The number of patients receiving nuclear medicine increased in the U.S. last year, reversing a downward trend from 2006. An estimated 15.7 million patients received nuclear imaging procedures in 2007, representing a gain of 3% from 15.2 million in 2006.
The study by IMV Medical Information Division of Des Plaines, IL, includes 7,320 hospital and nonhospital sites.
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The numbers from 2007 follow a decline in nuclear medicine procedures in 2006, which totaled 15.2 million, a 12% decrease from 17.2 million in 2005. IMV cited precertification requirements from health insurance companies and competing technologies, such as PET/CT oncology procedures, for the reduction in 2006.
Based on 2007's increase and year-to-date 2008 estimates, the IMV study projects nuclear medicine procedures could experience another decline this year. Early estimates place the number of procedures for 2008 at approximately 16 million, which would be below 2005 levels.
Other findings include the following:
- From 2006 to 2007, the total number of patients receiving myocardial ischemia/perfusion scans increased 5% from 8.5 million to 8.9 million.
- While dual-head SPECT cameras are the most preferred camera type being considered, comprising more than two-thirds of the planned camera purchases, SPECT/CT is starting to emerge, comprising more than 12% of purchase plans.
- Forty-five percent of the nuclear imaging sites are nonhospitals (e.g., cardiology offices), and 55% are hospital-based. While hospitals comprise 55% of the sites, they account for two-thirds of the nuclear imaging procedures.
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- The hospital and nonhospital sites are equally likely to perform myocardial ischemia/perfusion studies, with approximately 89% performing the studies. Hospitals are more likely than nonhospitals to conduct the other study types, including bone scan, liver/hepatobiliary, renal, respiratory, infection/abscess, and tumor localization studies.
- Patient waiting times for nuclear imaging procedures have decreased, with waiting times of more than one day for scheduled outpatient procedures decreasing from 77% of the sites in 2003 to 52% of the sites in 2008.
Disclosure notice: AuntMinnie.com is owned by IMV, Ltd.
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