent care would be available. Generators were connected to power the centers, employees were housed in hotels near the centers, overtime labor costs were incurred, and referral providers were notified urgent care would be available. But because virtually nobody in the community was leaving home, the centers only saw three or four patients during the days of the storm and as a result, the urgent care lost its shirt in its service to the community, not to mention frustrating employees who were kept away from home and family.

What role can urgent care operators play in helping communities start to rebuild?

BEVIS: When an F5 tornado hit Lutts, TN in 2015 we sent providers, nurses, and staff with supplies to render emergency medical care and relief supplies. This was all possible because of our close proximity to this community. More recently, with hurricanes Irma and Harvey, we established drop-off locations for much needed supplies at each of our clinics. We consolidated donations at our Waynesboro, TN headquarters and loaded a 50-foot trailer to each impacted state. Announcements were made through social media and email.

LAMELAS: Urgent care centers play an increasingly important role in the healthcare infrastructure and local medical community. At MD Now, we have been involved in community events, local outreach, charitable events, and contributions in the U.S., but especially in south Florida and the local communities we serve. We also support the Red Cross and others in relief efforts here and abroad as we did during the earthquake in Haiti by donating resources, money, and medical supplies.
It goes beyond our patients; urgent care is becoming more and more a respected and essential “medical safety net” that hospitals, private physicians and medical practices, and our communities cannot live without. Having said that, the urgent care industry as a whole is still not well integrated and connected into the U.S. healthcare infrastructure. I believe we need to remedy that through continuing outreach efforts, both as an industry and individually, to further develop the formal integration of our clinics and specialty into that existing infrastructure.

SELLARS: We can and should play an important role in disaster recovery. After serious, damaging floods hit the Baton Rouge area last year, we initiated a campaign called We’re Here for You to help meet the community’s healthcare needs during the time of crisis. Despite some clinics experiencing flooding of more than 4 feet of water, our volunteer team of administrative, clinical, and medical providers worked in the 100⁰ postflood heat to feed, treat, and comfort displaced residents. With many cell towers down, we informed residents about clinic openings and closings, operational hours, tetanus shot information, and school/road closures on Facebook. Additionally, our medical leadership team appeared on local TV and radio to direct residents where to seek treatment for flood-related and other health issues, as well as to provide tips for safe flood cleanup.

ARABZADEH: As an urgent care operator, the more you can help and give back to your community, the more successful and sought-after you will become. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, our biggest goal was giving back to the community. We encouraged others to do the same by posting on our social media networks that we were taking in donations for those who had been affected by the flooding. Most recently, we partnered up with UCA for the weekend of service, in which we provided free medical assistance to those affected by the flooding. We are also running a flu shot drive, with the proceeds going to those affected by the flooding and hurricane damage.
Coming together as a family to help the community and to open the urgent care back up as soon as possible, without causing extra risk to anyone, can truly be the cornerstone of recovery during and after a disaster.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and its effects in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Our North Charleston Call Center is open and accepting service and part related phone calls and will continue to operate under normal conditions. For service calls, please call us at 800.867.1821, email us at service@cmsimaging.com, or visit our website

Service in South Carolina will return to normal where conditions allow our Field Service Engineers to commute to facilities safely.

Service in North Carolina will return to normal in areas not under the governor's evacuation orders and where the facility is acceptable. Counties under a Mandatory Evacuation* order from the governor will not be serviced until that order is listed. Counties under Special Condition (Mixed) Evacuation** orders will be serviced on a case by case basis depending on the conditions of the roads and the safety of our staff.

All service calls submitted during the evacuations will be responded to in the order they were received.

FedEx and UPS delivery services have begun operation in all areas, not under emergency evacuation orders and deliveries will start today.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions.

*NC Counties under Mandatory Evacuation (as of 9/17/18 at 9:00 am)

• Brunswick
• Craven
• Harnett
• Jones
• Onslow
• Pamlico

**NC Counties under Special Condition (Mixed) Evacuation (as of 9/17/18 at 9:00 am)

• Beaufort
• Carteret
• Cumberland
• Curritock
• Duplin
• New Hanover
• Pender
• Sampson

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor Hurricane Florence and has begun to execute our Storm Contingency Plan in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

The current expected track of the storm is indicating that the storm will linger in North Carolina and South Carolina and possibly Georgia throughout the weekend. If this is the case, please expect continued delays in service until federal, state and local authorities deem it safe to return to those areas.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. Evacuations have begun to along the coastal communities of North Carolina and South Carolina, and our North Charleston office is closed.

Our Charleston Call Center has shifted to our usual weekend service call center which will continue to serve our customers, not in the impacted areas.

Our weekend call center will operate normally unless the path of the storm places that call center in jeopardy. If that should occur, our tertiary call center location will take over and continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our usual phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

Additionally, FedEx and UPS delivery services have suspended pickup and delivery service in some areas of the evacuation zones. Expect delivery delays in accordance with FedEx and UPS delivery suspension. For more information on deliveries, please visit UPS and FedEx.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Florence to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor Hurricane Florence and has begun to execute our Storm Contingency Plan in the Carolinas. Hurricane Florence is now a Category 4 storm with winds exceeding 140mph and is expected to make landfall along the North Carolina and South Carolina coast during the latter part of the week.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. The governors of North Carolina and South Carolina have issued mandatory evacuations along their respective coasts.

In compliance with the governor of South Carolina, CMS Imaging, Inc will be closing our North Charleston corporate offices beginning on Wednesday, September 12, 2018. Our Storm Contingency Plan is in effect and we stand prepared to continue our high level of service to our clients. Our Charleston Call Center is continuing to operate with normal service today and will switch calls to our secondary call center beginning after business hours today. In the event our secondary location is also affected, we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our normal phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence.

Additionally, FedEx and UPS delivery services have suspended pickup and delivery service in the evacuation zones. Expect delivery delays in accordance with FedEx and UPS delivery suspension. For more information on deliveries, please visit the UPS and FedEx websites.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Florence to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at https://www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again tomorrow and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is closely monitoring Hurricane Florence, a category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, which is currently located in the southeast of Bermuda. Florence is now heading toward the east coast of the United States before posing a serious threat to South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia beginning Thursday of this week.

It is imperative to us as an organization, that all of our clients and team members remain safe in the affected areas. It is also our mission to ensure that all of our clients continue to receive the excellent service to which they are accustomed.

Our teams in both Jacksonville, FL and Charleston, SC will continue to monitor the official weather updates from our federal, state and local authorities. Our Service Management Team and Service Engineers will be presented with an operational plan for their specific territories once the path of the storm becomes more definitive.

We have already put in place a contingency plan for the areas not expected to be directly impacted by Hurricane Florence. In the event our Charleston Call Center is directly affected by the storm, we will automatically switch to an offsite call center to receive and dispatch our service calls. In the event the offsite location is also affected, we have planned a tertiary location where our calls will be answered. All call centers can be reached at our normal phone number, 800.867.1821 via email at service@cmsimaging.com, or our website at https://www.cmsimaging.com/servicerequest.html.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Florence to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again today and another Storm Alert will be issued tomorrow.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Plan.

The Orange County (Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida) commissioners approved the request of Dr. Joshua Stephany, the chief medical examiner in Orange and Osceola counties to purchase a computerized tomography scanner (CT scanner) on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, from CMS Imaging, Inc. CT Scanners are standard in hospitals but are unusual in US autopsy rooms. The Neusoft Neuviz 16 Essence CT scanner will not replace traditional autopsies, but the digital images may assist county and city officials in solving crimes. These digital autopsies will allow medical examiners an alternative to preserving the deceased's dignity and also adhere to religious tenets with regards to traditional autopsies.

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Torrance, CA — July 23, 2018 - Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce the release of the RADspeed fit.

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA has launched a new radiographic table system called the RADspeed fit, a general radiography table system offering higher image quality than any other compact integrated system in its class.

As the newest U.S. based product in the RADspeed series, the RADspeed fit with its integrated tube stand, is an outstanding radiography system that offers a cost-effective balance of functionality to support a wide range of general rad applications, such as chest, abdomen, or extremities. The fit can perform emergency examinations while providing the same easy operability and extensive functionality for reducing exposure levels as developed for other products in the series.

The system generator is integrated into the patient table and with easy removal of the tabletop, servicing the unit is a snap making it ideal as an entry level digital radiography (DR) system. Practically priced, the RADspeed fit is equipped with a digital X-ray detector (FPD) and makes the perfect digital X-ray system for Urgent Care and Clinical Centers.

The RADspeed fit will be on display at the AHRA in Orlando, FL (July 23-25, 2018) in booth #404. About Shimadzu

Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with Direct Operations headquartered out of Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; and the greater Chicago area. Visit SMS at: www.shimadzu-usa.com or call (800) 228-1429

Change Healthcare’s Imaging, Workflow & Care Solutions business, and Avreo, Inc., a developer of radiology workflow solutions, announced a partnership today during AHRA 2018, the association for medical imaging management’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Fla.

“We are thrilled to solidify a partnership with Change Healthcare and extend the capabilities of interWORKS to achieve a shared initiative of providing healthcare organizations with the most positive user experience possible,” said John Sloan, CEO of Avreo. “Our companies are well matched and possess the same core values, standards, and work ethic. With this collaboration, we look forward to a promising relationship with Change Healthcare.”

InterWORKS is a single application/single database Radiology Workflow Solution (RWS) that includes RIS, PACS, Dictation, Transcription, and an auto report delivery system that encompasses the features a practice or hospital needs to operate efficiently.

“This partnership provides an option for our customers that are looking for a RIS-based workflow in conjunction with our Radiology PACS.” said Todd Johnson, Executive Director, Radiology Product Development, Change Healthcare. “At Change Healthcare’s, we are committed to providing our customers with the solutions that we know can meet their needs.”

AHRA 2018 runs from July 22-25 in Orlando. The four-day event, with more than 150 exhibitors and over 70 educational sessions, is expected to attract more than 1,000 medical imaging leaders.

About Avreo

Avreo® provides EHR for Radiology, RIS, PACS, Dictation, Transcription, and Report Distribution services in a single application, single database system. This innovative approach provides healthcare professionals with user-friendly access to information in one streamlined system. Avreo offers solutions tailored to a variety of healthcare organizations including hospitals, imaging centers, radiology groups, and orthopedics.

Avreo is a privately held company headquartered in Charleston, SC. Learn more at www.changehealthcare.com.

About Change Healthcare

Change Healthcare (CHC) is a leading provider of software and analytics, network solutions and technology-enabled services that optimize communications, payments and actionable insights designed to enable smarter healthcare. By leveraging its Intelligent Healthcare Network™, which includes the single largest financial and administrative network in the United States healthcare system, industry stakeholders are able to increase revenue, improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase cash flow and more effectively manage complex workflows. Learn more at www.changehealthcare.com.

Canon Inc. has announced that several Canon product designs were recognized by iF International Forum Design GmbH with prestigious 2018 iF Design Awards.

Established in 1953, the iF DesignAwards are recognized, worldwide, as one of the most prestigious awards within the field of design, with outstanding industrial designs chosen from all over the world each year. This year 6,402 entries from 54 countries and regions were judged by internationally active design experts across seven disciplines: product, packaging, communication, service design, architecture, interior architecture, and professional concept.

Canon has now won the iF Design Award for 24 consecutive years. Encouraged by the recognition of the Company’s design excellence, Canon will continue striving to realize products that combine high levels of performance and design.

The following Canon products have been recognized as winners of the iF Design Award 2018:

• EOS M5 Interchangeable Lens Camera
• EF70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens
• PIXMA G-Series Wireless All-In-One Printer
• CXDI-810C, CXDI-710C, and CXDI-410C Wireless Detectors
• imageCLASS MF735Cdw; imageCLASS MF733Cdw; imageCLASS MF731Cdw; imageCLASS MF634Cdw; imageCLASS MF632Cdw; imageCLASS LBP654Cdw; and imageCLASS LBP612Cdw Printers
• EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera

First-ever colour X-ray on a human performed

PARIS: New Zealand scientists have performed the first-ever 3-D, colour X-ray on a human, using a technique that promises to improve the field of medical diagnostics, said Europe’s CERN physics lab which contributed imaging technology.

The new device, based on the traditional black-and-white X-ray, incorporates particle-tracking technology developed for CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, which in 2012 discovered the elusive Higgs Boson particle.

“This colour X-ray imaging technique could produce clearer and more accurate pictures and help doctors give their patients more accurate diagnoses,” said a CERN statement.

The CERN technology, dubbed Medipix, works like a camera detecting and counting individual sub-atomic particles as they collide with pixels while its shutter is open.

This allows for high-resolution, high-contrast pictures.

The machine’s “small pixels and accurate energy resolution meant that this new imaging tool is able to get images that no other imaging tool can achieve,” said developer Phil Butler of the University of Canterbury.

According to the CERN, the images very clearly show the difference between bone, muscle and cartilage, but also the position and size of cancerous tumours, for example.

The technology is being commercialised by New Zealand company MARS Bioimaging, linked to the universities of Otago and Canterbury which helped develop it.

Credit to: The Express Tribune, Friday, 13 Jul 18

WAYNE, N.J., May 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., a recognized leader in medical imaging systems and healthcare IT, announces the introduction of AeroRemote™ Insights, a cloud-based, business intelligence and analytics solution that delivers detailed information on asset utilization, department workflow and efficiency, system health and more. AeroRemote Insights provides daily performance data in intuitive visual formats that managers can utilize to optimize department performance and manage digital radiography assets. This new service also enables managers to act on urgent situations immediately and respond to usage trends intelligently.

“Representing a new era of proactive monitoring solutions, AeroRemote Insights delivers the information department managers need in today’s competitive healthcare environment to make better informed decisions, sooner,” says Steven Eisner, Senior Product Manager at Konica Minolta. “It is a great addition to Konica Minolta Healthcare’s top-rated customer service by delivering valuable, interactive and actionable data wherever and whenever needed.”

AeroRemote Insights provides vital information on productivity, user performance and AeroDR system health at a glance. Easy to use data analytics are available from any computer or mobile device and will enable departments to improve workflow, accuracy and uptime. AeroRemote Insights represents Konica Minolta’s continuing investment in IoT, machine learning and artificial intelligence by creating analytic tools that increase the value of conventional hardware and software solutions.

“With this innovative approach to proactively monitoring our systems, we have revolutionized traditional service delivery,” says Kevin Chlopecki, Vice President of Service Operations. “We address our customers’ common productivity and performance challenges, allowing healthcare providers to stay committed to patient care. As a result, our service teams can gather data, predict appropriate responses and solve common issues—often before our customer knows of a situation. Our brand, our vision and our obsession are providing a seamless customer experience. AeroRemote Insights offers a cost-effective, competitive differentiator to Konica Minolta customers,” says Chlopecki.

AeroRemote Insights is available for most Konica Minolta AeroDR® Systems as part of Konica Minolta’s premium Blue Moon service plans or as a stand-alone subscription.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

WAYNE, N.J., May 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., announced that two clinical studies utilizing Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR), the company’s innovative X-ray technology under development, were presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2018 Annual Meeting this week. Dynamic Digital Radiography is a new modality that utilizes conventional X-ray images and Konica Minolta's proprietary software platform to create X-ray in Motion. DDR is the most significant advancement in X-ray since digital radiography was introduced.

X-ray in Motion of the chest provides a visual display of the dynamic interactions of lung, muscle, bone, heart and nerve, not captured by either a conventional static X-ray or the common pulmonary function test (PFT). This allows clinicians to visualize and quantify physiological changes in anatomical structures during the complete respiratory cycle. Previously, respiration could only be radiologically assessed using fluoroscopy, which involves higher levels of radiation exposure. X-ray in Motion may better enable clinicians to evaluate chest and lung function in patients with pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung cancer.

At the ATS meeting, the study, A New Technology: The Dynamic Image of a Forced Breath Compared to a Tidal Breath Uncovers a Physiological Phenomenon in COPD, was presented, demonstrating a correlation to the severity of COPD and diaphragm excursion during forced and tidal breathing using DDR. The research concluded that DDR may be a clinically relevant option to assess COPD severity in the acute setting and for patients unable to perform PFTs. This study was conducted by the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Radiology from Mount Sinai (New York, NY).

The research study, Evaluation of Pulmonary Function Using Dynamic Chest Radiographs: The Change Rate in Lung Area Due to Respiratory Motion Reflects Air Trapping in COPD, was also presented. The researchers investigated DDR as an alternative for the evaluation of pulmonary function in COPD patients by examining the change rate in lung area due to respiratory motion in patients with COPD and in subjects with normal pulmonary function. The study found that DDR is a viable alternative indicator for air trapping in COPD. Air trapping is the abnormal retention of air in the lungs making it difficult to exhale completely. This study was performed by the Departments of Respiratory Medicine, Thoracic, Cardiovascular and General Surgery, and College of Medical, Pharmaceutical & Health Sciences at Kanazawa University (Kanazawa, Japan).

Digital Radiography, or X-ray, is a primary diagnostic technology that is widely available throughout the world. Konica Minolta is investing in the development new clinical applications and tools for existing technology, such as digital radiography, that can deliver more information to clinicians than previously attainable while supporting the reduction of healthcare expenditures. Using readily available X-ray systems, DDR can provide incremental value for diagnosis, ongoing disease management, preoperative planning and post-operative assessment, without subjecting the patient to multiple and often more expensive tests.

Dynamic Digital Radiography represents ongoing research and development at Konica Minolta. It is not cleared by the FDA for commercial distribution or available for sale in the United States.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

CMS Imaging, Inc. has updated our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions as of May 24,2018. These changes were made in preparation for the European Union's new data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

With these updates , CMS Imaging, Inc. reaffirms our commitment to safeguarding the personal data of our contacts and anyone who visits our website. We embrace privacy by design, which means we will continue to build features with privacy considered alongside innovation and functionality.

We encourage you to take the time to review our revised Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. By continuing to use CMS Imaging, Inc's website on or after May 24, 2018 you acknowledge our updated Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

As CMS Imaging, Inc continues to grow and evolves, we will continue to focus on strengthening and improving our privacy policies and tools, for the benefit of our contacts and website visitors.

See our new Privacy Policy at www.cmsimaging.com/privacy.html

See our new Terms and Conditions at www.cmsimaging.com/terms.html

For more information visit contact us at: privacy@cmsimaging.com

CMS Imaging welcomes Christopher Ryan to the Team!

Chris will be our new Medical Accounts Manager in South Florida, reporting to JB Glass. Chris's first day will be Monday, May 14, 2018.

Please join us in welcoming Chris!

Michael Walter, Radiology Business, February 22, 2018, https://www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/healthcare-economics-policy/how-much-are-patients-paying-out-pocket-advanced-imaging

Patients are often required to pay high out-of-pocket costs for advanced imaging services, especially when out of their network, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. The authors suggested that radiologists should communicate these costs to patients to help prevent “surprise billing.”

“To interact more effectively with their patients, health systems and policymakers, radiologists should become more familiar with the various factors influencing their patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for imaging examinations in their local private insurance market places,” wrote lead author Andrew B. Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, of the department of radiology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. “With greater awareness of patients’ out-of-pocket cost responsibilities, radiologists may be more judicious in recommending additional or follow-up imaging, knowing that those recommendations frequently translate into high costs borne substantially, and sometimes completely, by their patients.”

The authors, wanting to take a deep dive into these out-of-pocket costs, turned to extensive data from the 2017 CMS Health Insurance Marketplace Benefits and Cost Sharing Public Use file. Overall, 48 percent of health plans required coinsurance for advanced imaging services, more than 9 percent required copays and 8 percent required both. More than 34 percent of plans required no coinsurance or copay. For out-of-network advanced imaging services, more than 91 percent of plans required coinsurance, 0.1 percent required copayments and 1 percent required both. More than 7 percent of those plans required no coinsurance or copay.

The study also found that, when deductibles are present, patients were responsible for more than 27 percent through coinsurance in network and more than 47 percent out of network. And when deductibles were present, the average copays were $319 in network and $630 out of network. With no deductible present, the average coinsurance burden for patients was 99.9 percent.

“Overall, patients’ out-of-pocket cost responsibilities for advanced imaging are quite variable and can be particularly high in many circumstances because advanced imaging most commonly requires coinsurance from patients,” the authors wrote.

Rosenkrantz et al. also looked at state-level variation in the average coinsurance burden for patients both in and out of network. For example, the average in-network patient coinsurance was more than 33 percent in New Jersey and just 1.4 percent in Alabama.

“There was a tendency for out-of-network coinsurance responsibilities to be higher in lower income states,” the authors wrote. “This observation highlights how variation in the benefit design of available plans at the regional level can potentially create disproportionate cost burdens on financially disadvantaged patients. Such economic disparities could limit vulnerable populations’ access to imaging services.”

In this era of value-based care, knowing more about these statistics and using that information to educate patients is especially important. “To optimally guide individual patients in an era of shared decision making in an environment of imaging stewardship, radiologists may need to integrate the findings of studies they interpret with further awareness of individual patients’ insurance coverage and financial means to afford recommended testing,” Rosenkrantz and colleagues concluded. “Through such understanding, radiologists may be able to help patients become better informed upfront about types of imaging examinations and potential alternative sites of service, thus reducing their risk for large surprise bills.”

WAYNE, N.J., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Designed to meet the needs of office-based X-ray imaging, such as orthopedic groups, family practices and urgent care centers, Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. introduced the KDR Primary Digital Radiography System at the American Association of Orthopedic Executives (AAOE) 2018 Annual Conference. KDR Primary delivers advanced digital X-ray capabilities and exceptional functionality in a compact footprint. It is the ideal solution for practices and clinics that want superior image quality and versatile imaging options yet have a limited amount of space.

Building on the success of the KDR Advanced U-arm System, KDR Primary helps optimize workflow, expedite the diagnostic process and increase staff efficiency all while elevating the patient experience. Equipped with a 17 x 17 inch detector, KDR Primary captures high resolution images in seconds, providing detailed bone and soft tissue visualization from a single exposure. Practices and clinics can enhance patient satisfaction by providing rapid diagnostic results without the need to schedule additional appointments or refer elsewhere.

KDR Primary has a wide range of motion to enable all required imaging views. The swivel arm rotates 135 degrees in both directions and moves 39 inches vertically while the detector tilts 45 degrees in two directions to accommodate patients who are standing, sitting, lying on a table or confined to a wheelchair. The space saving design provides staff with the freedom to maneuver the system for true exam flexibility that can translate to exceptional patient care and potentially help reduce retakes due to incorrect patient positioning or movement. It can be installed in a standard room with an 8 ft. ceiling. Options include a weight-bearing stand and pediatric imaging package.

“At Konica Minolta, we are focused on answering our customer’s clinical needs by delivering new innovations in imaging technology such as KDR Primary that allow for more personalized patient care,” says Kirsten Doerfert, Sr. Vice President of Marketing, Konica Minolta Healthcare. “The KDR Primary fulfills an imaging need for which our customers have been asking for a solution and provides the same superior imaging, reliability and performance inherent in all our DR systems.”

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

Konica Minolta is pleased to announce the addition of the AeroDR HD 10” x 12” and 17” x 17” Flat Panel Detectors. These two new sizes join the AeroDR HD 14” x 17” detector to round out Konica Minolta’s AeroDR product line. AeroDR HD is ideal for use in a wider range of environments, including orthopedic, general radiography, ICU, emergency departments and operating rooms.

The AeroDR HD 100 μm sampling pitch (pixel size) delivers outstanding resolution that is among the highest in the world. It allows orthopedists to capture clearer images of fine structures, such as finger trabecula, contributing to ease of diagnosis.

AeroDR HD is the only detector to offer both High Definition and High Dynamic Range modes.

• High Definition (HD) provides 100μ resolution for greater detail of small structures, even under magnification. HD is recommended for extremities, shoulders, and other structures where finer detail is preferred to improve diagnostic accuracy
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) captures a wider range of grays to create a smoother image that better distinguishes subtle differences in soft tissue

The AeroDR HD features the most advanced technology in our lightest and toughest enclosure:

• 100 μm pixel size (5lp/mm) with selectable HD (100 μm) /HDR (200 μm) resolution
• 72% DQE (1mR)@0cycle/mm –additional 25% dose efficiency over current panels AeroDR HD’ high sensitivity and built-in gridline reduction are designed to optimize performance with a stationary grid 16 Bit AD Conversion
• AeroSync – Automatic exposure detection for acquisitions up to 4 seconds
• AeroStorage – In-panel storage of up to 100 images AeroLink – Built-in wireless access point for simplified configuration
• Load capacity of 400 kg (881 lbs.) and point loads up to 180kg (397 lbs.)
• Bend resistance to 130 kg (287 lbs.)
• Tested and approved to meet MIL-STD-810Gi drop resistance testing and IPX 6 waterproof rating
• AeroRemote Compatibility

For more information visit our webpage for AeroDR HD Flat Panel Detectors HERE

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) April 04, 2018 - MedCurrent, a global leader in innovative healthcare IT solutions, has received full qualification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its clinical decision support mechanism (CDSM), OrderWise®. Through this qualification, OrderWise® is recognized for establishing technology and processes to support healthcare providers improve the quality of patient care, manage costs and meet regulatory requirements for the appropriate use of advanced imaging.

Starting January 1, 2020, Medicare outpatient reimbursement for advanced diagnostic imaging procedures (MR, CT, NM, PET) will be at risk if ordering providers do not consult clinical decision support (CDS) as initially set forth in the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA, 2014). To meet the requirements of this mandate, only qualified CDSMs and Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) developed by qualified provider-led entities (qPLEs) may be used.

“We are pleased to receive full qualification by attesting to the standards set forth by CMS. This is an opportunity to support healthcare providers in the US make evidence-based decisions for their patients,” says John Adziovsky, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), MedCurrent. “Our new status represents a significant milestone on our journey to continuous innovation of our CDS offering and enabling clients to improve outcomes.”

MedCurrent’s OrderWise® guides providers through clinical decision pathways to help them order the right imaging test for their patient. The solution is complemented by robust Analytics and Authoring Studio modules to support quality improvement initiatives and system customization. In the US, OrderWise® integrates imaging AUC from Intermountain Healthcare, Sage Evidence-based Medicine & Practice Institute (SEMPI), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Internationally, OrderWise® now runs with the eighth edition of iRefer: Making the best use of clinical radiology, the most up-to-date referral guidance from The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).

For more information on the AUC program and qualified CDSMs, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

About MedCurrent
MedCurrent is a physician-founded Clinical Decision Support (CDS) company focused on improving the quality of care and managing health system costs through our innovative and scalable solution, OrderWise. Our solution enhances the clinical decision-making process with real-time, evidence-based guidelines integrated at the point of care to improve health and healthcare delivery. Deep healthcare experience, superior technology and business agility make MedCurrent a global leader in CDS solutions. More information about MedCurrent is available at https://www.medcurrent.com.

Further information:
Hasan Dharamshi, VP Professional Services
MedCurrent
1.855.279.3380 ext. 503
hasan.dharamshi(at)medcurrent(dot)com

North Charleston, SC — March 28, 2018 - CMS Imaging, Inc. welcomes Chip Bindhamer to the team! Following the promotion of JB Glass to Regional Sales Director, Chip will be transitioning into JB's previous role after his onboarding.

Chip's first day will be April 2, 2018.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, TN has announced the beginning of usage of a Shimadzu Sonialvision G4 purchased from CMS Imaging, Inc. The Sonialvision G4 brings the "Best in Class" performance of a multi-functional universal Radiography / Fluoroscopy system to Middle Tennessee.

"The system offers physicians advanced imaging technology while minimizing X-Ray dose levels and can accommodate patients weighing up to 700 pounds. Currently, we are the only provider in Middle Tennessee to offer this system," said Maury Regional Health CEO Alan Watson.

"CMS Imaging is proud to partner with Maury Regional to bring this exciting and advanced technology to the people of Middle Tennessee. The Shimadzu Sonialvision G4 will provide the physicians of Maury Regional ultra-high resolution x-ray and fluoroscopic images while reducing the x-ray dose," said CMS Imaging, Inc Senior Strategic Accounts Manager John Lillie.

The Sonialvision G4 is designed to consider all users in a diversity of situations, making it ideal for a wide variety of examinations, such as Orthopedics, General Radiography Studies, Gastrointestinal Studies, Endoscopy, Urology, and Angiography.

Shimadzu's Sonialvision G4 offers a consistently high image quality. It's best-in-class, 139 µm ultra-small pixel pitch FPD and SUREengine Advance, state-of-the-art digital image processing technology ensure the highest image quality ever.

Additionally, it achieves comprehensive dose reduction as a total system, equipped with various functions to reduce radiation exposure levels effectively such as removable grid, ideal Grid-controlled Pulsed fluoroscopy, new collimator with Multi-Beam Hardening (MBH) filters, Virtual Collimation and above-mentioned high quality imaging ability itself will also contribute to even further dose reduction possibility while keeping good output image quality.

To learn more about the Shimadzu Sonialvision G4, please visit our website at https://www.cmsimaging.com/sonialvisiong4.html or contact us at info@cmsimaging.com.

About CMS Imaging, Inc:
CMS Imaging, Inc. is the premier healthcare solutions provider specializing in the sales and service of diagnostic medical imaging equipment. Founded in 1987 in Charleston, SC as an independent service organization, CMS Imaging has expanded its product line to include MRI, CT, Digital X-Ray, and Advanced Fluoroscopic systems. Software solutions including Avreo, Authpal by Availity, PACS Harmony, and MedCurrent's Clinical Decision Support (CDS) are also available to enable customers to display, manage, and store imaging data.

About Maury Regional Medical Center:
Serving more than 200,000 people across southern Middle Tennessee, Maury Regional Medical Center, a 255-bed facility, is the largest medical center between Nashville and Huntsville and had been evaluated by outside organization and compared to some of the most respected medical centers in the country. For 2018, Maury Regional Medical Center was ranked number one on Tennessee for overall hospital care and overall surgical care in the area of medical excellence by CareChex.com - an information service of Quantros, Inc. The medical center offers a wide range of advanced services including an accredited heart program, neonatal intensive care and cancer center. In addition to Maury Regional Medical Center, Maury Regional Health includes Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg, Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro, Lewis Health Care in Hohenwald, Maury Regional Medical Group physician practices, as well as additional facilities across southern Middle Tennessee.

About Shimadzu Corporation:
Shimadzu Corporation has remained committed to commercializing cutting-edge technology and providing it to customers in a wide array of industries for more than 140 years. Our brand statement, "Excellence in Science", reflects our desire and attitude to diligently respond to customers' requirements by offering superior, world-class technologies indispensable for analytical and measuring instruments, medical systems, aircraft equipment and industrial machinery in the area of human health, safety and security of society and advancement of industry. In the ever-changing landscape of challenges of society, Shimadzu aims to partner with customers to meet their needs with unique technologies and solutions.

Phil Reichner
843.300.4924
preichner@cmsimaging.com

Six industry leaders, including the AMA, recently announced collaborating to improve the prior authorization process. In the statement, they said “Prior authorization approvals can be burdensome for health care professionals, hospitals, health insurance providers, and patients because the processes vary and can be repetitive. Streamlining approval processes will enhance patient access to timely, appropriate care and minimize potential disruptions.”

Nowhere is that truer than in independent radiology, where prior authorizations are required for the majority of procedures. While the industry works to enact wider change, several innovative practices and solution providers are actively working to find a better way to manage prior authorizations in radiology. Some have even implemented fully market capable solutions.

This session will profile one of those fully implemented solutions as a case study and explore the lessons learned from that journey for others considering this type of initiative. Hosted by RBMA, this session will explore best practices as well as lessons learned and remaining challenges for both health IT solution providers and the radiology organizations seeking a solution. Join us for this panel interview format discussion of innovation, implementation, and automation in radiology prior authorizations.

This webinar is complimentary for RBMA members but registration is required here.

About the Speakers

Linda D'Amore

Linda D'Amore is a health care project consultant and an accomplished senior leader with over 35 years of health care experience in both private practice and hospitals. She has a strong business development background with a broad range of strategic, operational and financial service skills. Her passions are leading organizations through change, service line development, and creating a customer service environment.

Linda holds a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, a bachelor's in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina and is a Registered Radiologic Technologist.

Mohammed Ahmed

Mohammed Ahmed is VP of authorizations sales enablement for Availity Provider Solutions. He manages business development for Availity’s prior authorization solution and the AuthPal product. He has more than 18 years of experience in health care and is a serial entrepreneur focused on understanding end-user pain points and developing high quality, cost efficient solutions.

Mohammed is the former CEO of FORE Support Services, which solved the radiology prior authorization pain point via automation. Fore Support Services was acquired by Availity in 2016 and now is integrated in the provider solutions portfolio.

March 12, 2018
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - CMS Imaging, Inc. announces the donation of Konica Minolta Sonimage™ P3 portable ultrasounds to The Avian Medical Clinic, an operating division of The Center for Birds of Prey located in Awendaw, SC; the Charleston Animal Society located in North Charleston, SC; and Pethelpers located in Charleston, SC.

The Sonimage™ P3 portable ultrasounds will assist the veterinarians and medical staffs at the respective facilities help diagnose the causes of pain, swelling, and infection in the animal's internal organs. It is also used to help guide biopsies, diagnose heart conditions, and assess damage after a heart attack. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to capture live images from the inside of the body and is safe, noninvasive, and does not use ionizing radiation.

The Konica Minolta Sonimage™ P3 is a true portable ultrasound machine that gives medical personnel the ability to do more for patients where and when they need it most – at the point-of-care. With its small footprint and weighing less than a pound, this handheld device can accelerate and improve interventions and decision-making time.

About CMS Imaging, Inc.:
CMS Imaging, Inc. is the premier healthcare solutions provider specializing in the sales and service of diagnostic medical imaging equipment. Founded in 1987 in Charleston, SC as an independent service organization, CMS Imaging has expanded its product line to include MRI, CT, Digital X-Ray, and Advanced Fluoroscopic systems. Software solutions including Avreo, Authpal by Availity, PACS Harmony, and MedCurrent's Clinical Decision Support (CDS) are also available to enable customers to display, manage, and store imaging data.

About The Center for Birds of Prey:
The Center for Birds of Prey is a 501(c)3 organization that continues to lead and participate in groundbreaking scientific research on avian genetics and environmental hazards. A “citizen science” approach to a number of initiatives allows the public to become active contributors to wildlife conservation and to raise public awareness of vital ecological issues. Citizen-science programs carry the added bonus of raising public awareness about ecological issues, educating the public about species of concern and their associated habitats, and allowing the public to become actively engaged supporters of wildlife conservation. Visit them here: http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/

About the Charleston Animal Society:
Since 1874, Charleston Animal Society’s mission has been the prevention of cruelty to animals. Thanks to supporters like you, we are able to touch the lives of 20,000 animals every year and work every day to make Charleston not only a No Kill Community but also a humane community that is safe for families, including pets. Our Vision is one where all healthy and treatable animals are saved. It’s a vision where all people and animals are treated with respect and kindness. And it envisions a world where cruelty is not tolerated. Visit them here: https://www.charlestonanimalsociety.org/

About Pethelpers:
Pet Helpers was founded in 1978 by Carol Linville, now President of Pet Helpers, after she learned that 8,000 pets were being euthanized each year at local shelters. It began as a weekly “adopt a pet” column. More than 30 years later, that column has grown into Pet Helpers Adoption Center and Veterinary Clinic, one of the foremost animal rescue organizations in South Carolina. Pet Helpers has slowly evolved into a widely recognized and innovative shelter that offers caring solutions to the serious problems created by pet overpopulation. Visit them here: https://pethelpers.org/

Phil Reichner
843.300.4924
preichner@cmsimaging.com

• Date: March 7, 2018
• Source: University of California - Irvine
• Summary: As we get older, it's not uncommon to experience 'senior moments,' in which we forget where we parked our car or call our children by the wrong names. And we may wonder: Are these memory lapses a normal part of aging, or do they signal the early stages of a severe disorder such as Alzheimer's disease? Currently, there's no good way to tell.
• Originally Published: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180307132005.htm

As we get older, it's not uncommon to experience "senior moments," in which we forget where we parked our car or call our children by the wrong names. And we may wonder: Are these memory lapses a normal part of aging, or do they signal the early stages of a severe disorder such as Alzheimer's disease? Currently, there's no good way to tell.

University of California, Irvine-led researchers, however, have found that high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain can be used to show some of the underlying causes of differences in memory proficiency between older and younger adults.

The study, which appears today in the journal Neuron, involved 20 young adults (ages 18 to 31) and 20 cognitively healthy older adults (ages 64 to 89). The participants were asked to perform two kinds of tasks while undergoing fMRI scanning -- an object memory task and a location memory task. Because fMRI looks at the dynamics of blood flow in the brain, investigators were able to determine which parts of the brain the subjects were using for each activity.

In the first task, participants viewed pictures of everyday objects and were then asked to distinguish them from new pictures. "Some of the images were identical to ones they'd seen before, some were brand-new and others were similar to ones they'd seen earlier -- we may have changed the color or the size," said Michael Yassa, director of UCI's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory and the study's senior author. "We call these tricky items the 'lures.' And we found that older adults struggle with them. They're much more likely than younger adults to think they've seen those lures before."

The second task was nearly the same but required subjects to determine whether the location of objects had been altered. Here, older adults fared quite a bit better than in the prior task.

"This suggests that not all memory changes equally with aging," said lead author Zachariah Reagh, who participated in the study as a graduate student at UCI and is now a postdoctoral fellow at UC Davis. "Object memory is far more vulnerable than spatial, or location, memory -- at least in the early stages." Other research has shown that problems with spatial memory and navigation do manifest as individuals progress toward Alzheimer's disease.

Importantly, by scanning the subjects' brains while they underwent these tests, the scientists were able to establish a cerebral mechanism for that deficit in object memory.

They found that it was linked to a loss of signaling in a part of the brain called the anterolateral entorhinal cortex. This area is already known to mediate communication between the hippocampus, where information is first encoded, and the rest of the neocortex, which plays a role in long-term storage. It's also an area severely affected in people with Alzheimer's disease.

"The loss of fMRI signal means there is less blood flow to the region, but we believe the underlying basis for this loss has to do with the fact that the structural integrity of that part of the brain is changing," Yassa said. "One of the things we know about Alzheimer's disease is that this region of the brain is one of the very first to exhibit a key hallmark of the disease, deposition of neurofibrillary tangles."

In contrast, the researchers did not find age-related differences in another area of the brain connected to memory, the posteromedial entorhinal cortex. They demonstrated that this region plays a role in spatial memory, which was not significantly impaired in the older subjects.

"This suggests that the brain aging process is selective," Yassa said. "Our findings are not a reflection of general brain aging but rather of specific neural changes that are linked to specific problems in object but not spatial memory."

To determine whether this type of fMRI scan could eventually be used as a tool for early diagnosis, the researchers plan to expand their work to a sample of 150 older adults who will be followed over time. They will also be conducting positron emission tomography, or PET, scans to look for amyloid and tau pathology in their brains as they age.

"We hope this comprehensive imaging and cognitive testing will enable us to figure out whether the deficits we saw in the current study are indicative of what is later to come in some of these individuals," Yassa said.

"Our results, as well as similar results from other labs, point to a need for carefully designed tasks and paradigms that can reveal different functions in key areas of the brain and different vulnerabilities to the aging process," Reagh added.

Story Source:
Materials provided by University of California - Irvine. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:
Zachariah M. Reagh et al. Functional Imbalance of Anterolateral Entorhinal Cortex and Hippocampal Dentate/CA3 Underlies Age-Related Object Pattern Separation Deficits. Neuron, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.01.039

University of California - Irvine. (2018, March 7). High-resolution brain imaging provides clues about memory loss in older adults: UCI-led study reveals potential tool for early dementia diagnosis. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2018 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180307132005.htm

North Charleston, SC — February 27, 2018 - CMS Imaging, Inc. welcomes Robert James to the team!

Robert will be a Field Service Engineer serving the Pensacola, FL area. Robert's first day will be March 26, 2018.

SIR 2018 is designed to meet the educational needs of practicing interventional radiologists, IRs in-training, diagnostic radiologists, and other physicians with a special interest in IR—and is the only venue offering IR education designed specifically for clinical associates. The meeting also offers a supportive and highly interactive introduction to IR for medical students who may be considering the specialty as their focus.

Be sure to visit the Shimadzu Booth (Booth #441) at the upcoming SIR 2018 conference.

*Offer applies to only those participants within CMS Imaging’s business territory and during SIR 2018.

By: Jeff Zagoudis
February 7, 2018 - If there was a theme to digital radiography (DR) advances in 2017, it might have been “upgrade now or be left behind.” The first of the year saw the inception of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2016, which among its many provisions imposed a significant reimbursement penalty (20 percent) on Medicare claims for imaging exams done with screen film X-ray systems. As of this year, the law adds a 7 percent reduction for computed radiography (CR) exams that increases to 10 percent in 2023. The penalties are meant to further encourage providers and hospitals to modernize their imaging inventory as healthcare as a whole looks to become more efficient while maintaining good patient outcomes.

These dual goals of increased efficiency and better patient outcomes have driven many of the recent major advances in DR technology, including improved image quality at lower radiation doses and workflow efficiencies to increase patient throughput. These trends were fully evident in the DR offerings at the 2017 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in November.

Detector Panels and Image Processing

Ultimately, any DR system is only as effective as its detector technology — the backbone and opportunity in digital radiography. Government and industry forces are pushing providers toward DR because it generates a higher-quality image than CR or film systems. It does so at a significantly lower radiation dose than its predecessors, balancing the equation that connects diagnostic certainty and patient safety. Vendors continue to push the envelope of how to maximize image quality while maintaining low dose, and several offered new solutions at RSNA 2017.

Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, creator of the AeroDR high definition (HD) panels, introduced a brand-new image processing software for its CS-7 platform. The software, dubbed Realism, provides clarity and detail beyond conventional processing, according to Konica Minolta, by independently processing bone and soft tissue data, and enhancing sharpness and contrast to improve visualization of traditionally hard-to-see structures.

Realism is included on the newest detector panels in Konica Minolta’s lineup, a 10 x 12-inch and a 17 x 17-inch AeroDR HD panel. The smaller panel is engineered for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and/or imaging fine structures such as the extremities; the 17 x 17 is for larger anatomical areas such as the chest and abdomen. All AeroDR HD panels offer the option to switch between High Definition (HD) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging. HD provides images with a 100 micron pixel size for a high level of detail, while HDR imaging aggregates the data from four pixels for a wider range of grays, providing a smooth image that allows clinicians to detect subtle differences in soft tissue.

Just before RSNA, Canon launched the 10 Series wireless digital detector panels, including the CXDI-710C, CXDI-810C and CXDI-410C. The panels are the lightest in Canon’s arsenal, coming in a full 2 pounds lighter than the previous generation, according to the company. The lightweight and the new ergonomic handgrips carved directly into the detector make the panel extremely easy to carry around.

For the complete article please visit the Imaging Technology News website.

Shimadzu’s products utilize advanced robotic capabilities and next-generation digital imaging technologies

Based on its recent analysis of the general radiography market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Shimadzu Corporation with the 2017 Global Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Line Strategy Leadership. Constant innovations and upgrades to Shimadzu’s radiography product portfolio have ensured that the products stay relevant and in high demand in an evolving radiography market. Its comprehensive product range enhances automation, efficiency, image quality, and overall clinical value by enabling flexible positioning, reduced radiation dose, and versatility in viewing bone and soft tissue images.

Shimadzu has the entire range of general radiography solutions, from fixed ceiling-mounted to floor-mounted systems and mobile X-ray solutions, with or without one to two arms. These are all available all in entry-level to high-end configurations. In 2016, it introduced new technologies such as digital multi-slice tomography with flexible positioning to offer a view of oblique cross sections of the spine and hip joints. Other products include:

• SONIALVISION G4, a fluoroscopy product with multi-functionality features
• RADspeed Pro EDGE package, a high-performance general radiography equipment
• MobileDaRt Evolution MX7 Version, mobile X-ray with digitization features

RADspeed Pro EDGE and MobileDaRt Evolution MX7 have already been adopted by more than 100 hospitals worldwide within a year of their introduction.

“In response to customer demand, Shimadzu introduced a sophisticated, remote-controlled, auto-positioning feature in the RADspeed Pro EDGE package. This feature helps the radiographer effortlessly position the tube and fine-tune this positioning to improve patient safety and reduce radiation dose,” said Frost & Sullivan Consultant Poornima Srinivasan. “Similarly, it incorporated removable grids to lower radiation exposure during pediatric imaging, and a dose area product meter on the collimator to measure the dose of radiation the patient is exposed to.”

Shimadzu’s products have proven their utility in guiding hospitals towards the era of value-based healthcare. They achieve that by incorporating a host of novel features and technologies.

• The RADspeed Pro EDGE employs cutting-edge technologies like tomosynthesis, speed stitch, and dual energy subtraction. Tomosynthesis combines cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction with digital image processing so that any number of cross-sectional images can be obtained. The systems also incorporate ‘T-smart,’ the metal artifact reduction technology that decreases metal artifacts in orthopedic patients. Additionally, it uses speed stitch technology, which combines multiple images that are captured while the X-ray tube is in motion at various angles. Finally, its dual energy subtraction, imaging algorithm, couples with low and high voltages to offer images of soft tissue and bone images separately.
• SONIALVISION G4 is capable of a wide range of examinations and is ideal for inter-departmental shared services. The field of view (FOV) flat panel detector (FPD) is available in five sizes and provides an extensive imaging area, ultra-high definition and dynamic images, less radiation exposure, a ceiling-mounted telescopic arm, and a wall stand with a portable FPD. It incorporates technologies such as:
  • The SUREengine-Advance, an image processing technology that delivers quality fluoro and radiography images
  • SLOT Advance, an optimal technology for long-view images with a minimal X-ray dose
  • T-smart, the latest tomosynthesis technology that aids in iterative reconstruction with metal artifact suppression
• The MobileDaRt Evolution MX7 Version incorporates a large LCD monitor and LED collimator light that increases brightness up to 40% and saves electricity by 80% when compared to its competing products. It also has a user-friendly design with wireless capability, which allows it to extend its scope of application.

“Shimadzu has leveraged the expertise of key opinion leaders (KOLs), designed training and educational programs, expanded geographically, and made the most of cross-selling opportunities in line with its business goals,” noted Ms. Srinivasan. “Additionally, it has partnered with universities to optimize the existing systems and develop further innovations and efficiencies. Shimadzu’s discussions with international channels, and focus on gathering input from healthcare professionals have played a huge role in its development of unique products and provision of a rich customer experience.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a comprehensive product line that caters to the breadth of the market it serves. The award recognizes the extent to which the product line meets customer base demands, the overall impact it has in terms of customer value, as well as increased market share.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Shimadzu Corporation

Shimadzu Corporation has remained committed to commercializing cutting-edge technology and providing it to customers in a wide array of industries for more than 140 years. Our brand statement, "Excellence in Science", reflects our desire and attitude to diligently respond to customers' requirements by offering superior, world-class technologies indispensable for analytical and measuring instruments, medical systems, aircraft equipment and industrial machinery in the area of human health, safety and security of society and advancement of industry. In the ever-changing landscape of challenges of society, Shimadzu aims to partner with customers to meet their needs with unique technologies and solutions.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Ana Arriaga
P: 210.247.3823
F: 210.348.1003
E: ana.arriaga@frost.com

North Charleston, SC — February 27, 2018 - CMS Imaging, Inc. welcomes Josue Rodriguez and Alex Adzhigirey to the team!

Josue will be a Field Service Engineer serving the Wilmington, NC area. Josue hails from the seaside town of Mayaguez in western Puerto Rico. He is married to the lovely Jaqaira and is the father of two beautiful daughters, Kiara and Marina.

Alex will be part of the team serving the central North Carolina area. Alex was born in Eastern Europe but has lived most of his life in Massachusetts and the Carolina. He is married to the lovely Anna and the father of four beautiful daughters and two awesome sons.

Welcome to the CMS Family Josue and Alex!

The first day for both will be Monday, January 16, 2018.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is closely monitoring Winter Storm Grayson, a major cold weather event settling on the East Coast from Florida through Maine. Sub-freezing temperatures, freezing rain, and snow are causing major delays and closures on the roads.

It is imperative to us as an organization, that all of our clients and team members remain safe in the affected areas. It is also our mission to ensure that all of our clients continue to receive the excellent service to which they are accustomed.

Our teams in both Jacksonville, FL and Charleston, SC will continue to monitor the official weather updates from our federal, state and local authorities. Our Service Management Team and Service Engineers will be presented with an operational plan for their specific territories once the path of the storm becomes more definitive.

Our Charleston Call Center has switched to an offsite call center to receive and dispatch our service calls. In the event the offsite location is also affected, we have planned a tertiary location where our calls will be answered. All call centers can be reached at our normal phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service during the winter storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to travel in the areas affected.

We urge all those in the areas affected to monitor the National Weather Center at www.weather.gov.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again today to determine our plans for tomorrow, January 4, 2018.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Winter Storm Plan.

TORRANCE, Calif., December 25, 2017 - Healthcare research firm MD Buyline released its Q4 2017 Market Intelligence Brief™ for Q4 2017 to its hospital and vendor subscribers. This exclusive survey is based on nationwide, direct-user feedback from hundreds of healthcare providers who rely on MD Buyline’s healthcare market research to guide their critical decision-making in budgeting, planning, selecting and acquiring medical equipment and technology.
Suppliers are rated on a scale from 1 to 10 in six categories: 1) system performance, 2) system reliability, 3) installation and implementation, 4) applications training, 5) service response time and 6) service repair quality. Based solely on hospital user feedback, the Market Intelligence Brief™ is an unvarnished study of user opinion that helps MD Buyline's Research and Analysis team to map trending in both end-user feedback and ratings of suppliers and technologies.
Shimadzu Medical Systems USA has received highest rankings in their class for overall customer satisfaction in Portable Radiographic Systems & Radiography and Fluoroscopy for Q4 2017.
Shimadzu's Portable Radiographic family includes: MobileDaRt Evolution MX7 Version and MobileArt Evolution MX7 Version. The Radiography and Fluoroscopy product line include: FLUOROspeed and SONIALVISION G4. Shimadzu Medical Systems can offer multiple DR solutions based on your preference.

About Shimadzu
Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance California USA with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with Direct Operations headquartered out of Dallas, Texas, and the greater Chicago area. Visit SMS at: www.shimadzu-usa.comor call (800) 228-1429

About MD Buyline
Healthcare providers recognize MD Buyline as the leading strategic sourcing company serving hospitals and vendors today. Guiding hospitals in their critical decision-making in budgeting, planning, selecting and acquiring medical equipment and technologies, our expert analysts operate with transparency and trust and help clients target cost-reduction opportunities for purchased services, consumables, capital and IT acquisitions. For more than 30 years, hospitals have relied on MD Buyline’s data and experienced analysts to guide them in their most important purchasing decisions.
For more information, go to www.mdbuyline.com.
*MD Buyline Technology Report, Q4 2017

North Charleston, SC — December 7, 2017 - CMS Imaging, Inc. welcomes Brian Bohager to the team! Brian will be a Senior Field Service Engineer working in the Jacksonville Florida Area. Brian comes to us with over 13 years experience as a service engineer. Brian proudly served in the United States Marine Corp for 7 years.

Welcome to the CMS Family Brian!

Brian's first day will be Monday, December 11, 2017.

Chicago, IL — November 28, 2017 - Come visit our partners Konica Minolta (South Hall Booth 1919) and Del Medical (South Hall Booth 1929) as they update some of their most trusted products and introduce us to new tchnology. See below for photos.

Konica Minolta KDR™ Advanced U-Arm – Advanced design innovations to optimize workflow, increase staff productivity and improve outcomes. Konica Minolta REALISM™ - Our new Image processing software. See exceptional bone detail and elevated contrast of soft tissue for uncompromised clarity. Konica Minolta Exa™ Enterprise Imaging – Access to images across the enterprise. Anytime, anywhere, securely.

Del Medical introduces updates to the FMT18 and the OTC 18, introducing digital heads to these most trusted products.

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 27, 2017 - Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce the release of the MobileDaRt Evolution MX8 version.

Shimadzu released the next generation of MobileDaRt Evolution systems, called the MX8 version. The MX8 is digital mobile X-ray system featuring Shimadzu's first telescoping support column for even greater drivability with improved forward visibility. Also featured on the MX8 is a large completely flat monitor screen, a lockable Flat Panel Detector (FPD) housing compartment and an extensive selection of options with overall improved operability.

The newly redesigned MobileDaRt Evolution MX8 version was developed to provide users with multifaceted support based on Shimadzu's extensive technology and track record cultivated thus far. A telescoping X-ray tube support column and other changes provide dramatically improved forward visibility during travel, while maintaining the outstanding drivability that has always been highly regarded by users. Furthermore, the design also helps improve the efficiency of hospital rounds, such as by offering a wireless hand switch and other new optional features, by improving the convenience of the monitor on the mobile unit, the area around the collimator, and FPD housing compartment, and by using a longer X-ray focal length to make radiography easier for examining patients on high beds.

Shimadzu is currently promoting a concept referred to as "DR Neutral," which is based on offering a combination of digital radiography (DR), that is matched to the operations performed within the hospital, and Shimadzu's radiography systems. The MobileDaRt Evolution MX8 version can also be used with the newest and lightest weight FPDs from Canon.

Features

• - Telescoping Support Column Ensures Enhanced Forward Visibility and Enables A More Convenient Drivability
  The new design features an X-ray tube support column that can be extended or retracted and further reduces the system width making it extremely compact. The previous model was 1,930 mm tall during travel, but the new design is only 1,270 mm tall and 560 mm wide, which is 20 mm narrower than the previous model. The shorter profile provided by the telescoping support column dramatically improves forward visibility during travel, while the compact size makes it easier to use the system in narrow spaces such as next to beds. Though drivability was already a strength of previous Shimadzu models, the new MX8 is designed to be even easier to drive.


• - Various Functionality and Options Help Improve Hospital Rounds Efficiency
  In contrast to the 17-inch monitor size on previous models, the new product features a new completely flat 19-inch monitor that improves operability. The maximum X-ray focal length is also increased by 15 mm, compared to the previous model, to 2,025 mm, which makes it easier to examine patients on higher beds. Security features are also considered, such as by adding a new locking function for the FPD housing compartment. New optional features, such as a wireless hand switch for X-ray emission operations and height-adjustable grip bar, help improve the efficiency of hospital rounds.


• - "DR Neutral" Enables Flexible System Configuration
  The DR Neutral concept promoted by Shimadzu enables hospitals to use DR systems that are matched to the FPDs used within the hospital. It also supports using the industry's lightest weight 14 ´ 17-inch FPD, the latest FPD from Canon, so that mobile X-ray systems can be used in an environment that is highly compatible with existing operations.

About Shimadzu

Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada with a Sales and Marketing office located in Cleveland, Ohio and Direct Operations headquartered out of Dallas, Texas, and the greater Chicago area. 'Visit SMS at: www.shimadzu-usa.com or call (800) 228-1429.

Media Contact: Frank Serrao, Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, 800-228-1429, serrao@shimadzu-usa.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Shimadzu Medical Systems USA

Chicago, IL — November 27, 2017 - Come visit Canon U.S.A., Inc. at booth 7330 in the North Hall to see the updated Canon RadPRO Mobile 40kw FlexPlus Digital X- Ray System and the newly 510K approved 410c Wireless Detector. See below for photos.

RadPRO Mobile 40kw FlexPlus Digital X- Ray System - The updated RadPRO Mobile 40kw FlexPlus Digital X- ray System continues to deliver outstanding performance, and now have added some additonal user-friendly features to this outstanding product. The most visible addition is the LED Status Light Indicator which surrounds the top of the unit, providing the user clear and concise knowledge of the workflow process to the user. The unit utilizes a blue light for standy mode, a green light for when the unit is energized for a study, and a red light for an error in the system. Also available as options to the RadPRO Mobile 40kw FlexPlus Digital X- Ray System are a built in detector battery charger and a wireless barcode reader.

The newly 510K approved 410C Wireless Detector joins the recently released Canon 710c and 810c wireless detectors. The 410c has an image area of 17" x 16" and is the lightest wireless detector in it's size.

Also on display at the Canon booth are the RadPRO Soltus 100M Mobile Digital X-Ray System, the RadPRO Omnera 400A Auto-Positioning Digital Radiographic System, the RadPRO Delinia 200 Digital X-Ray Acquisition Cart, and the new CXDI Control Software NE.

Chicago, IL — November 26, 2017 - Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, unveiled the new Mobile DaRt Evolution MX8 and the Trinias Unity C16 today. See below for photos.

Mobile DaRt Evolution MX8 - The new Mobile DaRt Evolution MX8 is designed to bring evolutionary modernity to Shimadzu's award winning line of of mobile x-ray units. The new design features great forward visibility thanks to a collapsible column; a 19 inch LCD monitor; a sleek 22 inch wheel to wheel width for greater mobility; a DAP display; and an anti-thedt FPD lock function. Options available on the new MX 8 include: a wireless hand switch; wireless barcode reader, IC card authentication; and keyless entry.

The MX8 will be available in three modalities: the MX8c, with Canon DR panels; the MX8s, with Fuji DR panels; and the MX8k, with Konica Minolta DR panels.

The MX8 will be available for delivery in February 2018.

Trinias unity C16 - The Trinias C16 unity edition introduces the public to a brand new 12" x 16" FPD, All-in-One, Crossover System. The 12" x 16" FPD offers a large Field of View (FOV) with the smallest cover size for the whole body versus it's competitors. The FOV offers 6 changeable sizes: 16", 12", 10", 8", 6", and 4.5". The C16 is packaged with the new multi-function patient table, SMART Table, which supports flexible table positioning by tilting.

The unity edition includes 3 concepts to deepen the features of the Trinias line of products.

SCORE Imaging

Core Technology
• SCORE Pro Advance - Excellent image with less dose

Deliver Real-Time Solutions
• SCORE RSM - Real-time DSA without Mask-taking. Compared with DSA, 60% less dose for each frmae
• SCORE StentView optional - Real-time enhanced dyamic stent display at full-screen. ROI mode for higher detection.
• SCORE StentShot optional - High definition timelag-less workflow. Visulaized process on enhancement of device.
• Flex-APS (SCORE DSA) - Detects motions of pixels in between MASK and each acquisition frame, then automatically offsets the miss-registration. Event he motions have differnt directions on the same image.
• SCORE Chase (Phase 1)optional - Vessel image of whole lower extremities acquired by SCORE RSM or DSA automatically stitched without timelag even with longitudinal and transverse table movement.
• SCORE Chase (Phase 2) optional - SCORE DSA is available. Motor driven with variable speed control will be available. Selecting a frame of ROI on the acquired dynamic long-view image, DSA MAP mode will be ready automatically and very quickly.

SMART Design

SMART Table: Tiliting function for various interventional procedures.

SMART Touch: New Touch Panel bedside digital and monitor layout controller. Simple and Easy operation. SMART Touch is standard component for both KS-70/100 under unity edition

Customizable
• Color Appearance
• Size and Alignment sequence of function icon
• Preset number for physicians - no limit

SMART Access: Full body coverage. Less burden on patients.

SMART Concept

SMILE Cover: Heartwarming new colordesign mainly applies light-green and white, conjures images of cleanliness and relaxation.

The Trinias unity C16 will be available for delivery in February 2018.

MELVILLE, NY, November 22, 2017 - In celebration of a historic benchmark for its parent company, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announces that Canon Inc. has sold a total of 40,000 digital radiography detectors worldwide.* Approximately twenty years ago, Canon Inc. introduced the company's first digital radiography panel, the CXDI-11, and has brought to market a variety of different models in the decades since, including the CXDI-31 Portable Digital Radiography Detector and the CXDI-50RF Dynamic/Static Detector.

Recently, Canon U.S.A. announced the introduction of the latest version of Canon digital radiography flat panel technology: the CXDI-710C, CXDI-810C and CXDI-410C Wireless Detectors, which, as compared to the prior generation of Canon detectors, feature upgraded capabilities to help improve the patient experience and to help meet the needs of healthcare professionals.

"As a company, Canon Inc. has a storied history of imaging excellence and expertise, which clearly extends to Canon digital radiography products," said Tsuneo Imai, vice president and general manager, Healthcare Solutions Division, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. and president, Virtual Imaging, Inc. "The sale of 40,000 units of Canon digital radiography panels can be seen as a sign that Canon products offer the high-quality imaging needed to help medical professionals examine their patients in an effective and, most importantly, comfortable manner. This is a momentous occasion truly worth celebrating and we look forward to Canon's continued technological advancements in this expanding field."

The Canon digital radiography portfolio consists of:

• CXDI-710C Wireless Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-810C Wireless Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-410C Wireless Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-701C Wireless Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-801C Wireless Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-401C Wireless Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-501G Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-501C Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-401G COMPACT Digital Radiography System
• CXDI-401C COMPACT Digital Radiography System

Canon digital radiology panels have found themselves at home in a variety of environments of all sizes, including hospitals and military locations. Offering flexible capabilities, the recently announced CXDI-710C, CXDI-810C and CXDI-410C Wireless Detectors are among the lightest weight detectors currently available and are designed with form and function in mind to help improve user and patient experience. Despite being lightweight, the carbon fiber chassis and frame provide high performance and high durability, tested for the rigors of demanding daily use. The detectors offer superb quality and reliability that customers have come to expect from Canon.

For more information about Canon radiography systems, please visit https://www.usa.canon.com/dr.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $29 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2016.† Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Neusoft Medical Systems USA announced the FDA market clearance and availability of a new 128-slice CT scanner for US healthcare providers. The latest advance in more than 20 years of continual CT innovation. The NeuViz Prime offers exquisite diagnostic images enhanced by several key features.

First, the system has Spectral Imaging capabilities. The ability to perform image acquisition and processing at multiple energy levels is improving visualization for computed tomography and enhancing patient care. Spectral imaging is field upgradable for the NeuViz Prime.

Secondly, the NeuViz Prime offers 0.259 second rotation speed, a critical feature for any application requiring high temporal resolution. The subsequent motion suppression improves imaging in trauma, pediatrics, and cardiac cases.

Lastly, a new X-Ray tube with a liquid bearing design improves heat storage and dissipation. With the new tube, heat is removed faster than it is introduced, eliminating scanning delays. The tube also allows 60 kV imaging at the maximum tube current of 833 mA. 60 kV imaging is ideal for pediatric studies.

Commenting on the new system, Neusoft Medical Systems USA President, Christopher A. McHan said, “The NeuViz Prime offers the same look and feel and user interface as our 128-slice CT system. We are pleased to continue offering US hospitals and imaging centers value-packed solutions for their imaging needs.”

The NeuViz Prime is the latest addition to the NeuViz family of CT scanners sold in the US including the NeuViz 64In/En, and NeuViz 16. Each Neusoft CT system comes with a feature-rich configuration, eliminating expensive upgrades and is supported by an industry leading warranty package for exceptional technical support.

About Neusoft Medical Systems

Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd. (Neusoft Medical) is a leading manufacturer of medical equipment and service provider. Founded in China in 1998, Neusoft Medical’s leadership in software development, a core competency, has led the company to become a global market leader in medical equipment and service. The wide portfolio of Neusoft Medical’s medical equipment includes: CT, MRI, X-ray, Ultrasound, PET/CT, Linear Accelerator, IVD and Medical Imaging Cloud. Neusoft Medical expanded its leadership by establishing international subsidiaries in the USA, United Arab Emirates, Peru, Russia, Brazil, Kenya, Germany and oversea office in Vietnam. Learn more at www.neusoft.com.

Contacts Neusoft Medical Systems USA
Christopher McHan, President
281-453-1205
christopher.mchan@us.neusoft.com

WAYNE, N.J., Nov. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. announced today it will introduce REALISM™, a revolutionary image processing solution, and two new AeroDR® HD Wireless Flat Panel Detectors for specialty applications at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), November 26-December 1, 2017.

The powerful REALISM advanced image processing system delivers a new level of clarity and detail for superior visualization within soft tissue and bony structures. By independently processing bone and soft tissue data, it enhances X-ray image sharpness and contrast to reveal subtle aspects of the image, even in the most difficult anatomies. Along with improvements in image quality, REALISM can enhance workflow efficiency by enabling visualization of soft tissue and bone simultaneously, reducing the number of window-level adjustments needed.

When paired with the performance of AeroDR HD, REALISM provides an unparalleled solution for the most demanding radiology needs.

Konica Minolta continues to build on the success of high-definition imaging with AeroDR HD by introducing two additional size panels. The new 10” x 12” AeroDR HD detector is ideal for imaging fine structures such as extremities and for the special needs of NICU environments, and the new 17” x 17” AeroDR HD is designed for imaging larger anatomical areas, like the chest and abdomen.

All AeroDR HD panels offer the option to switch between High Definition (HD) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging. HD provides images with a 100 micron pixel size for a high level of detail and HDR imaging aggregates the data from four pixels for a wider range of grays, providing a smooth image that allows clinicians to detect subtle differences in soft tissue.

“The future of primary imaging is brighter than ever,” says Kirsten Doerfert, Senior Vice President of Marketing. “At Konica Minolta Healthcare, we are excited to bring the future into focus today with the introduction of REALISM advanced image processing and the expansion of the AeroDR HD detector line.”

AeroDR HD systems are available with the award-winning AeroRemote™ Remote Monitoring and Reporting Service, which delivers real-time information to maximize system utilization, minimize service interruptions, and evaluate personnel performance. This valuable service helps customers address critical or ongoing issues before they become problems.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.

Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs and helping make better decisions sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE:4902). For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

Contact:
Mary Beth Massat
Massat Media
224.578.2388
www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce the latest MD Buyline satisfaction rating.

Healthcare research firm MD Buyline released its Q3 2017 User Satisfaction Rating for Q3 2017 to its vendor subscribers. This exclusive survey is based on nationwide, direct-user feedback from hundreds of healthcare providers who rely on MD Buyline’s healthcare market research to guide their critical decision- making in budgeting, planning, selecting and acquiring medical equipment and technology.

Suppliers are rated on a scale from 1 to 10 in six categories: 1) system performance, 2) system reliability, 3) installation and implementation, 4) applications training, 5) service response time and 6) service repair quality. Based solely on hospital user feedback, the User Satisfaction Ratings is an unvarnished study of user opinion that helps MD Buyline’s Research and Analysis team to map trending in both end-user feedback and ratings of suppliers and technologies.

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA has received highest ratings in their class for overall customer satisfaction of 9.2 in Radiography and Fluoroscopy for Q3 2017.

Shimadzu’s Radiography and Fluoroscopy product line include the Fluorospeed and Sonialvision G4. Shimadzu Medical Systems can offer multiple DR solutions based on your preference.

About Shimadzu Medical SystemsShimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance California with Sales and Service offices throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Canada. Its sales and marketing office is located in Cleveland, OH and its direct operations office has headquarters in Dallas, Texas and also serves the greater Chicago area. Visit SMS at www.shimadzu-usa.com or call (800) 228- 1429.

About MD Buyline Healthcare providers recognize MD Buyline as the leading strategic sourcing company serving hospitals and vendors today. Guiding hospitals in their critical decision-making in budgeting, planning, selecting and acquiring medical equipment and technologies, our expert analysts operate with transparency and trust and help clients target cost-reduction opportunities for purchased services, consumables, capital and IT acquisitions. For more than 30 years, hospitals have relied on MD Buyline’s data and experienced analysts to guide them in their most important purchasing decisions.

For more information, go to www.mdbuyline.com.

Download the Shimadzu MD Buyline Q3 2017 Ratings Press Release

Press Release

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor Hurricane Irma and has begun to execute our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. Evacuations have begun to take place in some of our service areas and will likely continue further along the coastal communities of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Our Charleston Call Center continues to operate under normal conditions and will shift to our weekend service as normal at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time today. For the safety of our local teams, the Charleston, SC and Jacksonville, FL offices will be closed on Monday, September 11, 2017, and our call center will be operated by our usual weekend service call center. On Monday, the CMS Executive Team will determine if the offices will open for business on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

Our weekend call center will operate normally unless the path of the storm places that call center in jeopardy. If that should occur our tertiary call center location will take over and continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our normal phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Irma to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again on Monday, September 11, 2017, and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is continuing to monitor Hurricane Irma and has begun to execute our Storm Contingency Plan in Florida and will continue to monitor Georgia and South Carolina.

Keeping our team members and their families safe during this storm is our primary concern. Evacuations have begun to take place in some of our service areas and will likely continue further along the coastal communities of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Our Storm Contingency Plan is in effect and we stand prepared to continue our high level of service to our clients. Our Charleston Call Center is continuing to operate with normal service and we are prepared to automatically switch calls to our secondary call center should the storm track approach Charleston. In the event our secondary location is also affected, we have planned a third off-site call center location to continue to answer and respond to service calls. All call centers can be reached at our normal phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com.

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Irma to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again tomorrow and another Storm Alert will be issued.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Contingency Plan.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma, a major category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, which is currently located over the islands of St. Martin and Anguilla. Irma is now heading toward the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispañola, the Bahamas, and Cuba before posing a serious threat to Florida and parts of the Southeast beginning this weekend.

It is imperative to us as an organization, that all of our clients and team members remain safe in the affected areas. It is also our mission to ensure that all of our clients continue to receive the excellent service to which they are accustomed.

Our teams in both Jacksonville, FL and Charleston, SC will continue to monitor the official weather updates from our federal, state and local authorities. Our Service Management Team and Service Engineers will be presented with an operational plan for their specific territories once the path of the storm becomes more definitive.

We have already put in place a contingency plan for the areas not expected to be directly impacted by Hurricane Irma. In the event our Charleston Call Center is directly affected by the storm, we will automatically switch to an offsite call center to receive and dispatch our service calls. In the event the offsite location is also affected, we have planned a tertiary location where our calls will be answered. All call centers can be reached at our normal phone number, 800.867.1821 or via email at service@cmsimaging.com..

For those who require service after the storm, we will begin to dispatch our service engineers to areas affected by the storm once the federal, state and local authorities have deemed it safe to return and travel in the areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

We urge all those in the expected path of Hurricane Irma to monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at https://www.noaa.com.

For additional information on how to prepare for hurricanes, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

The CMS Imaging, Inc. Executive team will meet again today and another Storm Alert will be issued tomorrow.

Please contact us at info@cmsimaging.com with any questions regarding CMS Imaging's Storm Plan.

Awendaw, SC – August 30, 2017. In May 2015, CMS Imaging, Inc. donated a Mobile Digital X-Ray System to the Avian Conservation Center, located in Awendaw, South Carolina. The Avian Medical Clinic, an operating division within the Avian Conservation Center, treats more than 600 injured or orphaned birds of prey and shorebirds per year. The donation of the Digital X-Ray System has greatly assisted with the treatment of these birds, "With this X-Ray machine we are able to treat the birds faster and more effectively, using less anesthesia, which is always better for the bird." said Debbie Mauney, Avian Medical Clinic Director.

During a visit to the Center to see how the X-Ray equipment was performing, Debbie Mauney and the clinic staff were conducting a follow-up examination of a Swallow-tailed Kite, which had been injured when it was gunshot and a shotgun pellet fractured its right ulna.

The Swallow-tailed Kite is indigenous to South Carolina and Georgia and is easily identified by their forked tail feathers. "Regardless of your level of experience, no one can mistake the Swallow-tailed Kite’s forked tail, making them reliable to identify for both medical and research initiatives," said Daniel Prohaska, the Center's Development Officer. Swallow-tailed Kites are distinctive in their black and white plumage and are approximately 20 - 25 inches tall and weigh between 13 and 18 ounces. Mauney emphasized, "Because of the low body mass of birds in general, long periods of sedation can be risky." The donation of the Mobile Digital X-Ray System by CMS Imaging allows the staff to x-ray, view the image, and determine a course of action within minutes. "Previously, we used film x-ray images which would take up to 30 minutes, now we have our images as fast as we can walk from the X-Ray room to the treatment room," said Mauney.

This kite had been rescued by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and transported to the Center for surgery and rehabilitation. "With this X-Ray machine, we were quickly able to see that the break in this bird's wing was a clean break, which can be more difficult to treat," said Mauney. After unsuccessfully trying to mend the wing using bone grafts, this kite required surgery to have a pin placed to help mend the bones. The surgeon was able to use the images to assist with the insertion of the pin and future images will assist in the kite's recovery.

The Digital X-Ray System will also be invaluable to the Center in the event of contaminant spill along the South Carolina coast. The South Carolina Oiled Bird Treatment Facility, another division of the Avian Conservation Center, is designated in the US Coast Guard Area Contingency Plan as the official repository for oiled birds in South Carolina. In the event of an incident, the staff will use the X-Ray equipment to help examine the affected birds for any injuries not visible due to the effects of the oil.

"This Digital X-Ray has the potential to save the lives of many critically injured birds." said Mauney.

The Avian Conservation Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that identifies and addresses vital environmental issues by providing medical care to injured birds of prey and shorebirds, and through educational, research and conservation initiatives. Recognizing the critical role of birds of prey as unparalleled indicators of the overall health of the ecosystem, the Center is the only facility of its kind in the nation comprehensively combining science, education, research, medical care, captive breeding and oiled bird treatment. With this multi-disciplinary approach to conservation, the Center is defining and fostering a value system that will literally determine what of the natural world will be preserved and what will be irrevocably lost.

On October 21, 2017, The Center will showcase its resident collection of birds of prey at "Wild at Wingswood." Fine dining, an expansive bar, and a unique raffle and silent auction will provide for an unforgettable evening with the proceeds going directly to assist the Center in accomplishing its mission. If you are interested in assisting the Center please consider attending one of their interactive events, making a donation, or becoming a volunteer. To find out more, please visit their website at www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is the premier healthcare solutions provider specializing in the sales and service of diagnostic medical imaging equipment in the Southeast. We offer a full line of solutions for all of your MRI, CT, Digital X-Ray, Fluoroscopic, Angiographic, Software, and Medical Accessory needs.

CMS Imaging, Inc. is a proud partner of the Avian Conservation Center and is honored to be a small part of the rescue and rehabilitation of these injured birds.

MELVILLE, N.Y., July 28, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, and Virtual Imaging, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., will feature a lineup of digital radiography (DR) solutions at the 2016 Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA) show from July 31 to August 3, 2016 at The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. Visitors to the Canon booth (#622) will experience exciting new Canon and Virtual Imaging radiology solutions and tools, including a DR Tablet Solution from Virtual Imaging, which comes with a tablet and choice of a Canon wireless CXDI Digital Radiography System. The solution also includes the CXDI Control Software NE with its new scatter correction feature. Additionally, visitors will be able to experience an array of Virtual Imaging's DR product lineup, including RadPRO® radiology solutions1.

New technologies and features highlighted in this year's booth will include:

DR Tablet Solution

• - CXDI Control Software NE with Scatter Correction (Grid-free Imaging)
• - New at this year's exposition is the Scatter Correction (grid-free imaging) feature of CXDI Control Software NE. Scatter Correction eliminates the need to use an anti-scatter grid during certain types of X-ray examinations, which lightens the load for technologists and makes positioning more comfortable for patients, as compared to using the detector with a grid. The Scatter Correction feature is designed to help radiology staff to work efficiently without the need to use a grid for certain types of x-ray examinations. Eliminating the need to align the grid can help shorten exam times and increase productivity.

Other solutions featured in the Canon booth will include:

OMNERA® 400T Manual-Positioning Digital Radiographic System

SHIMADZU PRESS RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information contact:
Frank Serrao
800-228-1429
serrao@shimadzu-usa.com

Frost & Sullivan Awards 2017 Radiography Product Strategic Leadership Award to Shimadzu Corporation

Torrance, CA — August 9, 2017 – Shimadzu Corporation is the recipient of the Frost & Sullivan 2017 Global General Radiography Product Line Strategy Leadership Award.

Frost &Sullivan, a global market research, and consulting company, has awarded Shimadzu Corporation the 2017 Global General Radiography Product Line Strategy Leadership Award, one of the research company’s prestigious Best Practices Awards. Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the diagnostic imaging company that has introduced products and services representing the highest leadership in the global market for diagnostic X-ray systems in 2016 and employs the best strategies for success. The award recognizes the innovations, versatility, and extent to which Shimadzu’s radiography product line meets customer needs, the overall impact Shimadzu has in terms of providing value, and its increased market share.

In its announcement of the award, Frost & Sullivan stated that Shimadzu Corporation’s continuous innovations and upgrades to its radiography product portfolio in 2016 ensure that its radiography products stay relevant and in high demand in an evolving and highly competitive market. The radiography product strategy leadership award also recognizes the record of excellence in service and the dedication Shimadzu provides to its customers throughout the world.

The innovative technologies and products introduced by Shimadzu Corporation in 2016 that Frost & Sullivan stated merited the award include:

• the RADspeed Pro EDGE package general radiography system - a high-performance, general radiography system incorporating cutting-edge applications that include tomosynthesis combining cone-beam CT reconstruction with digital image processing, speed stitch technology, T-smart a proprietary metal artifact reduction technology, and dual energy subtraction. Digital, multi-slice tomography with flexible positioning to offer a view of oblique cross sections of the spine and hip joints was added to the system’s capability in 2016.

• the MobileDaRt Evolution MX7 version mobile X-ray system - a highly versatile, feature-filled system with flexible ergonomics and digitization features. Compared to competitive systems, Frost & Sullivan states that this mobile system incorporates a large LCD monitor that increases brightness up to 40% and energy-savings functionality that utilizes as much as 80% less electricity. the SONIALVISION G4 multi-functional universal R/F system - a radiographic/fluoroscopy designed for interdepartmental shared services that is capable of a wide range of examinations. It offers field of view (FOV) flat panel detector (FPD) available in five sizes and provides an extensive imaging area, ultra-high definition and dynamic images, less radiation exposure, and an optimal ceiling-mounted telescopic arm, as well as a wall stand with a portable FPD.

“Shimadzu has made significant contributions to the field of diagnostic imaging and is considered a trendsetter in general radiography. Within its line of products, Shimadzu has developed a comprehensive portfolio of products required for radiographic solutions that focus on enhanced automation, efficiency, image quality, and cutting-edge applications. Its broad clinical offering— encompassing orthopedics, general radiography, barium studies, endoscopy, urology, and angiography—helps build a solid partnership with end users,” Frost & Sullivan stated.

About Shimadzu

Shimadzu Corporation, founded in 1875 in Kyoto, Japan, and the parent of Shimadzu Medical Systems USA (SMS), is a global provider of medical diagnostic equipment including conventional, interventional, and digital X-Ray systems. Shimadzu Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Torrance, California, with sales and service offices located throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Canada. Its sales and marketing office is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and its direct operations office has headquarters in Dallas, Texas and also serves the greater Chicago area. Visit SMS at www.shimadzu-usa.com or call (800) 228-1429. About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. To view the Full Frost and Sullivan report, click on the link below:

Frost & Sullivan Report

Konica Minolta announced today that the company has received the first place ranking for customer satisfaction in Digital Radiography (DR) by MD Buyline, a market expert that uses evidence-based research and consulting services to advise hospitals on critical purchasing decisions. Over the past decade, Konica Minolta has consistently held the top user satisfaction rating in Computed Radiography (CR), and now builds on its industry reputation for customer commitment with this latest DR product line rating.

"The No. 1 ranking from MD Buyline shines light on the incredible design, manufacturing and service teams that Konica Minolta has built and sustained over the past decade." said Kevin Chlopecki, Vice President of Service Operations, Konica Minolta Medical Imaging. “The thorough analysis and subsequent No. 1 ranking from MD Buyline validates the fact that just as Konica Minolta has prioritized innovation in DR technology development, we’ve also innovated our customer service delivery to remain the market leader in both clinical capability and best practices.”

The MD Buyline value analysis process evaluates top vendors of DR systems through user satisfaction composite ratings. Of a possible 10, DR users ranked Konica Minolta highest in system performance (9.8), installation/implementation (9.4), service repair quality (9.4), and service response time (9.3), also with above average scores of 9.3 for system reliability and applications training. With a composite rating of 9.4, Konica Minolta clinched the top spot for DR user satisfaction. Over the past decade, Konica Minolta has been recognized for its commitment to world-class products and customer service, and views this latest accolade in DR as evidence of the company’s continued leadership. This includes an enhanced focus on preventative maintenance, providing the Blue Moon Lifecycle Solutions that have a variety of options to fit most facility sizes and budgets.

Torrance, CA — July 6, 2016 - Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, is proud to announce the latest MD Buyline satisfaction rating. Healthcare research firm MD Buyline released its Q2 2016 Market Intelligence Brief™ for Q2 2016 to its vendor subscribers. This exclusive survey is based on nationwide, direct-user feedback from hundreds of healthcare providers who rely on MD Buyline’s healthcare market research to guide their critical decision making in budgeting, planning, selecting and acquiring medical equipment and technology.

Suppliers are rated on a scale from 1 to 10 in six categories:

1. System Performance
2. System Reliability
3. Installation and Implementation
4. Applications Training
5. Service Response Time
6. Service Repair Quality

Based solely on hospital user feedback, the Market Intelligence Brief™ is an unvarnished study of user opinion that helps MD Buyline’s Research and Analysis team to map trending in both end-user feedback and ratings of suppliers and technologies.

Shimadzu Medical Systems USA has received highest ratings in their class for overall customer satisfaction in Portable Radiographic Systems & Radiography and Fluoroscopy for Q2 2016. Shimadzu’s Portable Radiographic family includes: MobileDaRt Evolution EFX, MobileDaRt Evolution SZ, MobileArt Evolution Aero DR, and MobileArt Evolution EFX. The Radiography and Fluoroscopy product line include: Fluorospeed, Sonialvision Versa, and Sonialvision G4. Shimadzu Medical Systems can offer multiple DR solutions based on your preference.