Business Intelligence

Providers utilize business intelligence to monitor referral patterns and collaborate with clinicians who order their services. Such analytics tools have also been deployed in the specialty to improve productivity, track patient satisfaction and bolster quality.

Popular weight-loss drugs don’t tip the scales against Alzheimer’s
Semaglutide alters Alzheimer’s biomarkers but doesn’t slow the disease’s advance.
Abbott acquires cancer diagnostic company Exact Sciences for $21B
The deal will not be finalized until approved by Exact Sciences’ shareholders. With it, Abbott gains control of new diagnostic tools, including a popular at-home test for colorectal cancer.
Trump’s former FDA commissioner joins board of UnitedHealth
Scott Gottlieb, MD, will take on the new position “effective immediately.” UnitedHealth Group did not say what, if any, steering committee the former FDA lead will sit on.
Cigna announces new copay-centric insurance model, backed by AI care coordination
Dubbed “Clearity,” the new health plans will have four tiers to choose from, allowing patients to select the provider and services that are right for them. The insurance is similar to a concierge care model, but backed by a potentially larger network.
Former COO of UnitedHealthcare subsidiary Optum Health promoted to CEO
Krista Nelson made the official announcement on LinkedIn. She replaces Patrick Conway, MD, CEO of the broader Optum, who had held dual roles. Nelson has been with UnitedHealthcare since 2017.

Imaging industry news bites of the week

Radiology business developments that broke softly but may make waves

New PET imager cleared for U.S. sales

A Canadian manufacturer of positron emission tomography equipment has received FDA’s OK to market a small-footprint scanner that images targeted organs bearing radiotracers at close range.

Generic CT contrast supplier pledges ‘immediate relief’ from shortage

A global tech and pharma vendor is set to inject U.S. healthcare with a set of generic contrast agents, the first of which will be an FDA-approved substitute for GE Healthcare’s Visipaque.

Radiologist starting salaries up 13.5% over last year

Radiologists are receiving salary offers averaging $455,000 to start a new job in 2022, up from $401,000 in 2021.

True or false? ‘AI does not influence radiologists’ performance’

A healthcare AI startup in Silicon Valley is partnering with a top-tier medical school—and hopefully a few good radiologists—to test a hypothesis that’s increasingly crucial to radiology.

GE will keep its brand in spin-off moves

GE HealthCare will be the name of the company’s healthcare business, while its energy portfolio will go under the moniker GE Vernova, and its aviation business will be dubbed GE Aerospace.

Canon grows footprint with acquisition of regional distributor

A longtime distributor and servicer of Canon medical imaging equipment is being acquired by Canon Medical Systems USA.

Startup OEM expands pediatric use cases for portable MRI

Portable MRI maker Hyperfine is touting a new capability in its Swoop scanner that may appeal to pediatric neurologists and neurosurgeons as well as neuroradiologists.

Business Intelligence

Popular weight-loss drugs don’t tip the scales against Alzheimer’s

Abbott acquires cancer diagnostic company Exact Sciences for $21B

Trump’s former FDA commissioner joins board of UnitedHealth

Cigna announces new copay-centric insurance model, backed by AI care coordination

Former COO of UnitedHealthcare subsidiary Optum Health promoted to CEO