80% of X-Ray Systems In U.S. Hospitals Now Digital, Study Finds

ARLINGTON, Va., April 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Pushed by radiology's move to digitization and federal reimbursement changes, some 80% of the U.S. installed base of x-ray systems is now based on digital radiography (DR). That's up from 50% in 2015. This is according to IMV 2019 X-ray DR CR Market Outlook Report, based on surveys completed by 340 hospitals with the data extrapolated to all U.S. hospitals. IMV's report observes major trends in DR and computed radiography (CR) as radiology's last modality completes the transition to digital imaging.

As of 2010, just over 25% of the fixed general x-ray systems installed in U.S. hospitals had DR technology, while 70% were CR-only systems and 4% were still film-based. By 2015, DR's share of digital x-ray had grown to half of the installed base of digital x-ray units.

The report is based on responses to an online survey conducted by IMV in January 2019 with 340 radiology administrators/managers in U.S. short-term general hospitals. Their responses have been projected to the IMV-identified universe of over 5,300 hospitals in the U.S. that have at least one fixed general x-ray system installed. Among the findings of the survey:

• In 2018, an estimated 152.8 million x-ray procedures were performed on fixed general x-ray systems in main radiology departments and other locations managed by radiology in U.S. hospitals. The report profiles major trends in general radiography utilization, as well as offers a comparison to several other recent surveys by the firm. Included are national trends in procedures, installed equipment, equipment purchase plans, capital equipment budgets and general x-ray department priorities, and site operating characteristics.    
• The bulk of the procedures were performed in the main radiology departments, while a little more than a quarter of procedures were performed in other associated locations. The top locations/departments with fixed general x-ray systems owned/managed by radiology include emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, imaging centers owned by the hospital, orthopedics, hospital-owned urgent care, and outpatient departments in the hospital.
• For many hospitals, current x-ray capacity is sufficient to meet anticipated patient volumes over the next two to three years. Also, reductions in Medicare and third-party reimbursements are causing x-ray revenue to decline for hospitals. IMV says this has been the case for several editions of the survey.
• The study found that there continues to be movement towards digital. IMV U.S. hospital x-ray departments have transitioned to filmless solutions by purchasing digital radiography (DR) or computed radiography (CR) technology. Sites continue to adopt DR as they work to improve departmental productivity and meet requirements for reimbursement by replacing older units with DR technology, either with an upgrade or by purchasing a new system.

IMV's 2019 X-ray DR CR Market Outlook Report includes over 150 charts and tables, such as data on purchasing plans and which systems that owners of a given system are likely to buy. The report describes hospital trends in general radiography procedures, the installed base of fixed general x-ray equipment, DR purchase plans and upgrades, capital equipment budgets, and site operating characteristics. Also included in this report is a summary of respondents' departmental priorities and the factors affecting the future outlook for x-ray at their facilities. The report can be found at https://imvinfo.com/product/2019-x-ray-dr-cr-market-outlook-report/.

IMV Is a leading publisher of market research information for the radiology industry. It is part of The Science and Medicine Group. Other brands in The Science and Medicine Group are Kalorama Information, BioInfo and Strategic Directions International (SDi). For information about purchasing IMV's report, visit http://www.imvinfo.com or call 703-778-3080 x33.

SOURCE IMV Ltd.