by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | February 28, 2014
Konica’s Aero DR
with Docking station
From the January/February 2014 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Numerous health care news professionals have proclaimed computed radiography’s demise and direct radiography’s ascension. But the picture they have painted may not be entirely true.
With CR’s introduction in the 1970s, the health care imaging field was transformed. With DR’s entrance into the market two decades later, imaging centers and hospitals had some big choices to make. For some, DR wasn’t much of a choice then and it still isn’t now. Its price point makes the purchase prohibitive for smaller practices that lack the patient volume to justify or support the expense. In speaking with industry professionals, it seems that point alone is what keeps DR from totally owning the market. So CR remains a popular option for many, especially with budget constraints and looming reimbursement cuts.
“CR is becoming a private practice (product) instead of a hospital product,” says Rob Fabrizio, director of marketing and product development for digital radiography and ultrasound at Fujifilm Medical Systems.
Fujifilm is among the companies that have managed to tend to the needs of both sides of the market — the high end as well as the more budget-constrained, and Fabrizio doesn’t see the situation changing any time soon. “It’s based on demand. We will be here as long as our customers need the CR.”
Panels for the smallest patients
One advantage CR has long held is the size of panels offered. But with improvements to the technology behind DR and with growing adoption of the technology making it more lucrative for companies to offer more options, choice of panel sizes for DR are about as varied as they are for CR.
“This year, we’re really delivering our 10x12 DR panel,” says Darren Werner, digital radiography products marketing manager for Konica Minolta. “This panel is ideal for use of course in the main departments for some of their traditional use, but also of course in NICU. With the 10x12 there are also economic values.”
Pediatric imaging has been a challenge for ages. In the past, CR cassettes were the only choice available to slip into the incubator tray. In other instances, the patient would have to be moved onto a larger panel in order to get the imaging done, according to Werner.
The other issue in regards to imaging infants is dose. Since children are more at risk to exposure, it’s even more important to minimize their exposure.
It’s not just health care’s youngest patients that benefit from small panels though. “The smaller panels also are beneficial for adults getting imaging procedures that require them to hold the panel,” says Helen Titus, marketing director for Carestream Health.
