May/June 2009

Digital Edition
Making the Connection
Connectivity and interoperability are big buzzwords in healthcare IT that everyone agrees is required of any device or software system they adopt. Interoperability is said to help increase efficiency, workflow, improve patient safety and saves money.
The Push to Consolidate the Cardiac EMR
It’s no secret that many cardiology departments work with disparate systems to manage data, images and reports. These various iterations include cardiovascular information systems (CVIS), cardiac image and information management system (CIIMS), cardiac picture and arching communication systems (cardiac PACS), ECG management systems, echocardiography workstations and others.
What the Federal Stimulus Package Means for Healthcare
The federal government has made it known for years it was interested in overhauling the American healthcare system and its desire to migrate to electronic medical records (EMRs). The key issue with EMRs has been funding, and it would take a lot to make a nationwide-wide effort to bring healthcare into an interoperable, computerized state.
PET/CT Targets MPI
Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is an application that has been recently bolstered by the development of quantitative tools that enhance the system’s clinical capabilities in the nuclear cardiology community.
An Introduction to Advanced Visualization Systems
Since reimbursement codes for 3D/4D post-processing came into effect in 2007, advanced visualization is ready for widespread adoption in the U.S. Cardiovascular Imaging Drives Growth
Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair on the Rise
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using transcatheter-deployed stent grafts has grown significantly in the past 10 years. While surgeons traditionally perform aneurysm repairs, experts say the devices are increasingly deployed in cath labs by interventional cardiologists.
Clot Removal Not a One-Size-Fits-All Therapy
Blood clots can occur almost anywhere in the body with potentially devastating implications. Typically, the first line of treatment for blood clots is drug therapy. Thrombolytic medications, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are approved for the immediate treatment of a clot in the brain (stroke) and for heart attack caused by a clot in a blood vessel of the heart.
New Radiotracers Hold Promise for Better Nuclear Imaging
In what some might argue is similar to the industry shake-out between Blu-ray and HD digital video disc technology, the competition between SPECT and PET cardiac imaging is heating up. And the marketing of existing radiotracers and the development of new nuclear imaging agents is reflective of both advances in technology and clinical trends.
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Uses a Multimodality Approach With Toshiba Imaging Systems to Diagnose Cardiovascular
To improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, an integrated healthcare network, wanted to create the Cardiovascular Diagnostic Center (CVDC) at its Ryan Ranch Outpatient facility in Monterey County, CA.
Comparing Cardiac Ultrasound Scanners
This comparison chart covers dedicated cardiac ultrasound scanners specifically intended for performing cardiac or vascular imaging studies. General purpose systems with extensive cardiac scanning options are also included.