Australian Cardiology PACS market growth tied to workflow needs

The adoption of Cardiology PACS in Australia is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.5 percent through 2010 and is being driven by the need to make cardiology workflow more patient-centric and efficient in that country, according to analysis by market research firm Frost & Sullivan.

The firm said that the Cardiology PACS market was worth Australian $9.2 million ($7.5 million, U.S.) in 2006 and estimates this to reach $15.8 million ($12.9 million) in 2010.

According to Frost & Sullivan consulting analyst Sourabh Kankhar, with the number of cardiac imaging procedures growing each year, cardiologists, cardiac radiographers and technicians will demand access to digitally stored images.

Although awareness about the benefits of image management solutions is increasing in the radiology departments in Australia, awareness is still low among the key users of these solutions in the cardiology department, the company said.

As such, cardiology PACS providers will need to educate cardiologists, cardiac radiographers and technicians that implementation of an image management system helps the cardiology department to streamline workflow, expedite and improve the delivery of patient care, and use resources more efficiently, Frost & Sullivan said.

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