Lawrence Tanenbaum, M.D., FACR, vice president and director of advanced imaging at RadNet, discusses the latest research on the effects of gadolinium contrast retention following magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams, and how facilities can best manage its use.

Sheila Sferrella, president of Regents Health Resources and Bill Finerfrock, president of Capitol Associates, discuss the national progress in transitioning from computed radiography (CR) to digital radiography (DR) systems. Sferrella is the chair and Finerfrock is a member of the AHRA Regulatory Affairs Committee. 

Watch the related Technology Report on Digital Radiography Systems

Watch part 1 of the conversation with Sferrella and Finerfrock on clinical decision support updates

Watch part 3 on site-neutral payments

Ehsan Samei, Ph.D., DABR, FAAPM, FSPIE, director of the Duke University Clinical Imaging Physics Group and head of the Duke medical physics graduate program, explained this new program at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) 2018 meeting.

Additional AAPM news and videos

Robert Junk and Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, of architectural firm RAD-Planning, discuss the different types of safety hazards associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and how to assess your own protocols to find and eliminate inefficiencies that could lead to safety hazards. 

Watch the related VIDEO New App Improves MRI Safety For Implantable Devices

Read the related article "Closing the Loopholes in MRI Safety"

This is an example of how Cherenkov radiation glow can be collected with image intensifier cameras during radiotherapy to show the exact location of the beam and the amount of dose delivered. This can be used to quickly verify everything matches the treatment plan and dosimetry. This video was shot in the booth of DoseOptics at the 2018 American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). The company is developing this technology and hopes to submit it to U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) for review in the next year. 

Other coverage from the AAPM 2018 meeting.

#AAPM2018

At SIIM 2018, Alexander J. Towbin, M.D., Radiologist, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Neil D. Johnson Chair of Radiology Informatics, Associate Chief of Radiology Informatics, at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, discusses the meaning of patient engagement and describes some of the patient engagement initiatives that he has seen successfully implemented in various practices.

Watch another VIDEO interview with Towbin "Translational and Reproducible Research in Medical Imaging."

Read the article "Essentials of Pediatric Imaging" with input from Towbin.

ITN Contributing Editor Greg Freiherr interviews Kim Garriott, Principal Consultant, Logicalis

The rapidly expanding volume of unstructured data, exemplified by medical images, underscores the need to develop an enterprise imaging strategy, says Kim Garriott, principal consultant at Logicalis, a global provider of IT solutions and managed services.

In the accompanying video interview, Garriott explains how the combination of these two may form a convincing argument for the leadership of your organization to move forward with enterprise imaging.

On June 1, at the upcoming SIIM 2018 convention, she will co-host the continuing education session “Achieving Enterprise Imaging Maturity,” during which she and the HIMSS-SIIM Workgroup will present the new Digital Imaging Adoption Maturity Model. DIAM, as it is called, is designed to support real-time collaboration and patient-centric care by providing a method to address enterprise-wide imaging challenges. 

When developing an enterprise imaging strategy, organizations must consider their specific needs, which are characterized in “use cases.” Garriott, who is the global chair of the HIMSS analytic DIAM Development team and co-chair of the HIMSS-SIIM Enterprise Imaging Workgroup, explains that these use cases constitute one very important element of the enterprise imaging strategy. Another is construction of a “data governance model.” This model is needed to guide the capture of data and is essential to the success of enterprise imaging.

Editor’s Note: This pre-SIIM video interview is the first in a series of three by ITN Contributing Editor, Greg Freiherr. The series features industry luminaries discussing key issues associated with the upcoming SIIM conference.

Related Video: ITN Associate Editor Jeff Zagoudis discusses, "Enterprise Imaging and the Digital Imaging Adoption Model" with Kim Garriott at HIMSS 2018.

Organizations who are embarking on an enterprise imaging journey share many of the same questions and concerns regarding how to best optimize workflow across providers, departments and facilities; which technologies will provide the best fit for achieving the future vision; and how to maximize value and accelerate return on investment by driving adoption and improving satisfaction among providers and healthcare consumers (patients).

We, Paragon Consulting Partners LLC (PCP Imaging), are a team of passionate healthcare professionals that bring over 100 years of collective clinical, technical and business leadership experience within the healthcare IT and imaging informatics industries. In this video we address the key challenges and considerations faced by organizations undertaking an Enterprise Imaging journey, and how a trusted partner can contribute valuable expertise and guidance that enable healthcare organizations and vendors of any size to successfully tackle even their most challenging enterprise imaging initiatives. For more information, visit pcpimaging.com.

Jonathan Teich, M.D., chief medical information officer for InterSystems, discusses the growth of clinical decision support in the United States, what he believes will drive further growth and the ways it may be used in the future

Max Wintermark, M.D., professor of radiology and chief of neuroradiology, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, discussed MRI contrast safety issues at RSNA 2017. Read the article “FDA: No Harm in MRI Gadolinium Retention in the Brain,” and “European Medicines Agency Issues Update on Gadolinium Contrast Agents.”  Watch the VIDEO “Big Concerns Remain for MRI Gadolinium Contrast Safety at RSNA 2017,” and interview with Emanuel Kanal, M.D.

Adam Flanders, M.D., co-director, neuroradiology and vice-chair of informatics at Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, and chair of the RSNA Radiology Informatics Committee, discusses the impact of AI at RSNA 2017. Read the article “How Artificial Intelligence Will Change Medical Imaging.” Watch the related VIDEO “Machine Learning and the Future of Radiology,” an interview with Eliot Siegel, M.D.

Stamatia Destounis, M.D., FACR, associate professor, University of Rochester School of Medicine, attending radiologist, Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, explains recent advances in mammography and dense breast imaging at the 2017 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting.

Related Breast Imaging Content:

The Evolution of Breast Imaging Technology.

VIDEO: Implementing Advanced Breast Imaging Technology.

VIDEO: Use of Breast MRI Screening in Women With Dense Breasts

Breast Density Explained

VIDEO: Explaining Dense Breasts — Interview with Christiane Kuhl, M.D.

Improving Clinical Image Quality for Breast Imaging

Breast Imaging in the Age of Coronavirus

VIDEO: Use of Breast MRI Improved Cancer Detection in Dense Breasts in Dutch Study — Interview with Gillian Newstead, M.D.

Chris Toth, president, global commercial and field operations for Varian, takes a tour of Varian’s new product introductions and major initiatives highlighted at ASTRO 2017. These include:
  • The Halcyon system, a new platform for cancer treatment that simplifies and enhances virtually every aspect of image-guided volumetric intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Halcyon is a powerfully intuitive platform designed to help improve and strengthen the fight against cancer and enable access to high quality care anywhere in the world.
  • The 360 Oncology care management platform, designed to integrate and coordinate patient care across the entire treatment and post-treatment journey. 360 Oncology brings together in a single platform, radiation, medical and surgical oncology, social services, primary care physicians, as well as the patient, to facilitate true collaboration and coordination.
  • The latest release of Varian’s Eclipse treatment planning software, incorporating both Multi-Criteria Optimization (MCO) and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Support.  MCO enables planners to look at tradeoffs in a treatment plan when different clinical criteria are varied, greatly enhancing control over optimization.  GPU support decreases the dose calculation and inverse planning optimization times, providing a significant leap forward in speed.
  • HyperArc high definition radiotherapy, technology that unlocks the potential of non-coplanar treatment strategies to usher in a new era of precision in the delivery of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

For more information: www.varian.com

Benjamin Movsas, M.D., chair of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Scientific Committee, explains how research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting was chosen to reflect new trends in radiation therapy.

Watch the VIDEO "The Future of Radiation Oncology"

Watch the VIDEO "Clinical Considerations for Proton Therapy"

The new Visicoil MR is a helically-wound, flexible linear fiducial marker. The Visicoil MR hollow core design and multiple sizes mitigates the CT artifact often created by traditional gold seeds, offering you clearer visualization of the tissue to aid in faster and more accurate contouring. Visicoil MR's linear flexible design fixates and remains stable in soft tissue, giving you the confidence in accurate marker localization. Visicoil MR is available in some of the smallest needle sizes available for fiducial markers, including 21g and 22g needles. The benefits of smaller needles are improved patient safety and comfort during implantation. The smaller needles may also allow for faster CT sim after implant and ultimately treatment for your patients. The new Visicoil MR with enhanced MRI visibility allows you to see the marker more easily in MRI, both in T1 and T2. This makes for easier and faster MR/CT fusion.

Melissa Martin, MS, president of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), discusses her vision of the role of medical physics in healthcare and highlights the association's initiatives at the 2017 AAPM annual meeting in Denver.

Mark Pankuch, Ph.D., director of medical physics at the Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center, discusses the clinical applications and practical aspects of operating a proton therapy center at the 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) annual meeting.

Angelic McDonald, MSRS, CRA, FAHRA, regional director of imaging, Baylor Scott & White Health and the president-elect of AHRA, discusses the biggest challenges she and other radiology administrators face at the 2017 AHRA annual meeting in Anaheim. Read the related article "Two Key Issues Keeping Radiologists Up at Night in 2017."

Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA) President Jason Newmark, CRA, FAHRA, and CEO Ed Cronin highlight the association's accomplishments in the last 12 months and discuss how it will help its members face coming changes in healthcare.

SIIM Chair Paul Nagy, Ph.D., FSIIM, CIIP, associate professor of radiology and deputy director of the Technology Innovation Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, discusses how informatics technology is changing medical imaging, and highlights SIIM's recent accomplishments and future endeavors.