CHICAGO--Surveys indicate fairly low levels of satisfaction with PACS navigation tools, but multiple existing solutions can improve satisfaction and navigation, and there are several promising developments on the horizon, according to a lecture presented at the annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting.

CHICAGO--Information technology is essential to radiology practices because of their complex data and workflow. In addition, the use of IT improves efficiency and quality, reduces costs and opens doors to new services, according to Keith Dreyer, DO, PhD, vice chair of radiology and informatics at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) of Boston, who spoke at the annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting on Monday.

The Cleveland Clinic recently announced an equity partnership with Explorys, a newly formed health IT company, to accelerate research and improve healthcare through real-time medical data exploration and research collaboration.

Healthcare management company Mediware Information Systems recently announced that it will acquire a pair of companies--Healthcare Automation and Advantage Reimbursement--to grow its home infusion customer base from 150 to 450 customer facilities.

CHICAGOWith the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise) has found its moment in time, said David Mendelson, MD, chief of clinical informatics and director of radiology information systems at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, during a session at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting on IHE and integration issues.

As part of its Healthymagination venture, GE Healthcare has unveiled its MR-Touch, MR elastography (MRE) technology that will soon be made commercially available.

Optimal scheduling of breast MRI exams can be achieved by a simple blood test searching for Serum progesterone concentrations related to the follicular phase (days three-14) of a normal menstrual cycle in premenopausal women with irregular cycles, said a recent analysis published in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

The Montreal Childrens Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre in Quebec has opened a new combined MRI/operating room suite for image-guided neurosurgery.