by
Joanna Padovano, Reporter | October 05, 2011
From the October 2011 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
From a clinical perspective
Eastern Regional Medical Center, based in Philadelphia, Penn., is part of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. According to Dr. Pablo Lavagnini, director of radiation oncology, the facility uses approximately seven different methods or radiation therapy. The newest machine in the center is the Novac7, a mobile electron linear accelerator for intraoperative radiotherapy.
According to Lavagnini, ERMC is like an “island of ideal conditions,” as compared to other medical facilities, because it has not been negatively affected by the economy or health care reform. “We buy always the first and latest available equipment,” he says. “We don’t follow the national trend in cutting expenses and because of health care and prices and all that. We just give the patients the best available possible treatment.” Patient volume at the center has been growing, says Lavagnini, due in part to the fact that they always have the latest technology.
The future of radiotherapy
“Emerging markets will probably drive the growth,” says Jain, who predicts that more companies will create cheaper equipment that will better meet the needs of growing markets. “Between China and India you have around three billion population and currently the penetration is less than 10 percent, so the major growth will come from there.”
In reference to the economic crisis and health care reform, Goldwein says practices are well aware change is coming. “They all know that the bucket is getting closer and closer to empty and they are going to be looking for ways to be more efficient. They are nervous about reimbursement . . . they will have to manage their practices accordingly.”
“I think the future is going to see gravitation toward treatments that are more tailored to each patient’s needs,” says Dawood. “So rather than just treating in a uniform manner, you actually have technologies that are very flexible, patient-specific technologies, and able to deliver patient-specific treatments.”
GlobalData forecasts that the global radiation therapy devices market will grow at around 8 to 10 percent for the next seven or eight years. Experts in the sector agree: radiotherapy technology will continue to improve and the patient outlook will improve with it.
DOTmed Registered Radiotherapy 2011 Companies
Names in boldface are Premium Listings.
Domestic
Pete Cawley, Kimtron Medical, LLC, CT
DOTmed Certified
Michaelle Serrano, Platinum Medical Imaging, FL
Alison Fortin, Global Inventory Management LLC, NH
DOTmed Certified
DOTmed 100
Mel Little, The Lennon Group, TN
International
Maged el Sayed, Midlle East Technomed, Egypt
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