A whole-body PET/CT protocol that includes respiratory gated 4D PET/CT is likely to be recommended for future oncological studies and radiation therapy applications and could reduce internal margins and deliver more effective radiation therapy, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiotherapy and Oncology.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores correlated with future regional wall motion abnormalities in an elderly cohort, according to a study published in the October issue of Radiology.

Mobile mammography provider Somerset Breast Screening Service has purchased two MicroDose Mammography systems and a Breast Imaging PACS from Sectra.

State-based health insurance exchanges should be placed within an independent agency, and management of the exchanges should be apolitical and professional, according to a Sept. 30 report issued by health policy reform research group The Commonwealth Fund.

Results from the CARISMA (Cardiac Arrhythmias and Risk Stratification after Myocardial Infarction) trial have shown that a subcutaneous implantable monitor documented significant arrhythmias, more than three-quarters of which were asymptomatic, according to a study published in the Sept. 28 issue of Circulation.

Although there's some confusion regarding EHR meaningful use and EHR certification requirements, there is one question on everyones mind, said John Halamka, CIO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, CIO at Harvard Medical School, Chair of the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel and Co-Chair of the HIT Standards Committee. He was speaking at a recent CHIME webinar about EHRs, meaningful use and certification requirements. 

Hansen Medical, a developer of robotic technology for 3D control of catheter movement, has launched a product enhancement to its Sensei X Robotic Catheter System, a robotic platform used by physicians during cardiac arrhythmia procedures.

Ten years ago, Citizens Memorial Healthcare began looking into EMR implementation, and eventually deployed a Meditech system and was paperless by 2003. By 2009, the rural Southwest Missouri network, which includes a 76-bed hospital, five long-term care facilities, 25 physician practices, a home care agency and community physicians, had achieved Stage 6 of the HIMSS Analytics EMR Adoption Model. Then, the network took aim at Stage 7, which requires bi-directional exchange of health information. Denni McColm, CIO of Citizens Memorial Healthcare, in Bolivar, Mo., recently spoke with CMIO about interoperability, Stage 7 and beyond.