Provider directories and trust mechanisms for the push and query retrieve models of healthcare information exchange (HIE) are being constructed at a national level. HIEs are piloting exchange, but data flow is limited. No matter what governance and operational characteristics are selected within various regions — either full electronic health record (EHR) or a secure direct messaging system for disaster recovery — the value of HIE to patients, physicians and payers must be quantifiably demonstrated. In other words, HIE will need to develop a business model where sustainability is paramount and moves beyond generating revenue for the vendors who today control the allocation of resources.

According to the World Health Organization, the United States spent 17.9 percent of its total gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare in 2011.1 This was up from 16.6 percent in 2008, and represented the highest percentage in the world.1,2 Although this increase accounts for the development and execution of many advanced technologies and treatments, health policy makers found the escalation to be unsustainable. The Obama Administration’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) — frequently referred to as the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare” — has posed strategies to cut back on healthcare costs, while also providing coverage to uninsured Americans, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

The current standard of care for treatment of early stage breast cancer is mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by five to seven weeks of daily whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) treatments. Post-operative accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is slowly replacing whole breast external beam irradiation as an alternative in treatment of early stage lymph node-negative breast cancer. This was originally performed as limited-field breast brachytherapy using multiple interstitial catheters placed post-operatively around the lumpectomy site. Radioactive interstitial wire implants were then placed into the catheters.

Mobile C-arms have become a popular option in many operating rooms (ORs) across the nation as healthcare organizations look to save space and money. According to Klaus Hörndler, managing director of Ziehm Imaging, “ORs in hospitals are becoming ever smaller, while more devices are being used inside them.” Because mobile C-arms are smaller, lighter and more easily maneuvered than fixed angiography systems, they provided an effective solution. At a fraction of the cost of fixed angiography, these systems are also a good option for budget-conscious facilities that have limited financial resources or are experiencing budget cuts.

GE Healthcare received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of its Q.Clear technology, which is designed to provide up to two times improvement in both quantitative accuracy and image quality in PET/CT imaging.

Congress recently passed the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, which requires use of appropriate use criteria (AUC) and clinical decision support (CDS) software to get Medicare reimbursement. This will likely shift focus onto IT vendors who can supply this software. In addition, the use of CDS is part of Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements for electronic medical records (EMR), so the new Medicare requirements will move CDS up on many IT departments' priority lists.