Digital Imaging: The Continued Growth Of The PACS Market, 2006- 2011

A Report by Datamonitor

The drivers behind Picture Archiving and Communication Systems

DATAMONITOR VIEW

CATALYST

As the demand for imaging continues to grow and the need for increased efficiency in healthcare becomes imperative, Picture Archiving and Communication System’s (PACS) priority will grow across the healthcare industry.

SUMMARY

PACS takes an increasingly central role in the IT strategy of healthcare providers and governments across Europe and North America. As the market evolves it is crucial to understand the following issues:
• The clinical benefits of PACS are the basis for strong growth;
• The cost savings and time efficiency of PACS help to drive market growth;
• Changing demographics are forcing a reduction in costs and an increase in efficiency;
• Individual market differences will be critical to vendors.

METHODOLOGY

Primary Research - Interviews with key industry leaders in Europe and North America
Secondary Research - Industry associations, government data, international organizations, existing Datamonitor research

The clinical benefits of PACS are the basis for strong growth

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACSs) will play a more prominent role within healthcare services as institutions seek ways to improve efficiency and provide a higher standard of care. PACS addresses providers’ storage, retrieval, distribution and presentation requirements for medical imaging. While PACS has traditionally been located within the radiology department, the importance of these systems to other clinical areas, including cardiology and pathology, continues to grow.

While older PACS implementations do not include Radiology Information Systems (RISs) the two systems are continuously becoming more integrated. Healthcare providers use RIS to store patient information and book appointments. The move away from standalone systems and towards combined PACS and RIS reflects a desire to create a more efficient radiology department where a single, integrated solution provides administration and the imaging. For the purpose of this report, PACS refers to integrated PACS/RIS, unless otherwise stated.

PACS enables clinicians to provide a higher level of patient care

The central motivation for PACS is that it provides an improved level of care for patients. Within healthcare, solutions that provide clinical benefits are paramount and this is vital to ensuring the PACS market remains strong. PACS provides clinical benefits in the following ways:

• Quality of image – PACS reduces the number of medical scans that need to be re-taken, saving vital time and reducing costs. Unclear images can be adjusted and improved digitally rather than rescanned. Digital image files also allow doctors to enlarge a specific section of the image for closer diagnosis, or to alter the color and contrast of the image.
• Loss of records – The digital transmission of images reduces the likelihood of a loss of medical images. Common industry estimates suggest that between 5% and 20% of traditional medical film images are lost in transit each year. Where images are lost it results in patients having to have x-rays retaken and compromised diagnoses due to missing medical histories. With PACS the chances of a medical records being lost are very small.
• Remote diagnostics – Within western economies there has been a strong increase in demand for scans and as a result in many countries, especially the United States, there is a shortage of radiologists. PACS enables a solution to be found by having a diagnosis made remotely so that the radiologist no longer needs to be located in the hospital. For example, an x-ray could be conducted within the US and then an American-registered doctor located in a different geography and time zone, could make the diagnosis thereby reducing costs and helping to solve the problem of the shortage of personnel.