Radiology providers typically loyal to a few specific vendors

Whether for general radiography, ultrasound and capital imaging, PACS, or imaging IT hardware and middleware, radiology providers typically remain loyal to only a few select brands, according to new research published by Frost and Sullivan.

For the report, most survey respondents said that their facilities use a preferred vendor model, which means they only purchase equipment from two or three select manufacturers, with GE Healthcare singled out as having a strong competitive advantage over other brands.

"Given that 76 percent of those surveyed represent hospitals that are affiliated with other hospital groups, it is not surprising that more structured purchase processes are established," Frost & Sullivan Customer Research Director Tonya Fowler said in an announcement. "Furthermore, the vendor selection process is primarily shared by leading members within radiology departments and possibly beyond the walls of a single hospital. Yet, it is those in the role of radiology director that have the most authority, as 39 percent are sole decision makers."

According to the survey, just 9 percent of radiology directors have sole authority to make imaging purchasing decisions--the remainder of survey respondents said that radiology directors are part of a larger team that makes such decisions.

"Radiology director is the title we found to have the most authority, not the C-suite types of titles," Fowler told DOTmed News. "That's pretty typical, because when you get to the C-level you might not be involved in all of those small details."

To learn more:
- read the announcement about the Frost and Sullivan report
- see the article in DOTmed News