Most healthcare providers who use computed radiography feel that their CR systems meet their needs, according to a new KLAS report. However, there is a discernible movement away from computed radiography toward digital radiography (DR), which some providers view as a superior technology.
In the multi-plate CR market, Konica ranked first with a score of 89.6 out of 100. Afga took the top spot in the single-plate market with a score of 90.2.
"The CR market is extremely tight. The five ranked single-plate vendors span a less than five-point margin and the lowest score is an 86.5, which is excellent when compared with performance of vendors in other medical equipment segments," said Emily Crane, KLAS director of medical equipment research and author of the new report. For the most part, she added, providers just want the equipment to run with little downtime and excellent service.
Overall, providers were more satisfied with single-plate than multi-plate CR equipment. The least reliable products rated in the study were both multi-plate units--the Philips Corado and the Afga 85-X.
Some providers indicated they'd rather use DR than multi-plate CR, which costs about the same as DR. The lower cost of single-plate CR devices is one reason that some providers have stuck with CR units. Others, however, say that DR delivers images to the point of care more quickly than CR while providing clarity equivalent to that of film. In addition, it may be easier to use DR than CR with the increasingly common PACS digital imaging systems.
To learn more:
- read the KLAS press release
- check out this 2007 article in Imaging Technology News comparing CR and DR
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