My first RSNA was in 1980. Diagnostic imaging has changed a lot in 35 years and RSNA continues to be one place where you can go to learn about those changes.

This year was no exception except that many of the changes this year were attempting to fine-tune the existing technology by introducing tools and software that make diagnosing and treating illness easier, faster and better.

There was also an emphasis on helping administrators manage their departments more efficiently with software and tools.

Jeff Immelt, CEO of GE, put it nicely in a talk he gave when he said (and I paraphrase here) that it is no longer about making a machine faster or with a wider bore or more slices, it is now about analytics and better business models.

It seemed to me that all of the manufactures shared this feeling.

Furthermore, in recent years I could not help but have the feeling that, while firms put on a happy face and maintained a stiff upper lip, below the surface they were worried. This year it seemed to me that most people were quietly confident. There was cautious optimism almost everywhere.

People were not attempting to convince each other that things are better — they really believed that things are trending in the right direction.

Lets hope it is justified.

Monday we held our annual press briefing and we had just over 150 guests for our 7 a.m. event where we shared our predictions for 2016. We reminded everyone about HealthCare Business (HCB) News online, our weekly and daily online news operation... (as I am reminding you right now)

DOTmed had 10 people running around the show and learning. This issue of the HCB News weekly newsletter covers RSNA and in the coming days we will continue to cover the show. Log on once a day for our latest reports.