When it comes to consistency, the Medical Imaging 20: Readers’ Choice Award has got it down. For the fourth time in six years, and second year in a row, Varian Medical Systems has emerged the winner. Running a close second is GE Medical Systems, followed by pharmaceutical vendors No. 3 Amersham Healthcare (formerly Nycomed) and No. 4 Berlex Laboratories Inc. Medrad Inc. reinforces the consistency, maintaining its fifth place ranking from 2000’s survey.

Continuing down this elite list in order of Overall Rating are: Philips Medical Systems, Cook Radiology, Boston Scientific Corp., Eastman Kodak Co., A.L.I. Technologies Inc., IDX Systems Corp., Bracco Diagnostics Inc., Tyco International, Sony Electronics, Siemens Medical Solutions Inc., Hologic Inc., Alliance Imaging, Medical Information Technology Inc. (Meditech), Fujifilm Medical Systems USA Inc. and DuPont Pharmaceuticals.

On Pages 31 and 32, you’ll find the winners of each of the survey’s remaining eight categories. No. 2 in the Overall Rating, GE, won the most categories, four, topping the list for “Product/technology positioning for the future,” “Business management of P&L, acquisitions, mergers and divestitures,” “Ability to capitalize on new and niche markets” and “Internal company leadership.”

No. 1 overall, Varian, won two categories — “Quality of products introduced” and “Upgradeability of technology.” No. 4 Berlex won the “Product Service and Support” category, while No. 7 Cook Radiology ranked highest in “Price performance of products.”

For a closer look at exactly who participated in this year’s rankings, turn to Page 34, where a composite snapshot describes the typical respondent as a radiology administrator or business manager for a 250 to 499 bed hospital that is part of a multi-hospital group located in the East North Central states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Beyond the jobs they hold and number of procedures their facilities complete annually, reader respondents have provided valuable comparative data as to their capital budgets, staffing, equipment portfolios and what they’re looking to buy in 2002. That begins on Page 34.

In all, 11 new companies were added to this year’s survey, the highest ranking newcomer being No. 3 Amersham Healthcare. Thus, 11 companies were not included in this year’s survey that were in the 2000 survey, see details on Page 33, because they were acquired over the past year and are now included as part of larger companies.

While the Medical Imaging 20 occupies a large portion of this issue, don’t miss the other great stories this month, including “Brrm, Brrm, Brrm: X-ray’s Portability” (Page 38), “Intravascular and Intracardiac Ultrasound: A Fantastic Voyage” (Page 44) and “Inside Retrofit DR: Are Upgrades Making the Grade?” (Page 54).

To the companies among this year’s Medical Imaging 20, we offer congratulations. To the readers who gave us their time and voted, thank you. And as 2001 winds down, the staff of Medical Imaging and myself want to wish you and your family happy holidays and a joyful 2002.

Mary C. Tierney, Editor
mtierney@mwc.com