Since Wilhem Roentgen first discovered x-rays 121 years ago, the imaging industry has grown into one of the largest sectors in the healthcare industry—but access remains limited for the majority of the world's population. An extreme imaging shortage persists in under-developed parts of the world, brought on by a combination of unreliable equipment, lack of radiologists and/or the absence of a telemedicine program.

It’s no secret that radiology is rapidly changing, with more and more focus being put on defining and demonstrating value. The good news for radiologists, according to a recent study published by the American Journal of Roentgenology, is that patients value their assessment of images over interpreters who aren’t radiologists. Some patients are even willing to pay for a one-on-one meeting. 

The AHRA 2016 Virtual Fall Conference begins Oct. 14, with virtual sessions available to attendees on demand for two full weeks. One session available on demand will be “The 3 Competencies: Building a Successful Imaging Project with Patient Care in Mind,” presented by Cathy Dolan-Schweitzer, MA, the president of Health Well Done in Yonkers, New York. 

The Medicare Shared Savings Program could affect radiology practices through accountable care organization (ACO) enrollment, according to a study by the Harvey L. Nieman Health Policy Institute that was published in the journal Health Care Management Science.

Imaging providers in Vancouver Island, part of the Canadian province of British Columbia, have continued to experience issues taking care of patients in a timely matter. This week, two of the top stories on the Times Colonist, the daily newspaper of Victoria, B.C., focused on the issue. 

Researchers from the University of Belgrade in Serbia suggested an urgent need for improved radiation safety and training in wake of studies indicating that half of interventional radiologists have the beginnings of cataracts.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a technology that has been used to address benign tumors in the uterus and cancerous prostate tumors. But it’s now being used to treat essential tremors after the FDA approved it in July.

After a positive breast cancer screening, patients need a fast diagnosis. Can one-stop diagnostic clinics do the trick? A one-stop breast clinic for individuals with suspect breast lesions opened in France in 2004, aiming to provide patients with a proper diagnosis by the end of the day of their visit. Researchers analyzed eight years of data from the clinic, sharing their findings in the European Journal of Cancer.