ACR Image Metrix chosen by AMI for study

The American College of Radiology's (ACR; Philadelphia) Image Metrix unit has been chosen by the Academy of Molecular Imaging (AMI) to provide data and image storage infrastructure for a new study to compare the effectiveness of conventional planar 99mTc-MDP bone imaging with 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT (18F-NaF) at detecting bony metastases in patients with breast, prostate and non–small-cell lung cancers.

The protocol was developed in conjunction with the FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and calls for data collection on more than 500 patients at 13 sites nationwide.

"Just as early detection of cancer is important, early detection of any spread of a cancer is vitally important to determining the best and most timely treatment for patients. PET and PET/CT are serving an increasingly important role in this care. Each refinement in care can make a big difference in the success of treatment for additional patients. ACR Image Metrix is proud to serve such a significant role in this important trial as the selected CRO [Contract Research Organization]," said ACR Image Metrix chief scientific officer Bruce Hillman, MD, who worked with AMI investigators to develop the protocol for the research.

NxStage as 4th-largest revenue gainer

NxStage Medical (Lawrence, Massachusetts) said it has been recognized as the fourth largest revenue gainer in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal, ranked by percent change in revenue. NxStage also is the 111th company on the BBJ's overall Massachusetts Top 150 Public Companies, ranked in terms of total 2008 revenue. The full list of the BBJ 150 appears in the May 8 issue of the publication.

NxStage Medical makes products for the treatment of end stage renal disease and acute kidney failure.

Premiere launches perinatal safety initiative

The Premiere (Charlotte, North Carolina) healthcare alliance has launched a second Premier Perinatal Safety Initiative (PSI), a national collaborative designed to achieve the consistent delivery of evidence-based care with the goal of eliminating preventable birth-related injuries and deaths.

Premier is currently recruiting participants for the second PSI collaborative. The existing PSI is comprised of 16 of the country's leading hospitals in which about 115,000 babies will be delivered over the course of the collaborative.

"Nowhere is reliable, evidence-based care more important than in the obstetrics suite," said Susan DeVore, Premier's incoming president/CEO. "We have learned through the first phase of this project and additional research that the consistent, reliable delivery of care bundles established by industry experts reduces birth injuries."

Optasia Medical receives ISO certification

Optasia Medical (Cheadle, UK), a maker of model-based vision software for musculoskeletal radiography, has received certification for the successful registration of itsw quality management system to both ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003.