Matthew Lungren, MD, chief data science officer of Microsoft Health and Life Sciences.

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Imaging IT

Top 4 Trends from SIIM 2024

SIIM 2024 concluded this weekend, and what a meeting it was. The radiology industry’s premier imaging IT show returned to National Harbor, MD, for the first time since 2018, where the Biosphere-like environment of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center offered a respite from the muggy weather outside. 

SIIM is always a great place to check in on new imaging IT technologies like PACS, AI, and enterprise imaging, and hot topics at SIIM 2024 included…  

• AI Needs to Get Real (World): Research studies showing AI’s value are fine, but developers need to show that AI works in real-world settings before wider adoption will occur. Fortunately that’s started with landmark studies published recently for use cases like breast and osteoporosis screening. Meanwhile, scuttlebutt on the SIIM 2024 exhibit floor reinforced that start-ups are navigating an ugly funding environment, and many industry observers are predicting a wave of AI consolidation. 
• Outlook Clears for the Cloud: Cloud-based imaging has struggled to catch on for years, but that’s starting to change as healthcare providers warm to the concept of letting third parties oversee their patient data. And there are signs that imaging IT vendors that were quick to develop cloud-based versions of their PACS software are reaping the rewards.
• Enterprise Imaging Grows Up: This year’s meeting marked the 10-year anniversary of enterprise imaging, as dated from the start of the SIIM-HIMSS collaboration in 2014. The anniversary is a milestone worth observing, but it also raises questions about what the next 10 years will look like, and how AI and data from other -ologies will be integrated into enterprise networks. 
• Cybersecurity Takes Priority: Several high-profile cybersecurity breaches at healthcare vendors and providers in the last year highlight that not enough is being done to keep patient data secure. Will migrating to the cloud help? Only time will tell.

The Takeaway

SIIM’s collegiality and coziness has always been a selling point for the meeting, even back in the days when it was known as SCAR. This year didn’t disappoint, as deals got done and relationships were built at the Gaylord National.  

Be sure to visit our YouTube channel and LinkedIn page to view our video interviews from the floor of the meeting – it was great seeing you all at the show!

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The Wire

• Bayer Adds Rad AI to Platform: Several imaging IT vendors announced new partnerships at SIIM 2024, among them Bayer and Rad AI, which are teaming up to bring Rad AI’s radiology reporting and patient follow-up software to Bayer’s Calantic Digital Solutions AI platform. Calantic users will have access to Rad AI’s Omni Impressions for generating report impressions; Continuity for following up on incidental findings; and Reporting for creating radiology reports with generative AI technology. Rad AI becomes the latest platform addition to Calantic, following a deal with Scanslated and a development relationship with Google Cloud.

• RamSoft Integrates with RADPAIR: Another new partnership was cemented between RIS/PACS company RamSoft and RADPAIR to integrate the latter company’s generative AI-based report generation technology into RamSoft’s OmegaAI RIS/PACS software. Both applications are zero-footprint, so the deal gives users a single browser-based interface for image viewing and reporting, and the partnership will be extended to RamSoft’s PowerServer platform in the near future. 

• Butterfly Grows Garden with New Partners: Handheld ultrasound firm Butterfly Network has added several new partners to its Butterfly Garden marketplace for AI applications. Cardiac AI developer HeartFocus will integrate its software with Butterfly’s handheld ultrasound scanner, extending the range of echo applications available on the device. Meanwhile, another cardiac imaging firm, UltraSight, will also be joining Garden, making its real-time AI guidance software available on the platform, with a focus on cardiac imaging. Butterfly launched Garden in 2023.

• Radiation Risk in Interventional Echo: A new article in Structural Heart underscores the risk of radiation exposure to echo personnel who assist with interventional cardiovascular procedures. The growing use of fusion imaging – in which echo images are combined with fluoroscopy or CT – means interventional echo specialists are exposed to ionizing radiation as they provide guidance for interventions to treat structural heart disease. The article offers recommendations for the use of radiation personal protective gear such as aprons and gloves, as well as lead shielding.

• Radiation Protection Knowledge: Guidelines and recommendations are one thing, but how much do healthcare personnel really know about radiation protection? In a paper in Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, researchers from Europe and Australia surveyed 130 interventional radiology and cardiac cath staff (75% radiographers), finding that 47% received no radiation protection training. Of those who did, 81% got on-the-job training, while only 19% got training through their graduate/undergraduate programs. A majority said their main reason for not wearing lead shielding was because it wasn’t available at their facility. 

• Gleamer Lands on Start-Up List: French AI developer Gleamer has been named as one of the top 100 start-ups in the B2B SaaS sector in Europe and Israel on Rising 100, a list published by Sifted, a European technology news site. Eligible companies had to be launched after 2017 and have valuations under $1B, in addition to other criteria. The company is also pointing to a recent paper published in Skeletal Radiology on the use of its BoneMetrics AI algorithm to produce automated weight-bearing foot measurements. 

• SaaS Image Viewer Gets FDA Nod: Radical Imaging has received FDA clearance for diagnostic use of FlexView Diagnostic, the company’s SaaS web DICOM view solution. The software enables radiologists to interpret diagnostic images from any location without having to install software, and it includes tools such as 3D rendering, multi-modality fusion, and segmentation.  

• Prior Authorization in Spotlight: Prior authorization continues to be a vexing topic for physicians, payers, and regulators alike. In its annual report to Congress, MedPAC highlighted some of the challenges, including the fact that 95% of treatments deemed necessary by providers for Medicare Advantage plans in 2021 were approved, and for those that were denied, appeals were approved in 80% of cases. So if you do the math, all the manual labor and staff hours produced the same outcome in 99% of cases. Check out an analysis on our Digital Health Wire sister site. 

• FDA Clears New Clarius Prenatal App: Handheld ultrasound developer Clarius Mobile Health received FDA clearance for Clarius OB AI, a new software application for OB prenatal applications. The app automatically performs fetal biometry measurements to estimate fetal age, weight, and growth intervals, and runs on the Clarius C3 HD3 wireless handheld ultrasound scanner in the US and Canada. Clarius hopes the app will enable prenatal ultrasound to be used by a wider range of health providers, such as midwives and nurses. 

• Medical Abortion without Ultrasound Found Safe: A new study in JAMA found that providing abortion drugs by mail after telehealth consultations between patients and physicians is just as safe as requiring patients to undergo in-person consultations with ultrasound scans. UCSF researchers compared protocols used for 585 women seeking abortion, finding that the telehealth “no test” option had abortion completion rates comparable to in-person consultations with ultrasound (94% vs. 93%) with similarly low rates of adverse events. Interest in abortion drugs provided by mail has grown with state restrictions on abortion. 

• Philips Safety Notice on MRI Coils: Philips has issued a safety notice regarding use of torso coils for its 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners. The company said that localized heating could occur with its first-generation SENSE XL torso coils, which were discontinued in 2014. The issue affects about 1.1k coils in the field; Philips is providing a field safety correction that should be available by the end of 2024. Until then, the coils can continue to be used according to device instructions and guidance in a notification letter. 

• Fortune 500 Healthcare: Healthcare had a strong showing in this year’s Fortune 500, with 42 major players included in the list of businesses with the most annual revenue across all industries. UnitedHealth Group made the first appearance at rank 5 overall, followed by fourteen pharma companies (starting with Pfizer at rank 38), five health systems (nonprofits were excluded, HCA ranked highest at 66), and six device manufacturers (Abbott ranked 99). Walmart took the top spot with an impressive $648B in revenue, which probably helped ease the pain of losing $230M through its health clinics.

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The Resource Wire

• Re-Examining Radiology: A Look to the Future: What will the future of radiology look like? In this downloadable white paper from Optum, learn how a constellation of challenges and pressures have come together to change healthcare – and radiology. 

• Revolutionizing Radiology with Clear Visual Intelligence: The University of New Mexico Hospital is partnering with Riverain Technologies to revolutionize radiology with the use of ClearRead CT with Clear Visual Intelligence for chest CT scans. Get details about the partnership on this page.

• Give Your Patients the Experience They Want: Empower patients to take control of their healthcare journey by giving them mobile access to their records and images with Clearpath, the world’s first digital fulfillment platform for records and films. Book a demo today. 

• Next-Generation Enterprise Imaging: US healthcare organizations are making a definitive pivot to cloud technology. In this white paper from AGFA HealthCare and HIMSS, learn about the benefits of cloud-based enterprise imaging. Download the white paper today. 

• AI Supports Diagnosis of Cognitive Disorders: How can AI support the early diagnosis of cognitive disorders in elderly people? Read this article from DeepHealth on how AI-powered software with MRI can be used with neuropsychological tests and clinical information to improve early diagnosis of cognitive impairments.  

• What Does Improved MRI Efficiency Mean? There’s a growing need for practical, cost-effective solutions to improve efficiency in MRI and other modalities. Read this article from Karen Holzberger of SpinTech MRI and James Backstrom, MD, to learn how the company’s STAGE software can help. 

• Memorial MRI’s Choice for Patient Comfort: Texas has one of the highest obesity rates in the US. So to best serve its patients, Memorial MRI & Diagnostic in Houston turned to United Imaging and its 3.0T uMR OMEGA MRI scanner with 75cm ultra-wide-bore. Learn more about their story. 

• Best in KLAS for Image Exchange: With over 15k connected facilities and a dedicated outreach team building new connections every day, it’s no wonder Nuance PowerShare Image Sharing was named #1 Best in KLAS 2024 for image exchange. Learn more about this award-winning solution. 

• Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery: When disaster strikes, have peace of mind knowing your imaging data is safe. Securely store backups with Intelerad’s InteleArchive solution, ensuring your imaging data is there when you need it. Get started by booking a demo today. 

• White Paper on Structural Heart Imaging: How can AI help improve care for patients with structural heart issues? Learn more about new enhancements for procedures like TAVR and TMVR, as well as LAA closure, in this downloadable white paper from TeraRecon.

• AI for Detecting Post-Traumatic Bone Fractures: Check out this new research paper to learn how Gleamer’s BoneView AI solution enhanced radiologists’ ability to detect post-traumatic bone fractures by identifying cases without abnormalities, translating into improved patient care. 

• Understanding PET/CT’s Expansion: If your work is impacted by PET/CT, you should be aware of the rapid growth that’s predicted for this imaging exam. Learn more on this page from Siemens Healthineers about the exciting clinical applications fueling the technology. 

• Introducing Merge Consulting Services: How can your radiology practice manage change and expectations in healthcare with workforce flexibility? Merge by Merative is launching Merge Consulting Services to help you face the challenges of sourcing expertise and staff. Learn more about it today. 

• AI-Driven Novice Heart Failure Screening: We hear a lot about AI’s potential to expand echocardiography to far more users and clinical settings, and a study using Us2.ai’s AI-automated echo analysis and reporting solution showed that echo AI might make novice-led heart failure screening possible.

• Radiology Automation Simplified: Validate, deploy, and discover radiology AI with CARPL.ai. Learn more about the company’s work in taking AI from bench to clinic by booking a demo today. 

• Delivering Quality Patient Care: MEDRAD Stellant FLEX helps you meet your financial, clinical, and organizational goals, and it’s the only CT injection system currently 510(k)-cleared for use with contrast-enhanced mammography. Learn more about the benefits from Bayer.