From the September 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
As with parts coverage, facilities should ensure that any advanced equipment that was purchased with the CT system is covered in the contract. These include advanced gating systems, triggering systems, injectors and workstations. With the exception of the workstations, most of these items are from a third-party vendor and should be included in the contract. The annual cost for service on these items is nominal, but having to replace or repair them can be costly when they malfunction or fail.
Many vendors offer American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation support in their service contracts. This support will help with the facility’s annual testing that is required by the ACR for accreditation. With this feature, the field service engineer takes on this responsibility, allowing the technologist to focus on the day-to-day workflow.
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Most vendors offer education as part of their service contracts. This education can be offered online and, in many instances, can provide the facility’s technologists CE credits they need to keep their licenses current.
Finally, vendors are adding computer hardware and software obsolescence to their contracts. This allows the facility to enjoy computer upgrades with the latest hardware and software about every three years. The computer can then keep up with the demands of newer processes that result when the CT system receives upgrades.
About the author: Cris Bennett joined MD Buyline in 2015 with more than 19 years of experience in medical imaging. He has a diverse background in general radiography, CT, MRI and radiology IT. Before joining MD Buyline, he served in multiple positions at Dallas Regional Medical Center as lead MRI technologist and PACS administrator. These duties provided valuable experience in coordinating the radiology department’s quality assurance program. He has also worked as a dedicated pediatric MRI technologist at Children’s Hospital of Dallas, where he gained experience in pediatric MRI and DTI research. As an MRI field service engineer, Bennett helped develop new T1 Fast Spin Echo scans that had not previously been available on low-field MRI systems. At MD Buyline, he serves as the primary analyst for CT and MRI systems and provides insight, along with other analysts, on radiology IT solutions. Bennett graduated from the Parkland School of Radiology in Dallas and completed the Medical Technology Management Institute’s MRI physics training program in Milwaukee. He holds his registry license in Radiologic Technology and Magnetic Resonance through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
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