PACS market swings toward upgrades and replacements

New buyers of PACS represent only a small minority of customers, according to IMV Medical Information Division. The need to upgrade or replace systems is the primary driver in the PACS marketplace right now, with most purchases going for current-system upgrades.

Full-system purchases may make up only 13% of the planned expenditures for PACS from now through 2012, according to the market research firm. And of these, more than four of five purchases are to replace systems already in place.

With such a small percentage of PACS expenditures going to full systems, another 73% of the total expenditures are earmarked for expanding and upgrading present PACS, according to IMV.