ECRI Institute used its Selectplus User Experience Network, a service that helps medical technology purchasers with vendor and product information, to gauge MRI operators on what they thought of vendors’ image quality, coil selection and setup, ease of use, patient throughput and vendor support. The results include function, feature and service ratings for each model, grouped by vendor.

“Hospital leaders and technology purchasers need all the supporting data and market insight they can get to make informed buying decisions, with a keen focus on safety and quality,” said Jennifer L. Myers, ECRI Institute’s vice president of Select Health Technology Services, in a statement. “We rely on our partner health care organizations’ end-user experiences as one of the many tools hospitals can use to help make cost-effective purchasing decisions.”

Key findings of the survey show that MRI models with the highest overall user rating scored high in ease-of-use and image-quality criteria. MRI models with the lowest overall user rating scored lowest in reliability and vendor service.

MRI systems are grouped into three general categories based on magnetic field strength: 3T scanners, 1.5T scanners and low-field (1.2T or less) scanners. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, the average user rating for image quality across all 3T systems was 4.3 compared to 4.2 for all 1.5T systems.

When comparing the four MRI market leaders and their 1.5T MRI systems, the survey found the GE Optima MR450w had the highest average list price at approximately $3.5 million, and the Toshiba Vantage Titan 1.5T was the lowest at about $2.1 million. The system with the highest average quoted price was the Philips Ingenia 1.5T at $1.7 million compared to the Toshiba Vantage Titan 1.5T, which again came at the lowest price at $1.3 million. The highest average annual service price was for the Philips Ingenia 1.5T at $153,015 and the lowest price was for the Simens Magnetom Aera at $115,201.

The full report is available to ECRI Institute members on its website.

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“This is a tremendous achievement because each of the top performers earned this recognition through the voice of their provider customers,” said Matt Terry, vice president of medical equipment and imaging research for KLAS, in a statement.

The report noted that many of the vendors that excelled last year took home top prizes again this year. For example, Philips, based in the Netherlands, ranked as the top Overall Imaging Equipment Vendor and earned more Best in KLAS awards than any other vendor. The company’s three best rankings were won in the MR 3.0T, MR 1.5T and ultrasoundcardiovascular market segments.

Mountain View, Calif.-based Omnicell also garnered praise as the health care equipment supplier duplicated its 2013 success and earned the distinction of Overall Pharmacy Automation Equipment Vendor. This is something that many a Canadian Pharmacy, or indeed one based anywhere else, would love to achieve.

The Selenia 3D Breast Tomosynthesis from Bedford, Mass.-based Hologic was the top-scoring product, pulling in a score of 95.2 (out of 100). The report also highlighted the Baxter Healthcare INTELLIFILL I.V. and its 18 percent improvement over last year after the product’s score fell for two years.

“Given that vendors must concern themselves with the complexities of a dynamic health care market and operational challenges, it is remarkable to see so many undeviating from their focus on helping providers succeed,” Terry added.

Overall Rankings
Pharmacy automation equipment: Omnicell (85.3)
Imaging equipment: Philips (88.9)

Imaging Equipment
Computed tomography (CT) 64-slice+: Toshiba Aquilion Prime (93.5)
Digital X-ray: Shimadzu RADspeed (91.2)
Magnetic resonance (MR) 3.0T: Philips Ingenia (91.3)
Magnetic resonance (MR) 1.5T: Philips Ingenia (91.1)
Mammography digital: Hologic Selenia Dimensions 3D Breast Tomosynthesis (95.2)
Radiation therapy: Elekta Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion (92.8)
Ultrasound general imaging: Siemens ACUSON S3000 (91.0)
Ultrasound cardiovascular: Philips iE33 (88.5)

Pharmacy Automation Equipment
Automated medication dispensing units: Omnicell OmniRx (87.3)
Smart pumps LVP: Baxter Healthcare SIGMA Spectrum (83.2)

KLAS Category Leader Awards Reserved for vendor solutions leading in respective market segment(s) that have a more narrow operational and clinical impact on health care organizations.

Imaging Equipment
CV/IR X-ray: Toshiba Infinix-i (90.8)
Digital X-ray mobile: Shimadzu Mobile DaRt Evolution Wireless (91.3)

Pharmacy Automation Equipment
Anesthesia cabinets: Omnicell Anesthesia Workstation (87.1)
Controlled substance management systems: Omnicell Controlled Substance Management (CSM) (90.1)
Pharmacy automation high-volume unit dose packaging: Omnicell WorkflowRx Packager (80.4)
Pharmacy automation IV Robots: IH SystemsRIVA (81.3)
Pharmacy automation medication carousels: Omnicell WorkflowRx Carousel (84.6)
Pharmacy automation Robots (Oral Solid): Aesynt Promanager-Rx (80.2)
Smart pumps PCA: CareFusion Alaris PCA module TIED WITH Hospira LifeCare PCA (83.5)
Smart pumps syringe: CareFusion Alaris Syringe module (82.3)

Infrastructure
Wireless communications: Vocera Badges (86.9)

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