RadNet Just Became the World's Largest AI Radiology Company

Hey there, welcome to Beyond the Scan! I'm Jackie, your host, and I'm so glad you're joining me today, Wednesday, March 4th, 2026.

Quick shoutout to our sponsor RadiologyJobs.com — they're doing amazing work connecting imaging professionals with great opportunities nationwide.

I've got some really exciting stories to share with you today!

Let's kick things off with some big business news that honestly has major implications for pretty much everyone working in imaging right now. So picture this — you're a radiologist, your worklist is overflowing, volumes keep climbing, and there just aren't enough hands on deck. It's a story we all know too well. Well, RadNet just made a massive move that says, loud and clear, AI is their answer to that problem. RadNet acquired a company called Gleamer, and by doing so, their AI division — DeepHealth — is now being called the largest provider of radiology clinical AI solutions in the entire world. <break time="0.8s" /> That is not a small claim.

What I find really compelling here is the focus area. We're not talking about exotic, rare-disease detection. This is about the bread and butter of radiology — X-ray, ultrasound, and mammography. The everyday, high-volume stuff. The acquisition is specifically aimed at expanding capabilities in automated prioritization — so helping route the most urgent cases to the top of the list — and draft reporting, where AI essentially gives the radiologist a head start on the report. I think that second one is where it really gets interesting for techs and radiologists alike, because that workflow shift is going to change how departments operate day to day.

My take? This is a signal. When the largest outpatient imaging network in the country goes out and acquires a global AI company to double down on routine imaging AI, the rest of the industry is going to pay attention. If you're in radiology administration or you're a radiologist wondering how AI will affect your role — this deal is worth watching closely.

Now, speaking of AI and imaging workflows getting a serious upgrade — let me tell you about something on the equipment side that caught my eye. GE HealthCare just launched their next-generation LOGIQ ultrasound systems. And I know, I know — new ultrasound announcements happen, right? But this one's worth talking about because of what they're emphasizing. It's not just better image quality, though that's in there. It's the combination of advanced imaging, AI capabilities, and enhanced workflows all rolled into one portfolio update. The goal, according to GE HealthCare, is to elevate both clinical performance and efficiency for imaging professionals.

For sonographers especially, this is directly relevant to your daily work. When a manufacturer bakes AI and workflow tools into the system itself — rather than bolting them on after the fact — that tends to mean smoother scanning sessions, faster throughput, and potentially better diagnostic confidence right at the point of care. <break time="0.7s" /> And in a field where musculoskeletal, abdominal, and OB ultrasound volumes are only going up, efficiency tools matter.

Alright, switching gears to something completely different — and honestly, this one gave me a moment of genuine excitement because it sits right at the intersection of molecular imaging and precision medicine. Researchers have developed a new targeted PET/CT tracer specifically for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Now, if you're not in nuclear medicine, let me paint the picture. Rheumatoid arthritis affects millions of people, and one of the big challenges has always been figuring out — is this treatment actually working? — without waiting weeks or months for clinical symptoms to change.

Here's what's remarkable about this tracer. It can detect whether a patient is responding to treatment as little as one week after therapy starts. <break time="1.0s" /> One week. That is a game-changer for precision medicine. Instead of keeping a patient on a medication that might not be working for them and hoping for the best, clinicians could potentially pivot much sooner. This is molecular imaging doing what it does best — seeing biological processes at the cellular level before the body gives you any outward signs.

For nuclear medicine techs and radiologists who work with PET/CT, this is a peek at where the modality is headed — beyond oncology, deeper into inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. I love seeing the field expand like this.

Now, let's talk about something that I think is genuinely heartwarming — and critically important. The FDA just expanded approval of a low-dose MRI contrast agent to include neonates and infants. <break time="0.8s" /> We're talking about the tiniest, most vulnerable patients in the hospital. Babies in the NICU. Infants who need diagnostic imaging but for whom every clinical decision carries extra weight.

Getting good MRI diagnostic information on a neonate has always been challenging — not just technically, but because of the risks associated with contrast agents in such small bodies. This expanded approval specifically supports better diagnostic capabilities in these vulnerable populations with reduced risk. For pediatric radiologists, pediatric MRI techs, and the neonatal teams who collaborate with imaging departments — this is a meaningful step forward. It means more diagnostic clarity, earlier in life, with a safety profile that's now been formally recognized by the FDA for the youngest patients. That's the kind of regulatory news that actually changes lives.

And finally — let's end on something that points toward the future of brain imaging. A company called Positrigo just launched what they're calling a BrainPET Accelerator Program here in the U.S. The focus is on advancing functional brain imaging using specialized nuclear medicine devices. Now, brain PET is a fascinating and growing area — we're talking about imaging that can look at how the brain is actually functioning, not just what it looks like structurally. Positrigo's accelerator program is aimed at pushing neuroimaging applications forward and making a real push into the U.S. market.

For those of you in nuclear medicine or neuroimaging — this is a company and a program worth keeping on your radar. As conditions like Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders continue to drive demand for better brain imaging tools, initiatives like this one are part of what moves the needle. I'm curious to see where this goes over the next year or two.

Well, that's all we have for today's episode of Beyond the Scan. I've really enjoyed sharing these developments with you.

If you found today's discussion helpful, I'd love it if you'd subscribe and share with your colleagues. And hey, swing by our website at beyondthescan.io where we've got some great additional resources on these topics.

I'll be back next week with more exciting updates. This is Jackie signing off, and remember — what we do really does make a difference in people's lives every day. Take care!