by mmatthews
11/23/2009 12:56:00 PM
this is a test
by mmatthews
12/17/2008 2:19:00 PM
I mentioned in an earlier post that I was wondering about
the actual attendance for RSNA this year. My colleague, associate editor Elaine
Sanchez got the numbers to me recently.
Yes, there was indeed a dip in attendance; but not a
nosedive, as some in the indy predicted.
Attendance at this year’s RSNA fell 5% compared to last
year, according to unaudited totals released from the organization.
Exhibitor attendance represented the biggest drop. The
numbers show that 24,683 vendor registrants were in the halls, a 12% drop from
2007. Furthermore, 726 technical exhibits took up 516,100 square feet, which is
4% less than last year.
Professional attendance fell 1% to 27,586, while guest
attendance increased 7% to 6,526.
A total of 58,795 people attended the 2008 RSNA meeting –
last year, it was nearly 62,000.
The
“more the merrier” is the usual mantra. Even so, the folks I’ve talked with –
both vendors and attendees – were pleased with what they saw and learned this
year. …How about you? Comment and let us know if this RSNA was rewarding to
you.
by mmatthews
12/11/2008 8:23:00 PM
A basic knowledge of PACS is a given in the medical imaging
profession. But as the technology continues to evolve and the needs of
organizations change, radiologists and PACS administrators still have much to
learn. It’s no surprise then that this year’s RSNA hosted 183 informatics
events!
The informatics demonstration areas of RSNA showcased
computer applications in radiologic education and information management. The
topics of these demos, workshops and classes provide a good idea of what’s
“hot” in PACS right now.
There
were sessions on disaster recovery and business continuity; an interactive
overview of PACS with RIS workflow; and multi-site PACS considerations – in
short, solutions for large multi-site enterprises. These are just a handful of
PACS-related subjects that today’s radiologists, administrators and informatics
professionals consider vital – because mastering key challenges translates into
improved efficiencies and cost savings.
by mmatthews
12/5/2008 1:01:00 PM
Replacing an x-ray room to implement digital
radiography is a costly undertaking. Thanks to Carestream’s new wireless,
cassette-size DRX-1, there’s a better, more cost-effective solution. Visitors
to Carestream’s RSNA booth were enthusiastic about this work-in-progress system
that fits into both wall stand and table-based Buckys. The industry’s first
wireless DR detector means a rapid, affordable conversion for those with film
or CR systems. The DRX-1 consists of a console and a wireless 14- by 17-inch
cassette-size digital radiography detector. RSNA attendees applauded this
wireless beauty because it represents real innovation and an understanding of
provider’s cost concerns. Kudos to Carestream!
by mmatthews
12/5/2008 12:18:00 PM
As RSNA drew to a close, I reflected on how many
vendors and attendees talked with me about this year’s traffic. Some felt that
attendance was down; others, thought it was probably up there with last year’s
numbers – approximately 62,000 – but that the Halls just seemed less crowded
due to the addition of a 3rd exhibit Hall. …It will be interesting
to find out the actual number of attendees once the RSNA folks do a wrap-up of
the meeting on their website. …But yesterday, many of my fellow RSNA visitors
had another kind of traffic on their minds – getting to the airport on time!
…The show is over, but we’ll continue to update you with all the great things
we saw on this blog. Stay tuned. …And if you attended RSNA, let us know if you
think attendance was high or not…and why. We want your thoughts...now!
by mmatthews
12/4/2008 12:16:00 PM
Remember last RSNA? The splashy launches of all those sexy
CT machines like the Aquilion One and Brilliance iCT and so on? Remember the excitement about the 256-
slice, lower dose, capture an organ in a single rotation and all that? …. Well,
this year, the focus is on the opposite…sort of “less can be more….
eventually.” Take Philips for example. The company is offering their Brilliance
iCT SP (scalable platform) this year. It’s a 128-slice machine…but with the
ability to upgrade to 256-slices when needed. And, it’s more affordable, of
course, than the 256-slice we met last year. …We talked rationale for this
debut. A Philips spokesperson said it’s all about the economy – providers are
cautious about investing; yet they don’t want to buy something that works for
2009 only. So the upgradeable solution makes sense. Invest less now…and when
times get better you have the flexibility to get more – the full 256-slice
capability. …Economics rule in the CT arena.
by mmatthews
12/4/2008 11:12:00 AM
Sony’s booth is oh so inviting – with a pink theme
(right down to the men’s ties!). The company just debuted its Digital
Mammography printer – the “missing link” in its line of Filmstation products
for every modality. Mammo printers require a high-resolution thermal head – and
Sony’s works-in-progress features just that, as well as a small footprint and
the ability to use the printer for other modalities as well. That means
cost-efficiencies…the talk of the show! …Let us know what products you found on
the show floor that genuinely help save costs. Comment! We want to know.
by mmatthews
12/2/2008 7:00:00 PM
How many megapixels really matter? That was my question to the folks at NEC. Seems everyone is introducing monitors with 6, 8, and even more, megapixels. At what point does high resolution become just another sexy feature? ..,.The answer: Mammo requires 5 megapixels; but other than that, it is up to the clinician to decide what he/she really requires for an accurate read. NEC’s new line of high-brightness color and grayscale displays include the 2-megapixel MD212MC, the 3-megapixel MD213MC color displays, and the 3-megapixel MD213MG grayscale display – all 21-inches. In my opinion, that’s megapixels in moderation! That means the price is affordable to many – including Community Hospitals across the country where budgets are tight.
by mmatthews
12/2/2008 4:05:00 PM
Started out my day by talking tomosynthesis with the
folks from Hologic and later Siemens. Both vendors are showcasing new
technology for this next generation of breast imaging, which some experts say
may ultimately replace mammo. But the works-in-progress are pending FDA
approval. The good news is that when tomosynthesis does hit the U.S. market, it
should be able to catch more breast cancers at a much earlier stage. The key to
better detection with this method is the multiple slices and 3D reconstructions
– allowing clinicians to detect cancer quickly and sooner. Some say it could
lower recall rates by as much as 40%. …. While tomosynthesis offers a huge
potential to revolutionize breast care, it’s still a bit off in the future.
Even so, it’s another stride forward in women’s imaging solutions. We’ll keep
an eye on this subject.
by mmatthews
12/1/2008 10:30:00 PM
It was hours ago, but thinking back, we got more than scrambled eggs this morning. We got
strategy -- the top line message about Siemens’ place in the market and where
it plans to go. The company held a media breakfast; two new big wigs did a fine
job of outlining the company’s position and vision for the future. Hermann
Requardt, CEO, Healthcare Sector talked a good deal about cost savings in
health care being connected to the continuum of care – starting with
prevention, specific diagnosis, efficient therapy and ultimately high-quality
care. He touched on top trends that are affecting health care and medical
imaging such as a growing aging population, growing wealth in emerging markets,
and cost pressure and reimbursement reduction. One of his messages: Health care
IT and imaging must go together in order to help providers be more efficient
and meet the challenges of cost pressure. …Clearly, costs continue to be a
major concern for providers and manufacturers are responding with solutions. More on that later.