Virtual Radiologic Acquires NightHawk

Virtual Radiologic (vRad), a national radiology practice and developer of radiologist workflow technology, has announced that it will acquire its competitor NightHawk Radiology in a $170 million deal. NightHawk Radiology is specialized in providing radiology solutions to radiology groups allover the country. vRad will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of NightHawk Radiology Holdings, Inc. for $6.50 per share in cash, which is double NighHawk's closing stock price of $3.25 per share.

GE Healthcare To Lead U.S. Ultrasound Market In The Next Years

Millennium Research Group (MRG) predicts a robust growth for GE Healthcare during 2014. GE Healthcare was a major leader of the U.S. ultrasound system market in 2009 as well as its strength in the fast-growing emerging ultrasound system, therefore MRG expects further success and progress for the company. The continued growth of GE Healthcare enables it to increase its lead over Philips and Siemens in a market that is projected to be at $1.2 billion in the United States.

The Christie NHS promotes its CT facilities with Siemens’ SOMATOM

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, one of the major oncology centers in Europe, announced that it has recently promoted its CT facilities following the implementation of a SOMATOM® Definition AS from Siemens Healthcare.  The new 64-slice CT system is going to cover various radiotherapy planning needs at the cancer center, which will help in promoting radiotherapy treatment for several types of cancer.
The SOMATOM Definition AS is a highly adaptable system, developed to perform successfully with a wide range of patient types and imaging needs.  The system has several features such as its high spatial resolution, wide bore, and advanced scanning capabilities, staff members at The Christie NHS have been impressed with the CT’s dependable performance and high quality images.  The system is placed next to a 16-slice Siemens SOMATOM® Sensation that is used to carry out general radiology scans.

Agfa’s Healthcare IT Solutions Move Forward In Europe

Agfa Healthcare, a major company providing medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions, announced that it has signed around 150 contracts for deals including its healthcare IT products within the last 8 months, 70 of them are in Europe.  Agfa provides several healthcare IT solutions including hospital information systems (HIS), radiology information systems (RIS), and picturing archiving and communications systems (PACS).

Recommendation For Pediatricians To Reduce Radiation During CT Scans

Computed Tomography (CT) scans has been one of the significantly important medical imaging techniques. The procedure provides highly-detailed images that help doctors in diagnosing a wide range of diseases. However, there are concerns about the safety of CT scans as they include delivering radiation to patients in order to generate the required images. Realizing the risks of radiation exposure, state Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines and Dr. Howard A. Freed, director of the department's Center for Environmental Health has recently sent mails to 16,000 pediatricians in New York. The mails included recommendations on how to reduce radiation exposure during CT scans carried out on children.

Salisbury District Hospital Upgrades Its imaging services with Siemens’ Luminos dRF

Salisbury District Hospital, managed by Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, has recently improved its radiography service following the upgrade to a Luminos dRF™ two-in-one fluoroscopy and radiography digital imaging system, provided by Siemens Healthcare.  The system was chosen due to its design which copes with the increase in bariatric patients and spinal injuries.
Luminos dRF features a new Ysio™ general imaging extension, which offers increased levels of versatility and enables digital imaging with a wireless portable detector, in addition to projection flexibility with the ceiling-suspended tube and a wall stand for performing erect examinations. Luminos dRF is used at Salisbury District Hospital in a wide range of procedures including video-uro-dynamic scans and diaphragmatic screening. The system’s new wireless direct digital detector is capable of delivering fully digital, high-resolution images for revision within seconds to aid in faster, more efficient workflow. Luminos dRF allows staff to carry out more diverse imaging in combination with the ceiling-suspended tube, such as procedures at the wall stand, standing feet or lateral decubitus imaging.  The ceiling-mounted tube also includes a vertical tracking function with the wall stand for fast positioning.

Pixeon plans for further positions in Brazil and South America

Pixeon, a leading Brazilian company providing healthcare IT solutions including Arura PACS, announced that it is going to deploy a new strategy to strengthen its positions in the Brazilian and South American markets. Currently, Pixeon has operations in five regions in Brazil, with a customer base exceeding 150 clients, including hospitals and other healthcare facilities that are using Pixeon’s Arura PACS solution. The company is aiming to enter the international markets, and it is going to involve in a multi-national project that aims to highlight future business opportunities in South America.