U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has announced the release of $851 million in grants to address immediate health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to healthcare for millions of Americans. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

Using MRI, radiologists may be able to diagnose deep endometriosis and accurately locate lesions prior to surgery, according to a study published July 7 in the online edition of Radiology.

A 3D breast MRI imaging technique developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could reduce biopsies for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recommended an increase in the equipment usage rate from the current 50 percent to 90 percent for equipment priced more than $1 million as part of its proposed rule for the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

Boston Scientific has announced that President and CEO Jim Tobin will retire and that its board of directors has appointed Ray Elliott the new president and CEO, effective July 13.

Researchers found that women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who receive a breast MRI are more likely to receive a mastectomy after their diagnosis and may face delays in starting treatment, according to a study published online June 25 and will appear in the August edition of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Although there is no doubt that hypnosis can impact the mind and behavior, the underlying brain mechanisms are not well understood. New research published in the June 25 issue of Neuron, however, uncovers the influence of hypnotic paralysis on brain networks involved in internal representations and self imagery.

Nyack Hospital in Rockland County, N.Y., is implementing McKesson's Paragon community hospital information system (HIS), which will enable the use of EHRs and financial management systems throughout its 375-bed facility.