To reduce healthcare costs and improve radiologist job satisfaction, clinicians at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine are proposing a new role akin to the physician’s assistant: a radiology extender.

Specialists outside of radiology—cardiologists and vascular surgeons, for instance—have started interpreting more and more lower extremity venous duplex ultrasound (LEVDU) examinations in the last few decades. However, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, radiologists still interpret more LEVDU examinations that occur over the weekend than nonradiologists.

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceuticals has announced it will acquire Shire, an Ireland-based drug company, for $62 billion, making Takeda one of the 10 largest pharma firms in the world.

Looking at the transition in leadership at 490 hospitals, a study found 82 facilities chose a new chief executive from among their existing C-suite leaders, while the vast majority—408 hospitals—went with an outside hire.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, has said he’s abandoning efforts to push a bipartisan bill meant to stabilize the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, putting the blame on Democrats’ resistance to making changes to the law. With no congressional action likely this far into an election year, exchange insurers are requesting some eye-popping hikes for 2019 premiums.

More and more hospitals are introducing policies against common Lycra and spandex clothing in favor of traditional paper gowns or cotton T-shirts to prevent patients from being burned during MRI.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced Wednesday, May 9, that Geraldine McGinty, MD, MBA, is this year’s recipient of the William T. Thorwarth Jr., MD, Award.

May 9 marks 100 days since Alex Azar was sworn in as the second HHS Secretary under President Donald Trump. Judging by what lobbyists, policy experts and Democrats said to Axios, he’s seen in a more positive light than his predecessor Tom Price, MD.