With an installed base of equipment that is increasingly long in the tooth, the radiology PACS replacement market appears ready for a pickup in purchasing over the next two years, according to a new report from healthcare technology research and advisory firm CapSite. But the picture is different for the more fledgling cardiology PACS replacement sector.
The company surveyed 363 facilities in the U.S. and found that more than half had a radiology PACS that was five or more years old. And 21% of respondents are considering replacing their radiology PACS, up slightly from the 17% reported in a previous CapSite study from November 2009.
Age of current radiology PACS:
- More than six years: 24%
- Five to six years: 28%
- Three to four years: 31%
- One to two years: 8%
- Less than a year: 9%
"We believe in that 18- to 24-month window as these systems become six to seven years old, that there will be an uptick in PACS purchasing activity," said Gino Johnson, CapSite vice president.
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| Timeline for replacing current radiology PACS. All images courtesy of CapSite. |
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| Radiology PACS market share by number of installations. |
Cardiology PACS
In contrast to the more mature radiology PACS sector that peaked between 2005 and 2007, the cardiology PACS sector has been characterized by a rapid adoption rate over the past few years, according to CapSite. Only 30% of respondents reported a cardiology PACS that's five or more years old. And nearly one-third have been using their system for less than a year.
Age of current cardiology PACS:
- More than six years: 12%
- Five to six years: 18%
- Three to four years: 24%
- One to two years: 15%
- Less than a year: 31%
Growth had been aided by technology advances that present a more compelling case for hospitals to make investments in cardiology PACS, he said.
"And cardiology is coming along to see the value and benefits of these types of solutions in radiology and applying it to cardiology," Johnson said.
However, because cardiology PACS is a newer technology and isn't adopted as widely, "we don't have widespread instances of people trying to replace them," Johnson said.
Of the survey participants, 15% are considering replacing their cardiology PACS, CapSite said.
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| Timeline for replacing current cardiology PACS. |
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| Cardiology PACS market share by number of installations. |
For more information on the 2011 U.S. PACS replacement report, click here.
