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Thanks to a European grant for the HyperIMAGE project, a consortium of scientists across Europe have worked with Philips to develop a proof-of-concept, pre-clinical combined MR-PET scanner that could one day lead to improved radiation therapy and cardiology treatments.

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House Passes Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act Advocacy groups applaud passage of bill that would permanently repeal and replace SGR.

Aural Trumps Oral for Ear Treatment A novel microfluidic drug delivery system makes it possible to reach parts of the body poorly served by oral and injectable medications.

Clinical PET-MRI Moves Closer to Reality Thanks to a European grant for the HyperIMAGE project, a consortium of scientists across Europe have worked with Philips to develop a proof-of-concept, pre-clinical combined MR-PET scanner that could one day lead to improved radiation therapy and cardiology treatments.

Scientists Find Unusual Immune System Activity in Brains of Schizophrenics The "germ theory" of schizophrenia got a mild boost this week as scientists discover that recently afflicted schizophrenics show higher levels of inflammatory proteins in the brain.

Senate Health Care Reform Bill Unveiled Legislation may go to cloture vote this weekend. Read the details.

RSNA 2009 Preview This year's RSNA should provide a very interesting look at the effects of the economy on the major OEMs. As always, vendors are whipping up the hoopla, and inside this story are great previews of what's being debuted. But DOTmed reporters will also be there to get the real buzz. Look for video interviews in our Online News direct from the show.

Interview With Fred Robertson, President & CEO of TomoTherapy TomoTherapy president and CEO Fred Robertson talks with DOTmed about his perspective on ASTRO's 2009 annual meeting, changes in the radiation oncology industry and two important TomoTherapy product launches that occurred at the show. Watch the HD video.

Pen-Sized Microscope Aims for Precise Brain Surgeries A confocal microscope picking up brain-safe fluorescent dyes could result in more accurate and streamlined surgeries to remove tumors from the brain.

Health Care Reform Round-Up: CBO Pegs Senate Bill at $849 Billion The numbers are in on the Senate's version of reform. Also read about the wide-ranging impact that the legislation would have.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Has Stunning New Guidelines on Mammography Agency recommends no routine screening for women 40-49, no self-examination. Read the details.

Doctor shortage in Texas

Report States Texas Short More Than 4,500 Primary Care Providers

by Joan Trombetti, Writer
According to a report released by the National Association of Community Health Centers, by 2015, Texas would need more than 4,500 additional primary care doctors and other medical professionals to serve all of its residents who have limited access to health care.

The report recommends that Texas hire 1,993 primary care providers within seven years and look for more at a later date. In the report, primary care providers are defined as primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives.

In Travis County, five areas defined as underserved by primary care -- South Austin, Dove Springs, Del Valle, Manor and East Austin -- are short 35 primary care providers, said Jose Camacho, executive director of the Texas Association of Community Health Centers. He defined underserved in those areas as having fewer than one primary care provider for every 3,500 people.

The shortage is a national problem that is worsening as fewer medical students choose primary care. Dr. James Rohack, a senior cardiologist at Scott & White Clinic in Temple and president-elect of the American Medical Association, said that the field has become less financially attractive.

The report recommends solving the problem in stages. It says that the nation's 6,600 community health center sites now serving 18 million uninsured or underinsured people with 11,887 providers around the country are 1,843 providers short. Those health centers, which receive federal aid, will need an additional 15,585 to 19,428 primary care providers to reach 30 million patients by 2015. And to reach a total of 69 million patients -- the actual number of patients that the report anticipates needing service by 2015 -- 51,299 to 60,138 more providers will be needed.

The report also state that Texas will need 4,584 more primary care providers to reach its entire underserved population, which it calculated at 5.3 million people by 2015.

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