RSNA Preview: Showcasing Imaging’s Newest and Noteworthy

It’s that time again. Soon after the Thanksgiving plates have been cleared and leftovers consumed, a new gathering will descend -- this time, upon Chicago, by approximately 55,000 medical professionals, manufacturers and educators for the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA’s) 101st Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, from November 29th to December 4th. (And likely, the eating will continue at the many fantastic restaurants throughout Chicago.)

The conference has become the world’s premier radiology forum, drawing attendees to McCormick Place for the mix of science, education and technology presented during the course of six days. In addition to learning opportunities in every subspecialty, RSNA 15 educational sessions also promise to address this year’s hot topics including PET, low-dose CT, healthcare IT and image exchange, and even 3D printing.

KNB Communications has spent the last few months in planning mode, working closely with our media friends at publications such as Diagnostic Imaging, DOTMed, Imaging Technology News and auntminnie.com. As usual, KNB will have the opportunity to work with many of the exhibiting companies, several who are featured in this blog. If you are attending RSNA, make sure to drop by the booths of these radiology innovators:

Elsevier (Booth #1104) – a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, Elsevier will conduct “meet and greet” author book signings at its booth by some of the medical field’s most distinguished physicians and authors on radiology, including Dr. Anne Osborn, recipient of the first RSNA Outstanding Educator Award. Books available will include titles such as: Diagnostic Imaging: Brain, 3rd edition; Diagnostic Imaging: Spine, 3rd edition; Specialty Imaging: Thoracic Neoplasms; Diagnostic Imaging: Genitourinary, 3rd edition, and Diagnostic Ultrasound: Abdomen and Pelvis.

Think the educational sessions are the only place to gain credit? For the first time at RSNA, Elsevier will offer point-of-care continuing medical education (CME) credits to physicians for searches they complete in STATdx®, a diagnostic decision support system for radiologists.

Medic Vision (Booth #3703) – Bogged down by compliance and the rush to meet the January 1 deadline for XR-29? Make sure Medic Vision is on your schedule. The company will be highlighting a brand new solution, recently submitted to the FDA, to help healthcare facilities comply with XR-29. SafeCT®-29 is the industry’s first and only non-OEM FDA-approved solution available to help healthcare facilities to achieve compliance for XR-29.

RaySafe (Booth #1711) – Calling all Low Dose Heroes! As dose reduction continues to be a main focus in the imaging community, Unfors RaySafe, Inc., a Fluke Biomedical company and leading manufacturer of real-time dose monitoring solutions for high-dose fluoroscopy labs, will showcase the benefits of real-time dosimetry with an interactive game, “Low Dose Hero.” The game features a simulated fluoroscopy room to test the dose-lowering skills of interventional radiologists and other fluoroscopy lab clinicians during procedures that are known to have high and harmful levels of radiation. In addition to the game, RaySafe is also asking all attendees to “Share how you and your colleagues lower staff dose!” Visitors to the booth can also view demonstrations of RaySafe’s i2 real-time dose monitoring system. This system will show how fluoroscopy lab medical teams can better protect themselves from excessive radiation exposure, simply by being aware of their radiation exposure levels. Serious and potentially life-threatening conditions are linked to chronic exposure of ionizing radiation, including high incidences of cataracts, skin cancer, brain tumors and thyroid disease, among others.

Viztek (Booth #6728) – Now a Konica Minolta company, Viztek will be bigger than ever at RSNA this year, exhibiting its latest innovations in DR and Healthcare IT at its booth in the North Hall as well as in the Konica Minolta booth in the South Hall.

Leading the product line-up will be the innovative Exa PACS/RIS/EHR platform, and specifically the Exa Mammo Viewer -- the first of its kind, PACS-neutral, breast imaging management workstation, with full diagnostic* quality for breast imaging. New DR systems, as well as the full line of DR and ultrasound solutions from Konica Minolta will also be on display as the two companies are Merging Innovation with Radiology.

20/20 Imaging (Booth #6358) – Last but certainly not least are our friends at 20/20 Imaging, now a Konica Minolta company. The sister company of Viztek, 20/20 Imaging once again will wow dealers with its line-up of DR solutions for specialty imaging. The company recently announced that the University of Washington Valley Medical Center, Renton, Wash., and Kadlec Medical Center, Richland, Wash, have installed the HF PXS-710D digital x-ray system, which is the first DR system designed specifically with advanced features for podiatry imaging.

Are you as excited as we are? May the weather stay mild, your shoes be comfortable and your Thanksgiving holiday be a wonderful one. We will see you in Chicago!