Novation 2013 Diagnostic Imaging Watch Highlights Latest Product and Practice Trends

IRVING, Texas, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Novation, the leading hospital and health care supply chain expertise, analytics and contracting company for the members of VHA Inc., UHC, Children's Hospital Association, and Provista LLC, released its 2013 Diagnostic Imaging Watch. The report, peer-reviewed by the medical doctors, clinicians and engineers who are members of Novation's Diagnostic Imaging Council, highlights the latest trends and technologies in diagnostic imaging to help guide purchasing.

New diagnostic imaging equipment can be a costly investment for health care organizations given the rapid advancements in technology. An encouraging trend from a recent survey in the Fitch Report 2012 indicates that 65 percent of health care finance leaders predict their capital expenditures will either remain the same or increase in 2013. However, it is important that hospital leaders have the information needed to best decide what equipment best suits their organizations' needs.

This year's report includes hot topics such as the use of portable tablets, mobile apps and cloud imaging, as well as summaries of developments in diagnostic imaging technologies such as Angiography and Cardiovascular suites, C-arms, Computed Tomography, Informatics, and Women's Imaging Equipment.  

Insights included in the report were gained through industry conferences, meeting with suppliers, monitoring publications and economic reports.

Among the trends highlighted in this year's watch:

• Use of Portable Mobile Tablets: Though there has been debate about investing in tablets because of the risk of them being dropped, lost or taken, tablets could increase efficiency by reducing consultation wait time. They could also enhance consultations with patients and other clinicians.
• Mobile Apps in Radiology: In order for tablets to be used to their best advantage, they need the right apps. The market for mobile health applications was expected to grow by nearly $600 million in 2012, which will include apps allowing radiologists to review images on their tablets and other mobile devices. While many still use their workstations, more and more are relying on mobile apps for their job.
• Cloud Imaging: The cloud computing market for medical imaging in the United States is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 27 percent through 2018. Using the cloud has a number of benefits, from being able to share images across providers to mitigating maintenance costs and improving collaboration. Despite concerns about data security and regulatory compliance, more and more providers are seeing the benefits of using the cloud.

"With uncertainty around health care reform and reduced reimbursement rates, as well as rapidly changing technology, hospitals are mindful of how they invest in new imaging equipment," said Mike Clemens, Vice President, Sourcing Operations, Capital, Construction and Imaging for Novation. "Novation is committed to helping the members it serves with the latest information needed to make smart, informed decisions."

For your reference, the full report is available here: https://www.novationco.com/media/trending.asp

About Novation, Winner of the Ethics Inside^® Certification
Founded in 1998, Novation is the leading health care supply chain expertise, analytics and contracting company for the more than 65,000 members of VHA Inc. and UHC, two national health care alliances, Children's Hospital Association, an alliance of the nation's leading pediatric facilities, and Provista, LLC. Novation provides alliance members with sourcing services, as well as information and data services. Based in Irving, Texas, Novation develops and manages competitive contracts with more than 600 suppliers. VHA, UHC, and Provista members used Novation contracts to purchase approximately $43 billion in 2012. Novation has earned the coveted Ethics Inside^® Certification from Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think tank dedicated to the research and promotion of best practices in corporate ethics and compliance. Novation was also named on Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies list, and is the only company in the health care industry to earn both distinctions for two consecutive years. To learn more about Novation, please visit http://www.novationco.com and follow @NovationNews. 

SOURCE Novation