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

/in /by

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.

Read more →

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

/in /by

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%.

Read more →

Radiation Therapy Volume Stays Steady Despite COVID-19 but Capital Equipment Spending is Being Impacted in 2020

/in /by

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 new report on radiation oncology.

For 2020, an estimated 1,062,600 cancer patients will be treated with radiation therapy in the United States, according to IMV’s newly published 2020 Radiation Therapy Market Summary Report. 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%.

Read more →

COVID-19 Cut Ultrasound Exam Volume by 50% in April 2020

/in /by

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 50% decline in exam volume in April 2020, at hospitals using general ultrasound equipment, according to a new report from IMV Medical Information Division. But hospitals are seeing volume rebound as they plan a return to normal operations.

The report found that an estimated 38.5 million patient exams were performed in 2019 using general ultrasound equipment that radiology/imaging departments in U.S. hospitals own or manage for their hospitals and associated outpatient locations. Read more →

“Top 5” Quiz on the Use of Post-Warranty Service Contracts for Diagnostic Imaging Equipment in U.S. Hospitals

/in /by

Take this “top 5” pop quiz and then view the answers!

The answers are drawn from IMV’s 2020 Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Service Outlook Report which provides insight into the types of post-warranty service arrangements used by U.S. hospitals for eleven key imaging modalities: CT, MRI, PET/CT, nuclear medicine/SPECT cameras, fixed C-arms, portable C-arms, fixed and mobile general X-ray, radiographic fluoroscopy (RF), mammography, and ultrasound.

Read more →