In today’s complex healthcare landscape, protecting sensitive patient information is a top priority. To that end, industry regulations are increasing and complying with HIPAA and HITECH regulations is becoming more costly, even as reimbursement rates drop.

As imaging modalities developed in the past 50 years — and ancillary products and services with them — colleagues who shared an interest in specific areas began to form groups to address the needs of their particular niches. Their focus included segments such as radiation oncology, nuclear imaging, women’s health, administration and informatics.

July 18, 2011 – MedQuist Holdings Inc., a provider of integrated clinical documentation solutions for the United States healthcare system, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire M*Modal and its advanced Speech Understanding technology for total consideration of $130 million. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and is expected to close prior to the end of the third quarter of 2011.

A lot has happened in medical imaging during the past 50 years, and many of the vendor firms that play a leading role in the imaging industry today have witnessed and helped shape the evolution of the field to attain its place of prominence. As Imaging Technology News marks its 50th anniversary, we asked a group of industry leaders to look back and provide their perspective on the seminal events and trends during the past half-century.

The first applications of and even the term radiosurgery were the idea of Swedish neurosurgeon Lars Leksell, which he published in a seminar article in 1951. Leksell was looking for a minimally invasive way to destroy small tumors and vascular malformations within the skull using radiation.

Historically, advanced visualization systems have been rigid, “one size fits all” products. However, recent developments have enabled fully customizable protocols and user interfaces, ensuring the system adapts to each user’s workflow.

With a growing problem of overcrowded emergency departments, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) may be a solution to address the management of chest pain patients. CCTA is increasingly recognized as an accurate, noninvasive tool to safely assess coronary artery disease.