While overall echocardiography procedure utilization was stable from 2001 to 2002, vascular ultrasound procedures performed in echo labs increased 22%, according to a recent study published by market research firm IMV Medical Information Division.
In IMV's 2003 Echocardiography Census, an estimated 10.35 million echocardiography procedures were performed in hospitals with 100 or more beds and 400 large group cardiology practices in 2002. These same 3,130 sites reported 10.25 million patient visits associated with the procedures. In addition, 2.02 million vascular ultrasound procedures were performed by over one-third of the participating echo sites, the Des Plaines, IL-based firm said.
The firm also found that the use of commercial contrast agents with echocardiography procedures has become more widespread in terms of the proportion of echo sites using them, increasing from 26% of sites in 2001 to 40% as of the census.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersJune 16, 2004
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