Volume XVI | Issue 10 | October 2024 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
| |
|
Dear Colleagues –
A few weeks ago, the HCI team descended on Nashville to attend Modern Healthcare’s Workforce Summit and Annual Gala. The Summit provided an opportunity to learn ‘best practices’ for providing a great workplace environment for our team members from leaders in our industry. After a day of business meetings, it was time to celebrate at the Gala where the top 150 companies in healthcare gather to find out where they placed on the list. I’m thrilled to let you know that HCI ranked as number 5 on the list of ‘Best Places to Work’. We created HCI 26 years ago to provide the best service possible for our patients and the healthcare organizations they serve. I believe we’ve brought together like-minded individuals who truly get it and live by our core values every day, especially our first core value which is ‘Do the right thing’. This ranking is more than a number; it’s a testament to the environment we’ve built together, one that truly values and supports each of us.
Creating a culture where people are empowered, respected, and inspired every day has always been central to who we are. This honor reflects our collective commitment to making HCI not just a place to work, but a place where people thrive. To every team member—thank you for bringing your dedication, passion, and care each day. It’s because of you that we’ve achieved this distinction.
Together, we’ll keep striving to make HeartCare Imaging one of the best places to work, now and always.
I promise that we will continue to do everything we can to continue to provide you with the best please to work!
Best Regards,
|  | |
|
Downed high-flux reactor could restart sooner than anticipated
The medical isotope shortage may be over sooner than expected, according to an update from the Nuclear Medicine Europe Emergency Response Team.
Read More Here
| |
New details emerge on looming medical isotope shortage
New details have emerged regarding the impact a downed high-flux reactor will have on the supply of medical isotopes.
Read More Here
| |
Advancing the Fight Against Breast Cancer: How Nuclear Medicine is Transforming Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy among women and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. As the fight against this disease evolves, nuclear medicine continues to play a crucial role in advancing both diagnostic imaging and treatment.
Read More Here
| |
Understanding hospital billing for cardiac PET/CT
Hospital billing for cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) imaging can be a challenging topic, even for experienced specialists. To help provide some clarity, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) made billing for cardiac PET the focus of a presentating during its 2024 annual meeting.
Read More Here
| |
|
NorthStar opens facility to assist with development and distribution of vital radioisotopes
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes just celebrated the launch of its Dose Manufacturing Center in Beloit, Wisconsin. The 52,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility will provide much needed developmental and manufacturing support for pharmaceutical companies that produce and distribute radiopharmaceuticals. The hope is that the facility can boost domestic production of much needed radioisotopes like Ac-225, Lu-177, Cu-64, Cu-67, In-111 and others.
Read More Here
| |
Lizard saliva could be key to spotting elusive pancreatic tumors
Researchers have harnessed the power of lizard saliva to help them spot difficult to detect pancreatic tumors. In fact, by binding the substance to a radiotracer, experts were able to improve the accuracy of identifying these tumors by as much as 30% compared to the standard of care.
Read More Here
| |
|
What impact will flurpiridaz F-18 have on heart care?
Seventeen years was all it took for flurpiridaz F-18 to reach the market – the first patient was injected with the PET imaging agent in November 2007, by Jamshid Maddahi, MD, and colleagues, of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Read More Here
| |
Plant-based diets linked to key improvements in heart health, new study confirms
Vegetarian and vegan diets are both associated with lower risks of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new data published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.[1] The study’s authors performed an umbrella review of 21 different systematic reviews (SRs) from 2018 to 2024, only considering publications from peer-reviewed sources.
Read More Here
| |
Medicare coverage expands again for AI-enabled coronary plaque assessments
Medicare coverage has increased yet again for artificial intelligence (AI) platforms that evaluate imaging results to quantify coronary plaque buildup and identify signs of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Read More Here
| |
Experimental drug engineered to prevent heart failure after heart attacks
An experimental therapeutic monoclonal antibody therapy could become the first to directly enhance tissue repair in the heart following a heart attack.
Read More Here
| |
New precision medicine approach helps detect subgroups of people with obesity at high risk of diabetes and heart disease
Obesity is a common cause of diabetes, heart disease and early death, but risk differs greatly from one person to the next. A pioneering clinical risk prediction algorithm has been developed that splits obesity into 5 separate diagnostic profiles each with contrasting health consequences and treatment requirements.
Read More Here
| |
|
Medtronic’s next-generation TAVR device receives CE mark approval
Medtronic has received CE mark approval for its Evolut FX+ transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system for the treatment of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). The device received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval back in March.
Read More Here
| |
|
Women less likely to survive heart surgery complications than men
Women are more likely to die from complications following cardiovascular surgery than men, according to a new analysis published in JAMA Surgery.
Read More Here
| |
FDA approves AI startup’s new software for echo assessments
iCardio.ai, a Los Angeles-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup co-founded by a cardiologist, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its EchoMeasure software to evaluate echocardiography data. This is the company’s very first FDA approval, though it has already been working closely with several partners in the healthcare space.
Read More Here
| |
Disparities in Cardiac Arrest Outcomes in Emergency Departments Across the United States
Disparities in emergency department (ED) mortality and patient outcomes after cardiac arrest in the United States emphasize an urgent need for equitable healthcare resources and policies.
Read More Here
| |
|
Ask cardiac PET patients how much they exercise, study suggests
Exercise activity is an independent predictor of "hard events" such as heart attacks in patients undergoing stress PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), according to a group at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Read More Here
| |
|
IV Fluid Shortage May Impact Surgeries Around the U.S. for Weeks
Surgery schedules around the country may be washed out for several more weeks while a crucial IV and sterile fluids factory remains shut down for hurricane-related damage.
Read More Here
| |
McDonald's says onions from California-based company are linked to E. coli outbreak
A California-based produce company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli food poisoning outbreak at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus.
Read More Here
| |
The Battle Brewing Over How Much Red Meat You Eat
Scientists advising the U.S. government on its next round of dietary guidelines have drafted recommendations that would tell Americans to limit how much red meat they eat. It is part of an effort to nudge us to eat more plant foods, including beans, peas and lentils.
Read More Here
| |
|
Men and women process pain differently, study finds
According to new research, men and women rely on different biological systems for pain relief, which could help explain why our most powerful pain medications are often less effective in women.
Read More Here
| |
Updated guidelines may help reduce the risk of a first-time stroke, according to the American Stroke Association
More than 600,000 people in the US will have their first stroke this year. The American Stroke Association wants to arm doctors and patients with the knowledge to help lower that number.
Read More Here
| |
Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Child Aggression and Cognitive Deficits
New research shows that prenatal exposure to cannabis can negatively impact children’s thinking and behavioral skills, including impulse control, attention, and aggression, which are key for academic and social success. The study observed preschool-aged children with prenatal cannabis exposure and found they showed poorer control over impulses and emotions.
Read More Here
| |
People Opting Out of Organ Donation After Donor Mistakenly Declared Dead
Transplant experts are seeing a spike in people revoking organ donor registrations, their confidence shaken by reports that organs were nearly retrieved from a Kentucky man mistakenly declared dead.
Read More Here
| |
|
Marijuana Use Has Fallen 'Dramatically' Among U.S. Teens
Weed use among U.S. teenagers fell dramatically over the past decade, a new study shows.
Read More Here
| |
|
Apple AirPods Pro's New Hearing Aid Feature Could Help People Face a Problem They'd Rather Ignore
Some Apple AirPods wireless headphones can be used as hearing aids with a new software update available Monday. It's a high-profile move that experts applaud, even if they only reach a small portion of the millions of Americans with hearing loss.
Read More Here
| |
From Frozen Waffles to Costco Salmon: What to Know About Food Recalls
Recalls of multiple food products in recent weeks have alarmed consumers and health officials.
Read More Here
| |
Health Care Industry News | |
AI could be a game changer, but healthcare needs to be ‘exceedingly careful’
Artificial intelligence tools could help solve workforce challenges. Implementation, however, can be difficult, pushing organizations to consider less risky administrative and back-office tasks first.
Read More Here
| |
|
Change Healthcare data breach officially affects 100M
The breach is the largest ever reported to a portal managed by federal regulators.
Read More Here
| |
|
Texas physician gets 10 years in prison for $54M Medicare fraud scheme
A Texas physician was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by prescribing durable medical equipment without having any contact with the patients.
Read More Here
| |
|
Nearly 70% of healthcare organizations hit by cyberattacks report patient care disruptions: survey
More than half of respondents said they saw more procedure complications or reported poor outcomes due to care delays, while 28% said mortality rates rose.
Read More Here
| |
|
A quiet driver of the nurse shortage, explained
In 2006, well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization warned healthcare that a severe nursing faculty shortage was on the horizon worldwide.
Read More Here
| |
UnitedHealth sues CMS over Medicare Advantage star ratings
A handful of plans owned by the nation’s largest MA payer are the latest to ask the court to help raise their valuable quality scores.
Read More Here
| |
|
Reminders Reduce Age-Related Memory Decline in Older Adults
A new study shows that using reminders can counteract age-related declines in memory, especially for tasks that require prospective memory, such as taking medication. Researchers found that reminders help both younger and older adults improve memory performance under high cognitive load.
Read More Here
| |
Depression: Dysfunction of neurons in the amygdala may be behind negative perceptions of the environment
One of the characteristics of depression is a tendency to perceive sensory stimuli and everyday situations in an excessively negative way. But the mechanisms underpinning this 'negativity bias,' which can fuel the development of depressive symptoms, had previously remained largely unknown. To shed light on the question, scientists decided to explore the amygdala and observe how it functions during depressive episodes. Their findings suggest that a depressive state alters certain specific neural circuits, leading to a reduction in the activity of neurons involved in pleasant perceptions of positive stimuli and an overactivation of those responsible for the perception of negative stimuli.
Read More Here
| |
|
Loneliness Increases Dementia Risk by 31%
A large meta-analysis of over 600,000 people shows that experiencing loneliness significantly raises the risk of developing dementia by 31%. Researchers found that loneliness is a key factor in cognitive decline, contributing to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of age or sex.
Read More Here
| |
|
Listening to Music After Surgery Lowers Pain and Anxiety
A new study suggests that listening to music after surgery can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, and even heart rate, aiding recovery. An analysis of 35 studies found that patients who listened to music reported lower pain levels and used less morphine on the first day post-surgery compared to those who didn’t.
Read More Here
| |
|
Daylight saving time clock changes have substantial, but short-lived effect on how much sleep we get
With the clocks going back this weekend, a new study has found that moving the clocks one hour forward in Spring and one hour back in Autumn has a substantial, but short-lived effect on sleep duration.
Read More Here
| |
Safer Epilepsy Treatment for Pregnant Women with Drug Combo
Rapamycin could counteract the harmful effects of Sodium Valproate, a common epilepsy medication, on fetal spinal cord development. Sodium Valproate is widely prescribed but poses risks during pregnancy, causing spinal malformations in fetuses.
Read More Here
| |
|
New legislation aims to tame ‘Wild West’ in healthcare cybersecurity
The proposed bill, introduced last month by Sens. Ron Wyden and Mark Warner, is a good step forward, but hospitals may need more funds to boost their cybersecurity practices, experts say.
Read More Here
| |
|
FDA outlines new Drug Supply Chain Security Act exemptions
Several groups have been granted additional time to comply with the more than 10-year-old legislation.
Read More Here
| |
|
5 steps to navigate the FDA’s new lab developed test rule
Laboratories face a series of upcoming deadlines to comply with stricter FDA oversight of in-house tests. Here are five strategies labs can take to be ready.
Read More Here
| |
|
Senate report slams Medicare Advantage insurers for using predictive technology to deny claims
UnitedHealth, CVS and Humana used technology to increase MA prior authorization denials for post-acute services, boosting profits, according to a report for a Senate subcommittee.
Read More Here
| |
|
FTC increases premerger reporting requirements over provider objections
Companies will be required to disclose information about minority investors and M&A activity going back five years. Provider groups said the new requirements would be burdensome.
Read More Here
| |
HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
