Mother soothing her child
From the March 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
By Cris Bennett, Cassandra Gipson, Julie Johnson, Tom Watson and Rod Faulkner
Pediatric hospitals face a host of challenges in wading through today’s radiology marketplace.
Staff must not only know what they need today, but be able to predict what they will need in the future. Adding to the complexity are requirements of Medicaid programs, insurance companies and governing bodies like The Joint Commission and the American College of Radiology. With patient satisfaction weighing ever more heavily on already dwindling reimbursements, providers must make wise decisions with every budgetary dollar.
Here’s a look at how pediatric facilities are handling various imaging technologies.
Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CT/MRI)
In pediatric CT, we see facilities purchasing the “latest and greatest” equipment that will improve their patient outcomes. Facilities are focused on 128- to 512-slice systems capable of faster scan times, lower radiation dose, metal artifact reduction, fluoroscopic capabilities and disease-oriented workflows.
These systems also provide better cardiac imaging, stroke and advanced neuro capability.
In the MR space, we are seeing facilities purchase 1.5T and 3T products. The latter systems are prized for their research capabilities, fast-scanning parameters, DTI and functional MR. But with the advent of 1.5T MRIs with the same capabilities, we may see a trend toward more of the 1.5T devices. Most facilities are interested in systems that have more than 32 channels in anticipation of the advanced coil capabilities that are coming in the near future. Also, many are opting for systems with a detachable table that allows for easy transport of patients. In addition, we are seeing interest in in-bore entertainment, including projected pictures, music and even movies to divert the attention of young patients.
CT Prices
256+ Slice CT: $1,532,025
128/160 Slice CT: $809,099
64/80 Slice CT: $576,344
Competitors
GE, Philips, Siemens, Toshiba
MRI Prices
1.5T MRI: $1,132,588
3T MRI: $1,949,141
Competitors
GE, Hitachi, Philips, Siemens, Toshiba
General Radiology
When performing digital radiography on pediatric patients, top priorities are dose reduction, patient safety and comfort. There are special challenges when imaging smaller patients, and it’s essential for the radiographer to choose the right procedure and to be familiar with a system’s technical specifications to allow for the shortest scan times possible. In conjunction with a digital detector, this can greatly reduce the risk to pediatric patients.
