CHICAGOThe security of employment through a hospital is a draw for some radiologists looking for guaranteed pay, low overhead and other benefits, and some hospitals are seeking to incorporate radiology departments as a way to maintain quality control and produce additional revenue. But the grass may not be greener on the employment side of the fence, at least according to a case study presented by Patricia Kroken, principal of Healthcare Resource Providers of Albuquerque in New Mexico, during a Nov. 29 presentation at the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiology Society of North America (RSNA).

CHICAGOThe RAW file format, an alternative imaging format, offers improved photo editing, compared with traditional techniques, said Mahesh M. Thapa, MD, of Seattle Childrens Hospital and University of Washington, in a Nov. 28 presentation during the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiology Society of North America (RSNA).

CHICAGOHospitals, aiming to cut costs while simultaneously improving patient care, are increasingly joining integrated delivery networks (IDNs), which now make up 50 percent of U.S. hospitals, said Abraham Seidmann, PhD, professor, Simon Graduate School of Business in Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 28 at the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Welcome to the December issue of CMIO. I am excited and honored to serve as editor-at-large. As a long-time reader, and having served on the editorial advisory board, I am familiar with the content and direction of the magazine.

With this editorial, Id like to offer my greetings to the CMIO readers as I join the staff as editor.

The Direct Project is well on its way to achieving its objective of becoming an on-ramp to the nationwide health information superhighway. In this article, several state programs share their Direct Project efforts.

CMIOs have transformed the U.S. health IT system, and healthcare professionals have gone from oblivion to engagement with medical informatics. A recognized specialty has been formed and included in mainstream medical education. Now, young physicians interested in medical informatics careers also are playing an important role.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains an underdiagnosed problem in the medical community. Interventional cardiologists are in a unique position to diagnose, treat, and spread awareness about this disease. As practitioners continue to expand their services to include vascular and endovascular components, it is critical to recognize the key components for building a successful and reputable PAD program: Expertise, Commitment, Collaboration, and Quality. After you become comfortable performing and managing more complex PAD lesions, you could begin to incorporate critical limb ischemia (CLI) into your program.