Mobile MRI services reap benefits of a down market

by Cristen Bolan, Medical Journalist | September 21, 2010

“I would be very hesitant about investing in mobile MRIs. I think they have seen their heyday, and now there is going to be a downturn,” says Ambrose. “There will always be a need for them when tearing out a fixed unit, and you need a temporary one, but the market is turning toward fixed MRIs. There is an abundance of used systems available that can be purchased reasonably.”

Other industry leaders are more optimistic about the future of mobile MRIs and are already positioning themselves for an economic turnaround. While Advanced Mobility is currently focusing on refurbishment because the mobile medical rebuild market is small, Hardesty says, "As we see the economy recover, there will be a need for additional scans and additional product. [We will develop] some new modalities that we think will fit well with the price point of some of the existing customers. We believe that we'll transition into a company that is not only providing refurbishment and upgrade, but also building more new mobile medical and transportable medical units."

We repair MRI Coils, RF amplifiers, Gradient Amplifiers and Injectors.

MIT labs, experts in Multi-Vendor component level repair of: MRI Coils, RF amplifiers, Gradient Amplifiers Contrast Media Injectors. System repairs, sub-assembly repairs, component level repairs, refurbish/calibrate. info@mitlabsusa.com/+1 (305) 470-8013

For others, it is the cyclical nature of the mobile MRI sector that leads them to believe there will surely be a recovery after the downturn.

Bachman's 28 years of experience in the business tells him the market will turnaround.

"Seven years ago, we were producing 30 to 40 units a year for the U.S. domestic market alone. I don't think it will get back to that any time soon, but that does not mean the market won't grow from where it is today. There was a huge buying spree that the shared service providers went through for a four- or five-year time period. It is cyclical," says Bachman.

He adds, "As long as there is high-dollar, high-end medical equipment coming to market, whether it be MRI or mammography or PET/CT, history would show there will continue to be a market for mobilizing products and providing those services. First, providing new technology to hospitals, but then later in the cycle, providing it to more regional health care facilities throughout the country."