Good news for x-ray equipment manufacturers: Most hospitals in the U.S. plan to buy an x-ray system in the next three years, according to a new report from IMV. In 80% of these purchases, the new x-ray system will replace another existing unit.
Bruce Carlson.Only a fraction of the new radiography systems will be purchased for a location with no current x-ray capability, according to the IMV X-Ray/CR/DR Market Outlook Report. This can be both an opportunity and a concern for watchers of the x-ray imaging market.
In other findings, almost two-thirds (63%) of the hospitals either "Yes" or "Maybe" plan to acquire fixed x-ray systems -- primarily digital radiography (DR) and/or DR detector retrofit kits -- for their main radiology department over the next three years. The report breaks out whether the need is new systems outright, retrofit systems, or both. It also breaks out what size hospital answered in what ways, and which manufacturers customers will buy from.
On the other hand, the number planning to buy is a little less than previous reports, and many respondents feel their x-ray capacity is "sufficient to meet anticipated patient volumes" and expressed "concern about reimbursement reductions."
A complete history of the previous year's responses to the question is included in the report.
The Medicare provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 that reduced payments for x-ray procedures using computed radiography (CR) technology influenced a spurt in the adoption of DR technology. However, the proportion of hospitals that are "Yes, planning" to completely replace their fixed CR-only rooms with DR systems "over the next three years" or to purchase DR retrofit kits is decreasing. With x-ray procedure volume slowing down, a majority of the respondents feel their "current x-ray capacity is sufficient to meet anticipated patient volumes over the next two to three years," which may limit the opportunity for the purchase of "additional" units.
IMV's survey is based on a total of 294 respondents who participated in the online survey. To qualify for participation, respondents had to be personally involved in the operations or management of general radiography equipment for their hospital. IMV then projects the responses to a universe of 5,260 U.S. sites to reflect the U.S. x-ray marketplace and user base.
Bruce Carlson is senior vice president of publications at the Science and Medicine Group, which includes IMV and AuntMinnie.com.
IMV's 2021 X-ray/DR/CR Market Outlook Report explores trends in U.S. hospital radiology departments for the adoption rate of CR-to-DR technology, x-ray procedure volumes, the installed base of fixed and mobile general x-ray DR vs. CR systems, purchase plans for DR retrofits and fixed & mobile x-ray systems, capital equipment budgets, and site operations characteristics. Respondent opinions on how key issues are affecting their department outlook are featured. Survey results are projected to the universe of U.S. hospitals, and the report provides 5-year market forecast scenarios addressing the fixed general x-ray unit market.
Based on surveys completed by 294 hospitals, this report extrapolates the data to all U.S. hospitals profiling major trends in general x-ray radiography utilization. It compares the current data to the 2019, 2017, 2015, and 2013 reports. Included are national trends in procedures, installed equipment, equipment purchase plans, capital equipment budgets, and general x-ray department priorities and site operating characteristics.
For information about purchasing IMV's 2021 X-Ray/CR/DR Market Outlook Report, visit https://imvinfo.com/product/2021-x-ray-dr-cr-market-outlook-report/ or call 703-778-3080 ext. 1033 to speak with a representative.
