by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | December 01, 2013
From the December 2013 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Welcome to the December issue of DOTmed Business News. This issue's cover story is an industry sector report about the move major national and international shipping companies are making in the health care sector. With the USPS on its heels, UPS, DHL and FedEx must be looking for other challenges. But industry veterans familiar with freighting and shipping aren't overly concerned as they believe the sector is growing at a rate to accommodate all sizes of providers. Still, the options the big three bring to the table are interesting and worth reading about (page 40).
The other industry sector report for this issue is mobile imaging. The service allows big hospitals to keep providing topnotch service for patients while getting new equipment or undergoing expansion and allows smaller facilities to avoid purchasing expensive equipment outright when patient flow doesn't necessarily justify the expense (page 33).
For features, teleradiology on page 28 is interesting as there are some very strong opinions on its place in health care. But with the projected growth of patients needing readings, I have to believe that it's going to be acknowledged as necessary even by detractors.
All three of those stories really can almost make the theme of the issue about rural health since each topic really ties into needs for those hospitals, with teleradiology and mobile imaging services being of particular importance. But for our rural hospital article (page 46) there are different challenges ahead.
The final big feature of the issue highlights 23 individuals and nine major associations. It's the "best of the year," our annual recap of awards and honorees from some of the top associations in health care.
And as we end the year, I find myself railing against the idea of a New Year's resolution. As if a change of a calendar page offers some type of reset button to get everything on track. Yet, I find some comfort in the idea that we can look forward to a fresh start even if I question why that start should occur in the dead of winter rather than early spring. But that's just my reckoning of the situation. As you put the best of the year behind you, I hope 2014 turns out even better. There are some big things planned and some big changes at DOTmed News, one will be readily apparent when you get the January issue. Don't be concerned though - we'll still be delivering the same quality news and information. We'll also still be happy to receive reader feedback and comments, for both our online and print news sources. So please let us know how we're doing and what you'd like to see in 2014 and if we get your request in time, maybe, just maybe, we can add it to our resolutions.
Until next year!
