As diagnostic imaging becomes even more complex, so, too, does the business of running a hospital. Margins are low, competition is high and hospitals are consolidating just to survive. Next-generation imaging solutions are emerging to take the industry to the next level. Industry visionaries have coined the term PACS 3.0 to describe the system of the future with patient-centric data and the fulfillment of anytime, anywhere access. But these visionaries have put the industry on notice that PACS 3.0 simply can’t be achieved without the ability to scale and interoperate with other systems. The burning question in the industry should be: how do we get from here to there?

As radiology struggles to find its footing in an emerging healthcare delivery paradigm that emphasizes collaboration and accountability, radiologist Rasu Shrestha, MD, finds himself at the center of the fray at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Penn., where he was recently named chief innovation officer and president, Technology Development Center.

Over the past 20 years, the radiology specialty has adapted well to increasing volumes, while maintaining a high caliber of service.  However, certain macro-trends are bringing change: the move to fee-for-value vs. fee-for-volume means radiologists must navigate a new and radically different healthcare payment environment, says Brian Baker, founder and CEO of Franklin, Tenn.-based health care research firm Carealytics.

The seamless interface of information systems within an enterprise is the Holy Grail in health systems for good reason: Tight integrations can yield big benefits. After replacing its PACS and tightly interfacing the new system with its electronic medical record (EMR), Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health is reaping the benefits of streamlined workflow and improved patient care across its four hospitals, more than 10,000 employees, cancer center and heart and vascular center. 

Preparing for the paradigm shift to value-based care remains a topic of intense focus and discussion while the concept continues to be defined in a meaningful way, according to Cindy Hardin, executive director, Infrastructure Product Management in imaging and workflow solutions at McKesson. 

MINNEAPOLIS and SEATTLE — (July 29, 2014) vRad (Virtual Radiologic) the largest U.S. telemedicine company and radiology practice with over 450 physicians, and Remote Medical International® (RMI), a leading provider of global medical support services for remote locations, announced today that vRad is providing 24x7 emergent teleradiology services for RMI’s medical staff supporting the U.S. Military in Afghanistan and Kuwait.

A year into implementing a better method to track and report patient radiation dose and the team at University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) in Cleveland says they are on the right track. The center of UHCMC’s dose tracking and reporting is Sectra Dose Track™, the dose-monitoring and reporting platform from Sectra.

Nine years ago, when radiologist Kevin Barker, MD, joined the solo practice of Dr. Anson Cone, Community Radiology Associates (CRA) covered one imaging center and one rural hospital, and enjoyed high regard from referring physicians in the Texas Hill Country, a vast, 25-county region marked by rugged hills separating Austin from San Antonio.