Radiologists should understand the importance of using certified electronic health record (EHR) technology—now more than ever with the opening of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA)’s first reporting period.

As research director of a policy think tank dedicated to medical imaging, I’m frequently asked how radiologists—and their practices—will fit into the broader healthcare landscape once the current tumultuous healthcare environment evolves into stable equilibrium. Of course, whether we do see a stable equilibrium is a questionable assumption in itself, but it doesn’t hurt to put on our futurist hats and explore how this may look for radiology. 

Royal Phillips has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its IntelliSite Pathology Solution, a pathology image creation and management system. Its currently the only digital pathology system cleared for primary diagnostic use, an important milestone in the burgeoning field.

Blood testing for prostate cancer now has a passing grade—the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has changed its tune on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, upgrading the recommendation that some men undergo to a “C” grade.  

Imaging advocacy groups have lined up to support a bill providing medical imaging device and contrast drug manufacturers a clear regulatory pathway, speeding the bench-to-bedside transition.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will re-examine its decision to pull several gadolinium contrast agents from the European single market following requests from gadolinium producers.

When first introduced in the 1990s, blood tests for prostate-specific-antigens were hailed as the cheap, non-invasive screening men had needed for years. While the rate of prostate cancer rose sharply, that was expected—a more effective screening test meant more cancers were diagnosed.

The dramatic growth in imaging utilization experienced at the beginning of the millennium has mostly leveled off, according to a study published in Health Affairs, primarily due to major cuts to reimbursement and more careful ordering of noninvasive exams.