Volume XVIII | Issue 3 | March 2026 | | HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
With all that has been going on in our world, it seems to me that we’ve lost sight of something remarkable that is about to happen. If all goes well, tomorrow we will see four brave souls take off on a mission to space that could open doors not only to a permanent presence on our moon, but also to exploring deeper into our galaxy. I mean, that is very cool stuff!
According to an article from Yahoo News, “The four astronauts on Artemis II won’t be landing on the moon but instead will venture 600,000 miles around it and return at 30 times the speed of sound, according to NASA. During their 10-day trip, they’ll test life support systems in the Orion capsule for future crewed missions to the moon’s surface. A moon landing would occur during Artemis III, which is targeted to launch sometime in 2027.”
The NASA astronauts are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who make up the crew for Artemis II.
So, why is this relevant to a medical imaging newsletter? Because science does not stand still. Whether we’re looking for new ways to explore our galaxy or finding new ways to diagnose and treat disease, it takes a desire to push the envelope—on everything from knowledge to our purpose in life—to make a difference.
While most of us won’t be traveling into space to explore new planets, we are definitely on a mission to explore new and better ways to help our fellow earthlings 'live longer and more prosperous lives.' I commend all of you for what you do on a daily basis.
Best Regards,
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Shortage of cardiac amyloidosis radiotracers should ease in late March
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) shared an update this week on the shortage of radiotracers for diagnosing transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis. One vendor has reported it should have new tracers available by the end of March.
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Telix submits new brain imaging agent for FDA review following previous rejection
Radiopharmaceutical firm Telix has reignited its effort to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for a new brain cancer imaging agent.
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Bill Gates-backed nuclear medicine company investing $450M to build new radiopharma facility
TerraPower Isotopes, a nuclear medicine company backed by billionaire Bill Gates, is investing $450 million to construct a new manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.
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PET scans offer insight into how ketamine affects depression
Researchers have developed a new radiotracer that has helped to bring new insight into the effects of depression medication on the brain.
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Morning exercise may have added benefits for the heart
Exercising early in the morning is associated with significant health benefits compared to exercising later in the day, according to new data to be presented at ACC.2026 in New Orleans.
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Small lifestyle changes significantly boost heart health
Minor improvements in daily habits, such as sleeping 11 minutes longer, exercising 4.5 minutes more and eating a quarter cup of vegetables, can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure by 10%, according to a study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
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The Effect of Loneliness on Heart Failure and Coronary Heart Disease Risk
Loneliness and social isolation may hurt the heart both literally and figuratively, according to an ever-expanding body of research on the topic.
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Shingles vaccine could cut risk of major cardiovascular events, research finds
Research suggests that the shingles vaccine is linked to a significantly lower risk of major cardiovascular events in people with existing heart disease.
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Cold weather responsible for many more stroke and heart attack deaths than heat
Colder temperatures are responsible for significantly more deaths from heart attacks and strokes in the United States than warmer temperatures, according to new data to be presented at ACC.26, the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.
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New cholesterol guidelines could change when you get tested
A major new U.S. cholesterol guideline is shifting the focus toward earlier, more personalized prevention of heart disease.
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The Tyranny of the Oura Ring
I started by counting my steps. Soon, I was counting every other biometric. Was that a good thing?
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Beer, wine, spirits: Mortality risk varies by alcohol type
The effect of low to moderate alcohol consumption on mortality varied by alcohol type, according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.
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What teens eat could be affecting their mental health more than we thought
What teens eat might matter more for their mental health than previously thought. A sweeping review of nearly 20 studies found that healthier diets are often linked to fewer depressive symptoms, while poor eating habits may go hand in hand with greater psychological distress.
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Like ‘driving to San Francisco and back, every week’: In rural America, cancer patients face tall hurdles to get care
Andy Henard assumed he'd have to move to Houston, 500 miles from his home in Wellington, Texas, to get treatment for bladder cancer. He was surprised to learn that he could get chemotherapy at a smaller hospital just down the highway.
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| | Health Care Industry News | |
Stryker restores most manufacturing after cyberattack
The medtech company has been working to restore manufacturing, ordering and shipping operations since it was hit by a cyberattack on March 11.
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Hospitals’ financial performance off to a shaky start in 2026: report
Hospitals’ finances were off to a shaky start early this year amid rising expenses and bad debt, according to a report released Thursday by consultancy Kaufman Hall.
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Balancing risk: Lessons from a rural health CIO
For IT leaders, every risk decision shapes the organization’s future. Innovation can drive efficiency and improve outcomes, but security and operational stability remain essential. Today, rural hospitals increasingly rely on AI to stabilize operations, reduce administrative burdens and extend care, without requiring large, costly IT investments.
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As maternity units close, AdventHealth restores OB care in rural Kansas
Hospitals and health systems have continued to close maternity units, citing ongoing financial challenges, workforce shortages and declining birth rates. However, in rural Kansas, AdventHealth Ottawa — part of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth — recently restored labor and delivery services to Franklin County.
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Young Adult Substance Use Affects Memory at 65
The choices made between the ages of 18 and 30 may determine brain health 30 years later. A new longitudinal study tracked participants for decades to see how young adult substance use correlates with memory in midlife (ages 50–65).
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Stroke Survivors’ Brains Rejuvenate to Compensate for Injury
In a massive international study, researchers have discovered a surprising pattern of neuroplasticity in stroke survivors. Using deep learning to analyze brain scans from over 500 survivors across eight countries, researchers found that while a stroke accelerates aging in the damaged hemisphere, the undamaged side of the brain actually begins to look “younger” in its structure.
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Cannabis study finds THC can create false memories
THC doesn’t just blur memories—it can create new ones that never happened. In a controlled experiment, cannabis users were much more likely to recall words that were never shown and struggled with tasks like remembering to do something later. Researchers found that THC disrupted many different memory systems at once.
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Study Reveals What Tau PET Scans Are Actually Seeing
While tau PET scans are vital for “seeing” Alzheimer’s biology in living patients, they have a known quirk: the most common tracer, Flortaucipir (Tauvid), often “lights up” even when tau tangles aren’t the primary driver. In a high-precision study, researchers used AI-enabled, voxel-by-voxel alignment to compare PET scans directly with postmortem brain tissue.
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Does Nature Really Help Reduce Negative Emotions?
Researchers have conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis confirming that exposure to nature—whether real, virtual, or even imagined—significantly reduces negative emotions and boosts brain health. The team reviewed 33 studies involving over 2,100 participants to map the neurophysiological impact of “green time.”
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| | HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
