A new fleet of mobile trailers and modular buildings with digital imaging machines on board are growing in popularity in the UK, France, Germany, and Scandinavia.

AGITO Medical, a medical equipment provider based in Europe, rolled out the first two Moving Medicine trailers in January. The mobile medical facilities contain either CT or MRI machines, and more modular buildings on wheels will launch this spring and summer. Six, in all, are active.

The idea behind Moving Medicine is to provide as-needed medical services to accommodate fluctuating patient demands. Trailers are available for time increments from two weeks up to three years. Being able to provide services as needed-especially for facilities with shifting demands-helps hospitals save money they would otherwise spend on new equipment that may not be used regularly.
AGITO provides technical assistance, training and site planning so the system is up and running flawlessly. Health systems with more than one clinic can also move the system depending on patient flow. Systems run anywhere from $9,000 to $13,500 per week. Contracts can be signed for a shorter period with the option of extending the time needed.

The trailers are also available overnight in the case of an equipment failure or other crisis. Being able to deliver trailers promptly is key to promoting their convenience, says Anders Børsen Nielsen, who is handling business development for Moving Medical at AGITO.

"Trailers are always ready to go, and can be delivered to any destination in Europe within a few days," he adds. "Modular buildings need special permits, which may take up to two weeks to obtain, making them more suitable for longer rentals which can be planned in advance."

Right now, only CT and MRI equipment is available in the mobile trailers, but the company may add PET/CT, Cathlabs and mammography in the future.

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