Last week, I attended the 19th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Medical Equipment Remarketers & Servicers (IAMERS). I've been going to these meetings since the very first one, and I always enjoy myself and find them useful.
At this year's meeting, I went to a reception with some folks from the Association for Quality Imaging (AQI), which is a trade association of imaging centers. It made an impression on me, as did a presentation given by Bryan Benesch of the Food and Drug Administration.
At the AQI event, I met a number of imaging center executives. Some were not very optimistic. Others were more hopeful, and told me hospitals were negotiating to purchase some of their geographically desirable imaging centers. One executive of a major chain of imaging centers told me that he was not worried at all about the future because imaging centers are efficiently run and can deliver care faster than hospitals and for less money. He also pointed out that most patients are not interested in checking into a hospital if they have a choice of going home after the study has been performed.
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The FDA presentation covered a lot of ground about changes to the rules and regulations that are coming into effect. We were told that there would be even more starting in 2013. I would not be surprised if a number of companies, both large and small, would be caught off guard by these changes.
As I visited with people I have known in the industry for many years at the event and listened to the presentations, I have to say that most people were cautious about what the future holds.
Selling and servicing refurbished or secondhand equipment is harder than it has ever been. The manufacturers are more active than they were in past years and the equipment is harder to service because of protected software.
But IAMERS believes its members are in a position to provide a quality product and they are doing everything they can to keep their members in the game.
It is my belief, based on the conditions in the market, that the IAMERS membership will swell in the coming years.
I am planning on attending the European meeting of IAMERS in Florence this year as well as the 20th Annual Meeting which will be in New York City next year.
While visiting with people at the show, I was able to take a few photographs. I will be sharing them over the coming days.
Read more Jacobus Report entries here.
Phil is a member of AHRA, HFMA, AAMI and the Cryogenic Society of America. He has contributed to a number of magazines and journals and has addressed trade groups.
Phil's proudest achievement is that he has been happily married to his wife Barbara since 1989, who helped him found DOTmed in 1998.
