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Separate study cites merits of using supplemental MRI in breast exams

February 12, 2009

An unrelated pilot study presented at a gathering in December has found that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alternated with mammography at six-month intervals can detect breast cancers not identified by mammography alone.The study was by a The

Software for mammography could help find more cancer

Such programs, though, also could increase false positives, review suggests

February 12, 2009

Computer programs designed to help radiologists could identify more cases of breast cancer, but also might increase the number of false-positive results, which can lead to biopsies in healthy women, according to a recent systematic review.Using

Using pseudo-cash incentive to encourage healthy living

Asuris says reward-based Motivate self-managed plan is off to good start

February 12, 2009

Kim Crompton

Health plan provider Asuris Northwest Health, which has about 56,000 members in Eastern Washington, says it's pleased with the response it's getting to a six-month-old plan, called Asuris Motivate, that enables members to earn virtual funds by of a

Doctors launch lung cancer clinic to streamline care

Medical oncologist, pulmonologist hope to involve more doctors

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Two doctors here have launched a Lung Cancer Clinic at Spokane-based Rockwood Clinic PS to streamline diagnosis and care for lung cancer patients. The physicians, Dr. Jay Wittenkeller, a medical oncologist who practices at Rockwood Clinic, and a

Rockwood Clinic leases space for Breast Health Center

Practice to add stereotactic biopsy equipment to office adjacent to current location

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Spokane-based Rockwood Clinic PS has agreed to lease an additional 3,000 square feet of floor space next to its Cancer Treatment Center's Spokane Valley location to house the Breast Health Center it launched last fall. The Breast Health Center a

Sacred Heart nursing alums publish history

Book chronicles school

February 12, 2009

The Sacred Heart School of Nursing Alumni Association has published a history of the school, titled "Living the Legacy." Betty Harrington, who served as the nursing school's director between 1961 and its closure in 1973, former student Sister of

New Sacred Heart 'echo' probe images heart valves in 3-D

Transesophageal device is expected to help doctors as they develop treatment plans

February 12, 2009

David Cole

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane has purchased a heart probe that gives physicians the ability to create three-dimensional images of the inside of the heart and to see a complete valve from multiple angles while the heart is probe,

New tool could prevent needless stents, study suggests

Guide wire that measures blood flow found helpful in gauging plaque's effects

February 12, 2009

Doctors may be implanting too many artery-opening stents and could avoid needless operations—and ultimately save lives—if they did more in-depth measurements of blood flow in the vessels to the heart, suggests a study published in in the

Venture here to open six more dialysis centers

Fresenius-Providence's planned system expansion targets rural communities in region

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Fresenius Medical Care North America plans to open six new dialysis clinics over the next year or so in rural communities in Eastern Washington and North Idaho through its joint venture with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's the a

Small firms want public health option

Recent survey finds strong concerns about adequacy of U.S.'s current system

February 12, 2009

Ben Rascoff

Small-business owners and self-employed entrepreneurs are concerned deeply about the adequacy of the current U.S. health insurance system and believe government should provide a public alternative to private coverage, a new survey says.They also