PACS Vendors Clamor for More Technologic Advancements

Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) vendors are unified on the need for greater advancements in technology: tighter integration with radiology information systems (RIS) and electronic health records (EHRs); enabling access to images in the EHR; vendor-neutral archiving; and web-based access to PACS images, according to a recent market report.

However, at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2011, held in Vienna, Austria (March 3-7, 2011), suppliers seemed centered on capitalizing on available solutions rather than on the innovations of the future. Consequently, the atmosphere was highly competitive, with an increased choice of vendors reacting to the increasing demand for PACS projects, particularly those of an enterprise nature, across Europe, according to InMedica (Wellingborough, UK), an international market research company.

This is not to say that exciting platforms were not presented: Merge (Chicago, IL, USA) showcased iConnect and introduced itself as an enabler of central hospital information-sharing; Agfa Healthcare (Mortsel, Belgium) launched its Integrated Regional Imaging Program for hospital networks; Carestream Health (Rochester, NY, USA) positioned itself as a web-based radiology services provider via eHealth PACS; Sectra (Linköping, Sweden) emphasized that PACS solutions and image distribution should be workflow-oriented; and Philips Healthcare (Best, The Netherland) tried to attract a more cost-conscious audience with its new MDC PACS. These solutions all address important radiology needs. Behind all of this was a sheer drive for new business and regional projects. North American and Asian PACS providers, including Ramsoft (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Novarad (American Fork, UT, USA), and Infinitt (Seoul, Korea) were also in attendance, exploring advances into the European market.

This points to an important circumstance in the PACS market: tightening competition in mature markets, increased hospital awareness of PACS benefits and suppliers, the willingness of radiologists to try new vendors, and vendors to try new markets. As price sensitivity in healthcare also increases worldwide, the understanding is that it is "crunch time" for suppliers. It is clearly time for vendors to explore new regions or tighten their hold on current projects/markets. A fundamental part of this is will be to achieve a greater determination of changing regional and country-specific trends in the PACS market. No one vendor can sit too comfortably, according to InMedica analysts.

InMedica publishes market research on clinical care devices, consumer medical devices, medical imaging and healthcare information technology (IT) and telehealth. The company offers clients complete coverage of the global market, with reports on high growth regions such as China, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

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