Contemplating an underequipped national health-care network of62,000 hospitals and 200,000 clinics is sure to whet the appetitesof most medical imaging marketers. Toss in a roaring economy growingat double-digit annual rates and people get excited about
Imaging center firm Health Images of Atlanta has combined a nationalmanaged-care orientation with local, individualized center plansin an effort to boost income, according to W.A. Wilson, presidentand CEO. HI will hold off expansion of its large center
Signal Stream Technologies of Novato, CA, finalized its firstOEM supply contract with GE Medical Systems last month, providingadditional momentum to an already rapid business launch. The medicalimaging interface and image management company was started
For the past year proponents of PET have been facing the unsettlingprospect of a reformed health-care system without room for mega-tickettechnologies like PET. PET developer Positron, however, has notlet uncertainty over PET's prospects interfere with
HCFA's recommendation to grant Medicare reimbursementfor dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) exams for osteoporosishas led to an increase in Lunar's annual revenues, according tothe company. The firm reported a 4% increase in revenues for the
The recession in mobile imaging services last year created a trickle-downeffect for suppliers of component equipment, particularly mobilevans, according to one supplier. Lower MRI reimbursement rates made it harder for hospitalsto justify mobile
U.S. reimbursement prospects for bone densitometry are improving,with a growing list of state Medicare and Medicaid payors supportingthe procedure, according to David Ellenbogen, president of densitometervendor Hologic of Waltham MA. But the worldwide
Agfa has launched a major effort to provide digital and film imagingtechnology to U.S. hospitals operating in a restructured and capitatedhealth-care environment. The Ridgefield Park, NJ, vendor willhave a regionally based, six-zone sales and service
Regulatory turbulence unsettled the mammography profession andindustry this month. The experience may provide a lesson for forecastersof health-care reform: Political winds are often unpredictableand usually intense. Federal agencies made two major
As U.S. health-care reform builds pressure for cost-effectiveand efficient provision of medical services, surgery will followmedical imaging into the outpatient, ambulatory center environment.Although capital will continue to flow into imaging center
Sales of medical imaging systems in Europe will finish the yeareither flat or down slightly from 1992 on account of general economicsluggishness and the desire of government authorities to restraingrowing health-care budgets. Signs are, however, that the
Consolidation continues to elude the U.S. imaging center industry.Merger discussions between NMR of America and Medical Resourcesfell through last week. The two center firms had signed a letterof intent to merge earlier in October (SCAN 10/6/93).
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of MRI contrastagent Magnevist for whole-body applications, making the productthe first agent to be cleared for use outside the central nervoussystem. The FDA's action will improve Magnevist's
U.S. bone densitometry firm Lunar established a German subsidiaryin July to boost sales and improve service in the vendor's largestEuropean national market. While densitometry reimbursement hasdropped dramatically in Germany over the last several years,
Do you hear the sound of the other shoe dropping? Consolidationin the imaging center industry has long been anticipated. Theprocess may be on a roll now following passage of the federalMedicare/Medicaid ban on referring-physician ownership of
Sluggish sales of its flagship monoclonal antibody nuclear imagingagent have prompted Cytogen to restructure operations with anemphasis on development of peptide-based agents. While the Princeton,NJ, company will continue to aggressively market its
Any vendor--particularly a small one--hoping to break into theMRI market during these depressed times needs to find a more cost-effectiveMR mousetrap and a secure niche in which to sell it. Bone densitometrysupplier Lunar will use a North American MRI
When President Clinton unveiled his plan for reforming the nation'shealth-care system last month, he put an end to almost a yearof anticipation. For medical imaging companies, however, the formalrelease of Clinton's American Health Security Act of 1993
Picker International expanded its CT therapy simulation agreementwith Varian Associates last week to focus the joint marketingeffort worldwide, according to Christopher J. Peabody, Pickersenior vice president of international operations. This
Fischer Imaging is on the verge of being certified to the ISO9000 standard, a quality standard that began in Europe but israpidly gaining worldwide recognition as an indicator of quality. The Denver-based company passed inspection by a European
Health-care angst and stalled purchasing don't make the best conditionsfor starting a medical imaging business. Depending on your focus,however, times could be worse. As hospitals keep their imagingsystems running longer, they need help in the areas of
Recent developments in the Florida imaging center market couldprovide a blueprint for imaging companies seeking ways to prosperin the face of managed care. While Florida imaging services providersare taking different tacks, all are trying to profit from
A technological jump-start from its parent company has aided Lorad'squest to develop a digital mammography system capable of full-viewbreast imaging. Lorad plans to show images from a prototype systemat this year's Radiological Society of North America
Self-referring physicians surrendered to the inevitable this monthafter Congress passed legislation outlawing self-referral forimaging services within the Medicare and Medicaid systems. Thelegislation is sure to throw the imaging center industry
Medicare administrators are considering a cut in reimbursementfor multiple echocardiography modes performed in a single session.The proposal, which has encountered opposition from two cardiologyspecialty societies, could be a first step in reducing
