As the global medical isotope shortage continues indefinitely following the plant leak in South Africa, Berks Cardiologists Ltd., a cardiovascular imaging center in central Pennsylvania, is continuing to operate at the same procedure volume and with their lower-dose cardiac nuclear medicine imaging protocols.

Endologix Inc. announced that it has received Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing System (EVAS).

Medtronic Inc. announced that the first patients were randomized in Symplicity HTN-4, which will evaluate the Symplicity renal denervation system in patients with moderate uncontrolled hypertension.

Massachusetts was on the same brink in 2006 that the entire nation is on today: the brink of expanding health insurance to cover far more people than before through government-driven, market-based reform.

To the gratification of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT have heard concerns from health stakeholders and extended Meaningful Use Stage 2 by one year.