KLAS: Rad dose increasingly important in hospitals CT purchases

Radiation dose reduction and management have become highly influential in healthcare providers' purchases of CT scanners, according to the KLAS report CT 2010: Slice and Dose.

"All vendors are rolling out dose-reduction applications, but there is still a tremendous need for functionality that automates dose monitoring and reporting," said Kirk Ising, KLAS research director and author of the report.

Although all vendors continue to market more advanced, next-generation CT systems, hospitals question the benefits of these lower-dose systems given diminishing reimbursements, Ising commented. "Providers are weighing the possible benefit to the total population against waning reimbursement dollars ... For those providers not ready to make the jump to a next-generation CT, service and support become more influential in the decision process."

Among the 265 healthcare providers interviewed and 12 products covered, Siemens received the most satisfaction related to radiation dose, while Toshiba held on to its top satisfaction rankings for both its 64-slice and 16-slice scanners.

Orem, Utah-based KLAS is a market research firm that specializes in monitoring and reporting on healthcare vendors.

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