October 26, 2007 - A recent study of operating room and radiology directors conducted by VHA Inc., a national health care alliance, shows that VHA hospitals plan to purchase more than 5,500 pieces of equipment for use in operating rooms over the next 18 months and more than 1,400 pieces of imaging equipment over the same period.
This represents $500 million in purchases, with high-end imaging equipment representing 65 percent of the total. In addition, only 20 percent of those that participated in the research said they have picked the manufacturer of the products, and 60 percent said that they plan to purchase these items using their GPO contracts.
According to the study, imaging continues to be an area where hospitals are investing, with the majority of hospitals intending to purchase: CT scanners, mammography units, C-Arms, ultrasounds and digital radiography equipment in the coming year.
The following factors were listed as the most important decision criteria for purchasing movable capital equipment purchases:
Product Superiority - 42.2 percent
Standardization - 28.5 percent
Price - 13.9 percent
For more information: www.vha.com