|
RadPartners + Envision, ARRS News, and Was Bob Marley Right? May 1, 2025
|
|
|
|
Together with
|
|
|
“Not every day that potentially hundreds of rads might want to explore new job opportunities.”
|
PanScan on RadHQ.net, on Radiology Partners’ bid to take over Envision’s radiology business.
|
|
New AI solutions are making it possible to use a single chest CT scan to detect the “big three” chest pathologies: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease. In this article from Coreline Soft, learn how AI-driven diagnostics are enabling providers to work more efficiently.
|
|
|
In a stunning consolidation of the imaging services segment, Radiology Partners has agreed to take over radiology contracts currently held by debt-laden national medical group Envision Healthcare. The agreement could bring up to 100 imaging sites and hundreds of radiologists into the RadPartners fold.
The takeover is a remarkable comedown for Envision, which was once one of the largest national medical practices in the U.S. and employed some 25k physicians when it was acquired in 2018 by private equity giant KKR.
- Envision’s business crossed multiple medical specialties, with its radiology operation at one point employing 800 radiologists who performed over 10 million reads per year.
But Envision struggled under a $5.3B debt load imposed by the KKR buyout, and eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2023 in a move that also included spinning off its ambulatory surgery business.
- Many industry observers have viewed Envision’s rise and fall as a cautionary tale illustrating the perils of private-equity investment in American medicine.
Radiology Partners itself has evolved into the giant of the imaging services segment as it rolls up local radiology practices into a massive national network. Under the agreement with Envision, RP will …
- Take over Envision’s contracts with some 95 client sites, including teleradiology.
- Potentially bring some 400 Envision radiologists onboard (assuming they want to join RP).
The question is, how many Envision radiologists will choose to go with the contracts and join Radiology Partners?
The Takeaway
Radiology Partners’ takeover of Envision’s radiology contracts will only enhance RP’s dominance of the imaging services market, which is already significant. While that may be good news to RP’s investors, it probably won’t be encouraging to those worried about the inexorable corporatization of radiology.
|
|
Connect with Intelerad at SIIM 2025
Join Intelerad at booth #533 at SIIM 2025 to learn how they are redefining healthcare imaging with innovative solutions designed to provide a clear path to answers. Schedule your visit today.
|
|
Clarity, Speed, and Confidence for MRI Efficiency
Radiologists have used a variety of methods to improve efficiency, but many of these methods come with drawbacks. Find out in this article how SpinTech MRI takes on the challenge of MRI efficiency with its STAGE software.
|
|
A Pivotal Moment for Clinical AI Policy
In this episode of The Radiology Report podcast, Medality’s Daniel Arnold interviews Peter Shen of Siemens Healthineers about major developments in AI regulation and reimbursement, including the introduction of the Health Tech Investment Act (S.1399).
|
|
- MRI Identifies Liver Disease Risk: In an award-winning paper at this week’s ARRS 2025, researchers used MRI to identify patients at risk of complications from chronic liver disease – even without a recognized diagnosis of metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease. In a study of 15.4k patients, those with MRI signs of steatosis were more likely than those with an MASLD diagnosis to have a higher relative risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (RR=2.2) as well as risk of developing cirrhosis (RR=1.5).
- AI for the Big Three Chest Diseases: New AI solutions are making it possible to use a single chest CT scan to detect the “big three” chest pathologies: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease. In this article from Coreline Soft, learn how AI-driven diagnostics are enabling providers to work more efficiently as many health systems ramp up lung cancer screening programs – creating challenges to manage the incidental findings discovered with chest CT scans.
- CliniComp Adds PACS to EHR: EHR vendor CliniComp launched enterprise-wide PACS functionality for its New Era with Intrinsic AI EHR at this week’s ARRS 2025 conference. The company can now offer PACS functions that are completely integrated with EHR data, giving clinicians access to patient data across the enterprise, as well as AI-enhanced transcription workflows and better patient triage with automatically prioritized worklists, all offered under a SaaS model.
- Same-Day Biopsy Could Speed Breast Care: Performing same-day biopsies on women with suspicious mammograms could speed up breast care, but more work may be needed. In a new study in JACR, researchers studied 677 patients at a safety-net hospital in Denver, and those getting same-day biopsy had 73% faster median time from recommendation to biopsy (13 vs. 3.5 days). But there was no statistically significant decline in time to initial surgical or oncologic appointment, indicating a need for further improvement.
- Microsoft Adds iCAD to AI Network: Microsoft is adding mammography AI software from iCAD to Precision Imaging Network, the company’s platform for AI applications. iCAD’s ProFound Breast Health Suite will become available via PIN to users of Microsoft’s PowerScribe radiology reporting software at over 17k healthcare facilities. The partnership is a big boost for iCAD as it prepares for its integration into RadNet’s DeepHealth subsidiary via an acquisition announced last month.
- Questions about FDA’s AI Review: A new article in JAMA Network Open raises questions about the FDA’s review process for AI software. Of the 903 regulatory submissions for AI-enabled medical devices the authors reviewed (77% for radiology), only 56% included clinical performance data, while no performance studies were conducted for 24%. Retrospective studies were common (38%), with only 8.1% using prospective designs. The shortcomings raise questions about the clinical generalizability of AI algorithms and suggest post-market monitoring is needed.
- FDA Asks Telix for More Pixclara Data: Telix Pharmaceuticals’ effort to get its Pixclara glioma PET imaging agent approved has hit a snag at the FDA. The agency told Telix that Pixclara’s new drug application can’t be approved in its current form, and is asking for additional clinical information. The FDA accepted Pixclara’s NDA for priority review in October 2024 and also granted it orphan drug status due to the lack of other options for amino acid PET for brain cancer. Telix plans to meet with the FDA.
- Portable MRI Startup Raises $17M: Amid growing interest in ultralow-field MRI, French startup Chipiron raised $17M in a Series A round to fund development of a compact portable MRI scanner. The company plans to build an open whole-body MRI scanner that operates from a standard electrical outlet, with plans to introduce a clinical prototype by the end of 2025 and investigational trials starting in 2026.
- GE Lands $30M MRI Contract: Chalk up another big contract for GE HealthCare, which scored a $30M agreement to supply MRI scanners and service to St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania. St. Luke’s will be one of the first U.S. health networks to install GE’s Intelligent Radiation Therapy for MR radiation planning software. The contract is the latest between GE and St. Luke’s, and follows on a $30M CT agreement in 2023 and an $11M ultrasound contract in 2020.
- X-Ray AI Predicts Heart Disease: Chest X-ray isn’t usually thought of as a cardiac imaging modality, but AI could change that. In a paper in JACC: Advances, researchers from South Korea tested an AI algorithm that detects heart disease by analyzing cardiovascular borders on chest X-rays. In tests on 44.6k patients, the algorithm showed potential in classifying and stratifying a patient’s risk of a cardiac abnormality, and calculated cardiothoracic ratios that predicted five-year risk of death or myocardial infarction (HR=3.73).
- RamSoft Adds AI-Powered Coding Support: RamSoft partnered with Maverick Medical AI to integrate that company’s AI-powered CodePilot application into RamSoft’s PowerServer and OmegaAI RIS/PACS platforms. CodePilot uses machine learning models to analyze radiology reports in real time and identify the correct codes to meet payor criteria for reimbursement. Users of RamSoft PACS and RIS will benefit from automated quality checks to improve coding completeness and reduce denied claims.
- Mach7 to Debut UnityVue at SIIM 2025: Mach7 Technologies will showcase its new UnityVue platform for the first time to a SIIM audience at the upcoming SIIM 2025 conference in Portland. Launched in November 2024, UnityVue combines Mach7’s eUnity diagnostic viewer with NewVue’s EmpowerSuite workflow orchestrator. Mach7 will also show new capabilities for eUnity including support for enterprise access to digital pathology images, as well as integration with cloud healthcare services.
- Viz.ai Launches 3D CTA: Viz.ai launched Viz 3D CTA, a new AI solution that automatically converts CTA scans into high-resolution 3D images for neurovascular clinical applications. The offering is integrated into the company’s Viz.ai platform and enables providers to interact with complex neuroanatomy in real time, performing functions such as removing bone and venous structures to improve visualization of stroke and aneurysms.
- PACS Harmony Gets VA Telerad Contract: Florida-based PACS developer PACS Harmony won a contract to provide its software to the Veterans Health Administration’s National Teleradiology Program, the VA’s in-house teleradiology operation. PACS Harmony will provide workflow orchestration and communications software to NTP, which supports 150 VA sites and processes 1.4M imaging studies annually. The award was made through the VA’s NextGen PACS project, in which the agency is upgrading its digital image management technology.
- Bob Marley Was Right: Smoking tobacco appears to be more hazardous than marijuana use, at least based on imaging findings in a new study in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology. Researchers performed chest CT on 285 people split roughly between tobacco and marijuana smokers as well as non-smokers. They found that tobacco users had higher emphysema rates (62% vs. 4%) and centrilobular ground glass opacities (15% vs. 2%), as well as higher rates of moderate to severe coronary artery calcification (43% vs. 25%).
|
|
Check Out Calantic by Bayer at SIIM 2025:
Visit Calantic by Bayer at SIIM 2025 to learn how they are helping clinicians leverage radiology AI to enhance the patient experience. See their schedule of presentations or book at meeting today at booth #231-235.
|
|
Visit Philips at ISMRM 2025
Philips will be showcasing its AI-driven connected imaging, optimized workflows, and integrated clinical solutions for MRI at ISMRM 2025. See their conference highlights or drop by at booth #D41.
|
|
AI Enables Automated Cobb Angle Measurements
Gleamer’s BoneMetrics AI solution accurately predicted the Cobb angle of scoliosis patients with high accuracy compared to manual measurements made by clinicians. Learn more in this paper.
|
|
- Incorporating Digital Pathology in Your Enterprise Imaging Strategy: As digital pathology exams grow in size and complexity, healthcare organizations face increasing challenges. Attend this Mach7 Technologies webinar on May 8 to hear real-world experiences from the University of Michigan on how they unified radiology and pathology.
- AI-Powered Early Breast Cancer Detection: DeepHealth parent RadNet is expanding its presence in mammography AI with its pending acquisition of iCAD. Find out how the transaction will accelerate AI-powered early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer on this page.
- Preparing for the Future of Enterprise Imaging: What do health IT and imaging leaders need to know about moving medical images to the cloud? Find out how to prepare for enterprise imaging’s future in this downloadable e-book from Optum.
- Seamless, Connected Healthcare: Clearpath is committed to facilitating seamless, continued healthcare by optimizing automation and workflows between patients and providers. Learn how the company’s solutions contribute to a healthcare environment where every step of the patient journey is connected and efficient.
- Presenting Unboxing AI: Check out CARPL’s video series, Unboxing AI, featuring experts discussing AI and its future in radiology. The next episode on May 1 features Andrej Rusakov of Remedylogic – reserve your seat today.
- Transforming Stroke Care with Mobile Stroke Units: When it comes to stroke, time is brain. And many providers are turning to CT-equipped mobile stroke units to slash the time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment. Learn more on this page from Siemens Healthineers.
- Echo AI for Cardiac Amyloidosis: Echo can be used to diagnose patients with cardiac amyloidosis and differentiate them from those with left ventricular hypertrophy. Learn how Us2.ai’s novel solutions improve diagnosis of this underdiagnosed condition.
- Visit Enlitic at SIIM 2025: Visit Enlitic at SIIM 2025 at booth #530 to learn about their solutions for data standardization and migration, including their new partnership with GE HealthCare powering the data migration feature in GE’s new Genesis cloud portfolio. Book a demo today.
- Opportunistic Detection of CAC and Pulmonary Nodules: Achieve a newfound certainty of search for thoracic CT when using ClearRead CT from Riverain Technologies. It’s a natural addition for opportunistic CAC scoring and nodule detection, or as part of a CT lung cancer screening program.
- Book a Visage Demo at SIIM 2025: Visage Imaging is trailblazing medical imaging’s SaaS move to the cloud with an open cloud philosophy based on industry standards and multi-cloud support. Learn more by registering for a priority demo at SIIM 2025 or visit them at booths #627-631.
- The Growth of AI in Pulmonology: Learn more about the capabilities of AI for chest imaging in this on-demand webinar from Blackford. You’ll hear pulmonology professionals discuss several promising areas, from acute imaging through chest X-ray analysis to lung cancer screening.
- Meet Merge at SIIM 2025: Merge puts your workspaces, clinicians, and imaging transformation into focus. Explore their market-leading solutions at SIIM 2025 at booth #632, or schedule your visit today.
- Visit Kailo Medical at SIIM 2025: Learn about the latest synoptic reporting solutions by visiting Kailo Medical at booth #539 at SIIM 2025. Book an appointment today to find out how their technology can make radiology reporting easier while maximizing efficiency.
- See AGFA Innovations at SIIM 2025: Visit AGFA HealthCare at SIIM 2025 to see how their innovative approach to enterprise imaging is advancing diagnostic confidence, clinical collaboration, and operational efficiency across healthcare systems. Book a demo today or swing by booth #431-433.
- Visit United Imaging at ISMRM 2025: United Imaging is reaching new clinical heights in MRI with new innovations like 5T MRI and its uAiFI technology. Visit the company at ISMRM 2025 at booth #A18 or attend one of its conference events.
- Unlock Next-Generation AI with Foundation Models: Learn about Microsoft’s new family of cutting-edge multimodal medical imaging foundation models designed for healthcare organizations to test, fine-tune, and build tailored AI solutions specific to their needs, while minimizing extensive compute and data requirements.
- Unprecedented Insights Made Possible with AI: With the largest normative dataset of whole-body imaging in the world, Prenuvo’s AI researchers partner with the best academic minds to understand – like never before – what “normal” aging means. Learn about their work today.
- Improve Patient Engagement with Clearer Imaging Insights: When patients better understand their imaging results, they’re more engaged and confident in their care. PocketHealth’s Image Reader adds anatomical visualizations to imaging records, improving comprehension, strengthening provider-patient relationships, and driving higher satisfaction.
|
|
|
|
|