From the September 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


Tim Nicholson, senior manager of CT market development at Toshiba Medical, says that customers are willing to purchase premium CT systems if they can leverage them to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

“We hear of value-based medicine and we know radiology wants to show value,” he adds. “Customers are asking for something that proves you can use that technology and bring value to the patient's care and the institution that’s using it.”


In May, Toshiba Medical and the Stroke Care Center (SCC) at the Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., published the results of their multi-year study on the economic impact of using the previous generation Aquilion ONE CT to diagnose and treat acute stroke.

The researchers gathered inpatient baseline data before the CT was installed between July and September 2007. Once the CT was installed, the 2009 to 2012 data revealed a significant increase in using CT-based protocols for stroke diagnoses, which translated into a reduction in health care costs and better patient outcomes.

Within the first five years after the Aquilion ONE was installed, SCC raked in more than $5.4 million in cost savings. That largely was due to reduced length of stays, less outpatient services and complications and lower readmission rates.

Toshiba Medical believes that any health care facility with a dedicated stroke program can reap the same cost savings.

More affordable options
"Health providers looking to enhance their CT capabilities may be faced with challenges such as reimbursement cuts, patient populations with low ability to pay or inefficiencies related to growth and expansion," says Philips' Gudapakkam.

In response to these trends, Philips introduced its Access CT system in March. The system was specifically designed for health care organizations that want to establish or improve their CT imaging capabilities at an accessible cost.

The iDose technology helps to reduce the need for tube replacement, which is the highest recurring cost associated with CT ownership. It's a reconstruction algorithm that reduces exposure time and extends tube life.

The iFlow console workflow platform offers features that simplify and automate the technologists’ routine, which helps them achieve consistently high image quality. It also helps the providers maintain and increase their referral base.

"[Access CT] expanded our capabilities into emerging markets and for cost-conscious health care organizations," says Gudapakkam. "As health care needs increase across the globe, many health care organizations are increasingly challenged to efficiently diagnose and treat a greater number of patients."

September 2017 Magazine

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