Almost One Third of US Hospitals are Planning to Purchase Fixed General X-ray Systems within the Next 4 Years

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An estimated 126.8 million X-ray procedures were performed on fixed general X-ray systems in main radiology departments and other locations managed by radiology, according the newly released 2021 X-ray DR/CR Market Outlook Report.  Technology advancements have contributed to the adoption of DR systems while usage of CR systems has declined throughout the past decade.

Market drivers to reduce radiation exposure for patients and faculty has contributed to the increase in demand for DR systems.  Compared to IMV’s 2010 study, the adoption of DR systems has progressed quickly, as the percentage of main radiology departments having DR systems has grown from 9% to the current 82%, while those having CR systems has declined from 81% to 8% of facility sites.  Keeping hospital departments up to date with state-of-the-art technology is a departmental priority with 73% of IMV’s 2021 survey respondents rating this as important.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact nationwide on workflow procedures and lead to an increase in the usage of mobile systems.  According to IMV’s survey conducted from April to May 2021, 87% of the general X-ray sites reported that radiology owns or manages mobile/portable X-ray imaging units.  64% of respondents reported a recent surge in the use of mobile X-ray equipment within their facility.  Radiology departments are planning to purchase additional mobile systems in the upcoming years.

IMV’s 2021 survey concluded almost three quarters (88%) of mobile X-ray units owned/managed by radiology use DR technology and 12% use CR cassettes only.  Respondents reported systems located outside of the main radiology department (that are owned or managed by radiology) are in the emergency room (69%), inpatient/med-surg floors (57%), surgery/OR (48%) and intensive care/ICU (41%).

More information on this topic can be obtained in IMV’s full report — X-Ray Market Outlook

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Jennifer Weldon is Senior Imaging Analyst, at IMV Medical Information Division, part of Science and Medicine Group.  IMV’s  2021 X-ray DR/CR Market Outlook Report discovers market trends in U.S. hospitals and radiology centers, including procedure volume, manufacture installed base and market share, the use of OEM vs. third-party service providers, purchase plans, and site operations characteristics.  IMV’s  2021 X-ray DR/CR Market Outlook Report was published in July 2021 and is based on responses from 294 X-ray administrators/managers of radiology who participated in IMV’s nationwide survey from April-May 2021. Their responses have been projected to the IMV-identified universe of hospitals and x-ray centers in the U.S. that use fixed and mobile X-ray DR/CR systems from 2021-2024.  Vendors covered in this report include Agfa, Carestream, Canon/Toshiba, Del Medical, Fujifilm, GE, Konica Minolta, Philips, Samsung, Siemens, Shimadzu, and Swissray. 

 

5 Findings from Our Most Recent X-ray DR CR Market Outlook Report

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IMV recently published our 2021 X-ray DR CR Market Outlook Report. The report can be found at: https://imvinfo.com/product/2021-x-ray-dr-cr-market-outlook-report/. Following were the findings made:
  • Radiology in Charge: As of this 2021 survey, 87% of the general x-ray sites reported that radiology owns or manages mobile/portable x-ray imaging units, including units located outside of radiology.
  • Digital Dominance: Over four fifths (92%) of the hospitals have mobile DR units and 21% have mobile CR units (960 sites). Almost three quarters (88%) of the mobile x-ray units owned/managed by radiology use DR technology and 12% use CR cassettes only. Compared to IMV’s 2010 study, the percent of mobile x-ray units with DR technology has increased from 8% to 88%. Concurrently, the percent of mobile x-ray units that use CR cassettes only has decreased from 84% to 12%.
  • Three Unites Average: Overall, the average number of mobile general x-ray units per site is 2.6 units. The average number per 400+ bed hospital is 7.4, and decreases by hospital bed size to 1.4 in <100 bed hospitals.
  • ERs, Surgery, ICU’s also X-Ray Users: The top four departments where the mobile/portable x-ray units are being used outside of the main radiology department (that are owned or managed by radiology) are the emergency room (69%), inpatient/med-surg floors (57%), surgery/OR (48%), and intensive care/ICU (41%).
  • Mobile Use Grows: An estimated total of 66.4 million procedures were performed in 2020 on mobile x-ray units in 4,570 hospitals.

More Information can be obtained in IMV’s full report on the topic — X-Ray Market Outlook.

Magnetic Resonance (MR) Procedure Volume Fell 35% in 2020

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An estimated 27.4 million MR procedures were performed in 2020 by radiology/imaging departments in U.S. hospitals, their associated outpatient locations, and independent imaging centers using fixed MR systems and mobile MR services, according to IMV Medical Information Division’s newly published 2020 MR Market Outlook Report. While monthly procedure volume bounced back toward the end of 2020, it is still below pre-pandemic levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an immediate impact nationwide on total MR procedure volume in early 2020. IMV’s survey was conducted in August/September 2020, and the respondents were asked how many MR procedures were conducted in January and April 2020. Based on their responses, the estimated nationwide monthly MR procedure volume in January 2020 was 2.79 million but declined by almost 50% in April 2020 to 1.42 million.

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CT departments busy balancing staffing, workflow and productivity challenges amidst procedure fluctuations due to the COVID-19 pandemic

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An estimated 73.0 million CT procedures were performed in 2020 on fixed CT scanners used by radiology/imaging departments in U.S. hospitals, their associated outpatient locations, and independent imaging centers, according to IMV Medical Information Division’s newly published 2020 CT Market Outlook Report. Compared to 91.4 million reported by IMV in 2019, total CT procedures decreased 20%, likely due to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an immediate impact nationwide on total CT procedure volume in early 2020. IMV’s survey was conducted in August/September 2020, and the respondents were asked how many patient exams were conducted in January and April 2020. Based on their responses, the estimated nationwide monthly patient exam volume in January 2020 was nearly 6.9 million but declined by about 40% in April 2020 to 4.2 million.

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Although 2020 Capital Budgets for Radiation Therapy Have Been Impacted, Investments are Being Shifted to 2021-2022

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As mentioned in our October 27, 2020 blog, radiation therapy patient volume has remained relatively stable throughout 2020, bucking a trend seen in diagnostic radiology, in which the COVID-19 pandemic has led to major drops in imaging exam volume, according to IMV’s recent 2020 Radiation Therapy Market Summary Report.

For 2020, an estimated 1,062,600 cancer patients will be treated with radiation therapy in the United States. Since 2006, the use of radiation therapy to treat cancer patients has been relatively stable, with the estimated number of patient cases increasing at an average annual rate of 1%.

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