Newswatch: May 2006

KLAS report discusses CT perception

KLAS Enterprises (Orem, Utah) has published the 64-Slice CT Perception Report, a look at overall opinions of the field's market leaders. The report provides detailed feedback information on the four vendors considered most often by respondents: GE Healthcare (Waukesha, Wis), Philips Medical Systems (Andover, Mass), Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pa), and Toshiba America Medical Systems (Tustin, Calif). Data also was included in several categories for Hitachi Medical Systems America (Twinsburg, Ohio).

KLAS interviewed a random sampling of 139 healthcare professionals, including C-level executives, IT/business directors, physicians, and imaging directors and managers. To determine an overall vendor rating, respondents were asked to rank each vendor's product offering on nine different areas, including service, cost and value, the vendor's ability to deliver, scanner reliability, the system's postprocessing capabilities, the upgrade path, and end-user presentation.

With a score of 4.3 out of a possible 5, Toshiba led the scoring for "Overall Vendor Rating." Two other vendors—GE Healthcare and Hitachi Medical—also received above-average overall scores, with each rated best on four of nine specific criteria and tying in the "Ability to Deliver" category.

In one question, respondents were asked to name the vendors they would consider "if [they] could start fresh today." GE Healthcare (82%) and Siemens Medical (63%) were considered most often. Toshiba came in with 41%, though the company led the individual scoring for the nine criteria measured. The survey indicated that the top reasons vendors were chosen were the cost and value of the system (cited by 60% of respondents), the technology (52%), and the vendor's service (50%).

When looking at perception scores in each of the nine individual categories, GE Healthcare led in service, upgrade path, scanner reliability, and end-user presentation. Toshiba was on top for cost/value, technology/architecture, postprocessing capabilities, and integration to PACS.

For more information, on the report, visit www.healthcomputing.com.

Note: Data used in the compilation of this story is from the "64-Slice CT Perception Report," published in October 2005. The report and all of its data is KLAS Confidential Information. © 2005 KLAS Enterprises LLC. All rights reserved.