News From Around the Web
> Adding tomosynthesis to mammography increases interpretation time when compared to the amount of time it takes to interpret digital mammography, according to a study published in the January issue of Radiology. In the study, the mean interpretation time of images was 2.8 minutes for combined tomosynthesis and mammography, compared to 1.9 minutes for digital mammography alone. Article
> By using a pediatric appendicitis score (PAS)--a 10-point scale of signs, symptoms and findings used in emergency departments--along with selective use of ultrasound, pediatric emergency department can improve diagnostic accuracy and expose fewer children to unnecessary radiation, according to an online study in the journal Pediatrics. Article
> A new MRI technique called "Active MRI" is able to illuminate the wrist in action and help diagnose subtle changes in the physiology of the wrist. "These fast images are like a live-action movie," said Robert Boutin, professor of radiology at UC Davis and lead author of the study, published in PLoS ONE. "The movie can be slowed, stopped or even reversed as needed. Now patients can reproduce the motion that's bothering them while they're inside the scanner, and physicians can assess how the wrist is actually working. After all, some patients only have pain or other symptoms with movement." Announcement
Health IT News
> Concord, Mass.-based Adult & Pediatric Dermatology, P.C. last week agreed to pay a settlement of $150,000 with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights in lieu of privacy violations stemming from a September 2011 thumb drive theft. According to HHS, the case marks the first settlement with a covered entity for not having policies and procedures in place to address the breach notification provisions of the HITECH Act. Article
Health Finance News
> In spite of efforts to extend their longevity and youth, Baby Boomers are aging and nearing retirement, which will create millions of jobs in the healthcare industry. As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, the number of jobs that involve caring for them will continue to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that altogether, the healthcare sector is expected to grow at a 2.6 percent annual rate until 2022 and comprise about 5 million of the 15.6 million new jobs created during that period. Article
And Finally... A Klingon in Congress? Article