Healthcare providers are ready to buy new imaging equipment despite a tough economy, according to a new report from KLAS.
The Orem, Utah-based research firm's report indicates that while a third of providers will maintain a freeze on all imaging equipment for now, the rest are going forward with purchases.
"Diagnostic Imaging Equipment: Which Vendors are Positioned to Win?" shows the "big three" – GE, Siemens and Philips – remain top of mind with many providers, but other vendors are shaking up the market. Companies like Shimadzu and Toshiba, along with Carestream, FUJIFILM and Konica Minolta, have been attracting clients with solid technology and strong service.
For example, in the digital X-ray space, Carestream is turning heads with its DRX-1 product, a new, cassette-sized wireless detector.
For the study, KLAS interviewed 147 healthcare providers to find out which imaging vendors they're considering in a variety of categories.
The report notes that providers most frequently mentioned MR systems as a planned purchase over the next 24 months, and Siemens and Toshiba are generating the most buzz in that market thanks to the success of their wide-bore MR equipment.
"Providers have gravitated to wide-bore MR systems for their high-quality imaging plus the increased comfort they offer claustrophobic and bariatric patients," said Kirk Ising, KLAS' research director for medical imaging and medical equipment and author of the report. "Siemens and Toshiba have clearly set the pace in that arena, while GE and Philips have actually lost business because of their lack of wide-bore MR offerings."
After MR, respondents most frequently mentioned purchase plans for ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), digital mammography and digital A-ray (DR).
In the CT market, GE maintains the lead, with 68 percent of providers planning to include the vendor in their purchase decisions. The next most-considered vendor is Siemens, followed by Toshiba and Philips. Toshiba's position in the CT market has been boosted by the introduction of its Aquilion ONE CT, which has gotten the attention of some research-heavy hospitals that typically disregarded Toshiba in the past.
Vendors profiled in the new KLAS report include Agfa, Carestream, FUJIFILM, GE, Hitachi, Hologic, Konica Minolta, Philips, Siemens and Toshiba.
