Volume XVIII | Issue 1 | January 2026

THE HCI SPOTLIGHT
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry
 Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc. 
A Message from the CEO

Dear Colleagues – 


The beginning of a new year is always a moment to reflect on progress and look ahead to what’s next. As we enter 2026, we’re encouraged by the continued momentum across HeartCare Imaging and the field of nuclear medicine as a whole.


Our team recently attended the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Mid-Winter Meeting, where the conversations reinforced just how quickly this space is evolving. From continued advances in PET imaging to the growing implementation of theranostics and radioligand therapy, the focus has clearly shifted from early adoption to thoughtful, scalable execution. Hospitals and health systems are no longer asking if these programs make sense, but how to build them in a way that is clinically sound, operationally efficient, and sustainable over the long term.


What stood out most was the emphasis on collaboration and planning. As nuclear medicine continues to advance, successful programs depend on aligning clinical expertise, staffing, accreditation, and operations from the start. These themes closely reflect the approach we take at HeartCare Imaging—working alongside our partners to ensure services are not only high quality, but positioned for long-term success.


We’re excited to carry this momentum forward throughout the year and to continue supporting our partners as new technologies and opportunities emerge. Thank you for the trust you place in HeartCare Imaging, and we look forward to another year of growth, innovation, and partnership.

 

Best Regards,

Nuclear Medicine

Novel Theranostic Model Shows Curative Potential for Gastric and Pancreatic Tumors


A newly developed radiopharmaceutical pair can precisely detect and effectively treat--completely eradicating tumors in certain preclinical models--gastric and pancreatic tumors. Targeting the well-defined and accessible biomarker claudin-18.2, the theranostic technique has the potential to move the field substantially closer to durable disease control and potentially cure--in otherwise difficult-to-treat solid tumors. This research was published in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.


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Bayer expands into molecular imaging with 2 acquisitions


Bayer is expanding into molecular imaging with a recent acquisition, the radiology vendor announced Monday.


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ASNC reports shortage of cardiac amyloidosis radiotracers


The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) has confirmed that there is a new shortage of tracers for diagnosing transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis. The vendors said supply disruptions could lead to a shortage that lasts months.


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FAPI PET shows promise to make a big impact in cardiovascular imaging


A novel radiotracer originally developed to improve cancer detection using positron emission tomography (PET) is showing promise for new cardiovascular nuclear imaging indications, including the identification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and left ventricular dysfunction following myocardial infarction.


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Cardiology

Overview of the new GE HealthCare photon-counting scanner technology


2025 was a busy year for advocacy efforts in the world of cardiovascular imaging, according to the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE). Many of the policies ASE focused on throughout the year were priorities for other medical societies as well.


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AI model turns POCUS images into accurate structural heart evaluations


Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models can detect signs of significant valvular disease and ventricular dysfunction using a single point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) image, according to new data published in Frontiers in Digital Health.


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Stroke Now Ranks Fourth as a Leading Cause of Death in the US


Stroke is now the fourth leading cause of death among US adults, with one person dying about every 3 minutes, the latest data from the American Heart Association (AHA) show.


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Long-Term Changes in Ventricular Function in Recreational Marathon Runners


 Is marathon-induced troponin T release associated with long-term right ventricular remodeling after 10 years of repetitive endurance exercise?


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Psychiatric Disorders May Double the Risk for Acute Coronary Syndrome


Anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders were each associated with an increased risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) linked to a nearly threefold higher risk for ACS than in individuals without the disorder, a new meta-analysis with more than 22 million participants showed.


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Health


Overview of the new GE HealthCare photon-counting scanner technology


GE HealthCare showcased its new FDA 510(k)-pending Photonova Spectra photon-counting computed tomography (CT) scanner for the first time at the 2025 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting.


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Drop in Drug Overdoses Boosts U.S. Life Expectancy to All-Time High


Life expectancy in the U.S. reached a record high in 2024 following a substantial decline of drug-overdose deaths, according to figures released by the federal government Thursday.


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Here’s What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic and Wegovy


Popular weight-loss drugs are meant to be lifelong treatments for a disease, not lifestyle fixes.


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48 hours without lungs: artificial organ kept man alive until transplant


The external, artificial-lung system could be used to treat other people who are critically unwell and awaiting transplants.


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A simple blood test could spot Parkinson’s years before symptoms


Scientists in Sweden and Norway have uncovered a promising way to spot Parkinson’s disease years—possibly decades—before its most damaging symptoms appear.


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Health Care Industry News

Top healthcare AI trends in 2026


While health systems will continue their AI rollout, use of the technology could evolve amid intensifying competition from EHRs, fragmented regulations and growing M&A opportunities.


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Top healthcare provider trends in 2026


Health systems that address costs, workforce planning and portfolio strategy may be better positioned as reimbursement headwinds intensify this year.


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Government shutdown looms: What’s at stake for healthcare


A deal was struck Jan. 29 between Senate Democrats and Republicans to move five spending bills forward after a six-bill government funding package earlier that day failed to reach the 60-vote threshold for passage, The New York Times reported. 


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Healthcare industry outlook for 2026: Providers, insurers, IT companies look to stability


Companies are hoping to reshore finances and double down on efficiency initiatives this year as several policy sea changes threaten to upend the industry.


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Neuroscience

Immune Signal Ratio May Predict Progressive Multiple Sclerosis


A long-term study has identified a potential biomarker that could help detect which patients are progressing toward more severe forms of multiple sclerosis.


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Cannabis was touted for nerve pain. The evidence falls short


A major review finds cannabis-based treatments fall short of delivering meaningful relief for chronic nerve pain.


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Early Screen Time Linked to Long-Term Brain Changes, Teen Anxiety


New research following children for more than a decade links high screen exposure before age two to accelerated brain maturation, slower decision-making, and increased anxiety by adolescence.


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Stroke Weakens How the Brain Integrates Speech Sounds


A new study comparing stroke survivors with healthy adults reveals that post-stroke language disorders stem not from slower hearing but from weaker integration of speech sounds.


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Obesity and high blood pressure may directly cause dementia


The findings highlight weight and blood pressure control as potentially powerful tools for preventing dementia before symptoms appear.


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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com
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