The nuclear cardiology department at Ochsner Health System, a New Orleans-based multi-hospital organization with facilities peppered throughout southern Louisiana, is revising its cardiac imaging model and implementing a flow-based imaging program. Leveraging the Positron Attrius cardiac PET system, the new model is characterized by highly accurate patient diagnosis and treatment and judicious use of healthcare resources. Its a win-win proposition, says Robert Bober, MD, director of nuclear cardiology. Sponsored by an educational grant from Positron.

In 1625, an Italian physician measured body temperature by applying a numerical scale to his thermoscope. From that primitive thermometer to todays highly sophisticated surgical, portable and wireless telemetry monitors, patient surveillance has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. But the technology is only as good as the professionals who respond to them.

Radial artery access cardiac catheterization was associated with increased radiation exposure to the patient when compared with femoral access, according to a study in this months Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Other therapies, such as the use of fibrinolytic drugs, catheter-based interventions, surgery or use of vena cava filters, should be considered in addition to blood thinners when treating certain patients with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, according to a scientific statement published in the March 21 issue of Circulation.

While PCI improves the quality of life and survival in certain clinical settings, these benefits are counterbalanced by the procedural risks. To encourage quality patient care, each PCI program must evaluate its performance through a meaningful continuous quality improvment (CQI) process. To help in this process, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has published a position paper on implementing a CQI program, which appeared online March 2 in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.

Global spending on medical imaging equipment exceeded $21 billion in 2010, according to Medical Imaging Markets, a report published by market research firm TriMark Publications.

Evaluating body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, singly or in combination, did not improve cardiovascular disease risk prediction when systolic blood pressure, diabetes or lipid information were added to the mix, according to an analysis published in the March 10 issue of Lancet.

An early proponent of accountable care organizations (ACOs), Hill Physicians Medical Group in northern California, has expanded its success with ACOs in the Sacramento area to the San Francisco Bay area.