The Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center (KF-SYSCC) has established an entirely paperless and filmless clinical process in radiation oncology, designed to enhance patient safety as well as operational efficiency. Using the Aria oncology information system from Varian Medical Systems, the clinical team has automated essential tasks, built in safety-checks and centralized patient information for easier access by staff members.

Agfa HealthCare announced that Prime Healthcare Services has agreed to purchase 50 Agfa DX-D 100 mobile digital radiography (DR) units to serve its hospitals after a thorough due diligence process. Agfa’s value proposition included, in addition to the clinical benefits, its Technology Evolution Financing, allowing Prime Healthcare to acquire a minimum of 50 mobile DR systems over a 60-month period. By bundling the resources of sales, service and financing, Prime Healthcare Services will enjoy an inclusive and complete digital mobile solution with equipment and maintenance protection for optimal use. These units will be deployed in 2015, with the possibility to increase the number of units to 70 or more.

Investigators from Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth demonstrated that a dual breast exam using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near infrared spectral tomography (NIRST) is feasible and more accurate than MRI alone. The research team — led by Keith Paulsen, Ph.D., with first author Michael Mastanduno and collaborators from Xijing Hospital in Xian, China — had their paper, “MR-guided Near Infrared Spectral Tomography Increases Diagnostic Performance of Breast MRI,” published in Clinical Cancer Research.

Infinitt announced today that it has entered into a seven-year Partner Plus Agreement with TridentUSA Health Services based on an unlimited software licensing model for Infinitt PACS and Cardiology Suite, in addition to custom software development. The contract also encompasses Infinitt’s embedded voice recognition and reporting software, as well as the new Gx Communicator package (Critical Results, Peer Review and Collaborator Instant Messaging).

Structural brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia have been identified in an internationally collaborative study led by a Georgia State University scientist. Study results are providing insight into how the condition may develop and respond to treatment.

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) announced that the first patient case in the United States has successfully been quality controlled using myQA Global QA Platform at the LewisGale Regional Center in Pulaski, Virginia.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) applauds the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for proposing steps toward a more evidence-base imaging policy in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The ACR is particularly encouraged that CMS is considering proposed actions with ACR input regarding appropriate use criteria (AUC) and clinical decision support (CDS) development and digital practice expense inputs regarding the transition from film to digital radiology.