CHICAGOThe implementation of clinical decision support resulted in a marked, positive change in the utilization pattern for breast MRI, according to a study presented Nov. 30 at the Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Colchicine treatment started on day three after cardiac surgery reduced the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) without significant side effects, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in Circulation. Compared with placebo, colchicine also trimmed patients hospital and rehabilitation stays, making treatment a potentially a cost-saving approach for managing patients.

GE Healthcare demonstrated the newest version of its Centricity Radiology Mobile Access platform, which allows radiologists to remotely select and view patient images from Centricity PACS on their mobile Apple devices, at the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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).

Although a proposed policy that would provide patients with the right to request and receive their test results directly from laboratories could empower them and reduce physicians workloads, its unclear what the specific effects of such a policy would be, according to Hardeep Singh, MD, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, in a recently published Journal of the American Medical Association commentary.

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).

A class action complaint has been filed against Sutter Health by attornies acting on behalf of an affected patient, Karen Pardieck, and "all others similarly situated." The northern California healthcare network recently had a laptop containing millions of patients personal information