BOSTONTexting is gaining traction in healthcare. While much of the buzz at the 4th annual mHeatlh World Congress focused on the potential of smartphone applications to engage patients, two presentations told how public health initiatives are having success with the slightly older technology.

The FDA has approved the use of Bracco Diagnostics' MultiHance (gadobenate dimeglumine) injection, 529 mg/mL, in MR angiography to evaluate adults with known or suspected renal or aorto-ilio-femoral occlusive vascular disease.

BOSTONThe growth in smart phone adoption and a shift to a mobile, social media based model of consumer engagement means rethinking how and when patient engagement can occur, according to a panel discussion on July 26 at the 4th Annual mHealth World Congress.

Barco has released the latest version of its MediCal QAWeb Mobile software for viewing DICOM images on the iPad.

This week witnessed a stolen hospital computer, a pointed call for changes to the governance of the Nationwide Health Information Network and a hair-raising report from a federal office on adverse-event reporting (or, more to the point, the lack thereof).

BOSTONInstitutions responsible for regulating mobile health (mHealth) products are hustling to keep up with the pace of technological innovation. While mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have cleared new paths to providing healthcare and encouraging wellness, the current regulations guiding the development of mHealth tools can be burdensome and unclear, according to a July 25 panel discussion at the 4th annual mHealth World Congress.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has issued two new interoperability standards and revised another. Additions to the New York City-based associations family of 11073 standards, the three standards are intended to help expand the market for medical equipment that has device-to-device communications capabilities.

One of the key goals of healthcare reform is to boost quality while cutting cost. Its a tall order, and success will hinge on thoughtful deployment of imaging informatics systems.