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Digital

Radiography,

Asset

Management in

a new DR

World.

JED Armstrong

Before we get started….Disclosure

I am an employee of Carestream Health, Inc., formerly Kodak

Carestream designs and manufactures the DRX-1 and DRX-1C

detectors, DRX Room and Mobile Upgrades, and the DRX-Evolution

and DRX-Revolution line of exposure equipment.

I will try to remain vendor neutral and unbiased.

The information contained herein is based on commercially available

product data. Because digital imaging is such a dynamic market, new

DR products are constantly being announced and introduced. As a

result, there may be voids where you were expecting information. My

apologies in advance if this is the case.

Asset

Management

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DR Rooms from 10

years ago had fixed

detectors in the wall

stand and table.

The fixed detectors are

hard-wired in the room

and cannot be utilized

anywhere else.

Asset Utilization

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Today’s generation of DR

rooms have a portable

detector in either or both

bucky’s.

Portable detectors can be

positioned anywhere they

are needed, maximizing

use and efficiency.

Asset Utilization

BTW… the detector is the single most expensive component

in a DR room!

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What does using a Portable Detector mean?

Asset Utilization

•You can share detectors between applications

•You can share detectors between rooms

•You can utilize the detector around the clock.

•You can save $$$….

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How does it work?

Asset Utilization

•Systems are based on wifi detectors.

•Detectors communicate with PC-based

consoles, either in an x-ray room or a portable x-

ray machine.

•Detectors can be used wherever they are

needed.

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Portability in DR

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Portability in DR

Analog Room

Better Care of Patients

Smarter Use of Capital

Mobile X-Ray Integrated DR

Rooms

Scenarios

8:00AM – 5:00PM 5:00PM – 8:00AM

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Scenarios

4:00AM – 7:00AM 8:00AM – 5:00PM

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Scenario Solutions

Share Detectors…

Move your DR Workflow as needed…

4:00 AM – Take detector to portable.

7:00 AM – Take detector to room

5:00 PM – Take detector to ER

Usage and Investment

A few things to remember:

The detector is the single most

expensive component in a DR system

Idle detectors provide no workflow and

efficiency benefits

Sharing a detector will increase return

on your investment

A lot of stuff boils down to money!!

More expensive than one of these!

Usage and Investment

So…

The more you use a detector, the more

efficient you’ll be, and the greater savings you

will have.

By sharing a detector, you can produce more

images with each one, thereby reducing the

“cost per image”, and accelerate the return on

the investment.

Quizz

What is this?

Migration Non-Obsolescence

Migration to New DR Technology

The paradigm shift new DR technology => new strategy

•How can I most cost effectively upgrade my department to

DR?

•How can I justify my purchase to administration?

•Which technologies will give me the most “bang for my

buck”?

p.18

Public

© 2011, Carestream Health

Will your Investment be Obsolete?

Analog Room

R & F Room

DRX-Mobile

DR Room

DRX-Portable

DRX-Transportable

Obsolete? No! Not if you use this Strategy!

Find a technology that will allow me to utilize my existing equipment where it makes

sense.

• My portables are less than 6 years old.

• We purchased a new analog (CR) room 5 years ago and a new R & F room last year.

Invest in a technology that is not “tied” to the modality; one that can be utilized

where I need it the most------ when I need it the most.

• Find a solution that works both in the analog room and with the portables.

• We don’t do any fluoro in our R & F room in the afternoon.

• My second shift techs work alone - having two detectors would be more efficient.

Use a company with a solution that is “vendor neutral”.

• I have several different rooms with different OEM’s equipment.

It’s your Move - Make it Scaleable

1st Wireless Detector

Add DR X-Ray Equipment

Add 2nd

Detector

Retrofit Your

Mobile with

DR Detector

A modular approach to your capital purchases

can result in less initial capital needed to

achieve your goals!

Add DR

Portable

Scenario 1

Phoenix General has an extremely busy ED / Trauma area. The most they could afford in the last few budget years was CR technology. Funds this year are limited, but there is money available. Customer has 2 X-Ray Rooms; 1 “Chest” Room; 3 Portable units - all assets over 10 years of age. Demand for Imaging services has jumped since a nearby hospital has recently closed and now the ED / Trauma volume is significantly higher.

Using the “New” Paradigm………what could Phoenix General do first?

Buy DR Upgrades with a portable detector that can upgrade one of the

existing rooms to DR and one of the portables at the same time.

Depending on the budget, try for a second detector. If only one detector,

share it with the portable. If two, use both in the room and share one with

the portable.

Next year, when no parts are available for the upgraded room, keep the

detectors and the software and upgrade the X-Ray equipment hardware!

Answer?

Scenario 2

Tucson General has just remodeled their ICU / CCU. They used to have a CR reader in the

old unit, but it is just not keeping up with the demands of the physicians and the extra patient

load. PICC Lines are being placed and over 15 minutes later, it is confirmed by Radiology that

the line is too low. Post-surgical Open Heart patients are waiting 10-15 minutes for line

placement confirmation.

Using the new paradigm, what could Tucson General do?

Answer?

Buy DR portable upgrade solutions that can be added to their existing

portables and budget to purchase an integrated DR Portable next year.

Find a vendor that provides fast DR image review and specific software

for line-placement and post-op complications, such as pneumothorax.

4:00 AM “During peak hours, a

second detector helps

improve productivity.”

Mobile 1

“Morning rounds are

complete and the detector

can be returned.”

6:00 AM

Change the DR Game

A better use of your capital investment. The shared detector concept.

Room 1

Mobile 1

“I am ready for

morning rounds.”

“During off-peak hours, a

detector can be transferred

to a mobile system.”

Justification

I can get another 3 years out of my existing X-Ray room and my 10 yr old Portable.

For a fraction of the cost, I have converted my room to DR with minimal downtime.

We have reduced our dose from CR by 50%.

My techs are delighted since they have minimal or no cassette handling and can stay with their patient. No more “I have to go check your images now, I’ll be back in a few minutes”.

The patients spend less time in the room and are more comfortable.

We can share this detector with the portable when we are not busy.

The surgeons are elated with the quick image review and better image quality.

If you find the right solution, it will be easy to move to the next level!

In the End

•Ask for references.

•See if any of the referenced customers have written case studies with their own

data / experiences.

•Talk to your peers. Someone has been a leader in making this transition.

•Choose a vendor with experience in “wireless”, not just DR……it’s a whole new

game for some!

•Look for a company whose focus is on Digital Radiography and insist on “best of

breed”, even if it is a multi-modality purchase.

•You’ll be glad you did!!

Thank you!

Q & A