Exhibit B
In July 2008, The MarkeTech Group (TMTG) launched imagePRO(TM) the first longitudinal opt-in panel of over 600 U.S.-hospital based imaging administrative directors and managers. ImagePRO members have agreed to participate in TMTG surveys and polls and have been carefully selected to accurately represent the hospital imaging market.
Over the past several months, TMTG polled the imagePRO panel twice (once in November 2008 and again in February 2009), regarding the economic crisis and its impact on imaging equipment purchasing and utilization patterns. While the overall outlook from imagePRO panel members is increasingly pessimistic, there still exists a sense that the climate will eventually turnaround.
The anticipated medical imaging utilization during this same period is somewhat at odds with these 2009 purchasing plans. Only 27.6 percent anticipate that imaging utilization will decrease by 10 percent or more in 2009 (Exhibit B).
This data suggests a “wait and see” attitude in terms of capital spending. This CFO-level defensive purchasing strategy can be explained by multiple factors: more difficult access to capital due to tighter credit, decreased revenue either from reimbursement or foundation grants (especially not-for-profit institutions) and general uncertainty around pending healthcare reforms.
Because the imagePRO panel represents approximately 25 percent of the nation’s hospital imaging purchasing base, polls and surveys fielded with this panel are of extremely high quality in terms of reliability and market representativeness.
imagePRO is a registered trademark (TM).
For more information: www.themarketechgroup.com