Texas Cardiology Group Opts for Used PET Scanner
by Barbara Kram, Editor | June 15, 2009
The refurbished 2003 Siemens/CTI
Reveal PET scanner at Tyler (Texas)
Cardiovascular Consultants
Reveal PET scanner at Tyler (Texas)
Cardiovascular Consultants
Tyler (Texas) Cardiovascular Consultants, P.A. is a group practice of 14 cardiologists that performs stress echoes and studies, and nuclear SPECT and PET examinations. The busy practice has more than 5,000 patient encounters monthly, plus additional interventional cardiac cath, EP and other studies at two nearby hospitals, Trinity Media Francis Health System, and East Texas Medical Center.
Like many practitioners, they recognize the utility of a stand-alone PET, despite the market trend in which large OEMs no longer offer new units. This leaves opportunities for the re-sale market.
"One of the cardiologists brought this idea of acquiring a pre-owned unit to the group... after taking a strong look at it from an administrative and financial standpoint, we felt this would be a good fit for our practice," said Rick Hefner, Chief Executive Officer. The reimbursement for PET is more favorable than for many other studies so that was one plus. "We felt the PET would also give us a better diagnostic tool. After we ran the pro formas we saw that this could really work," he said.
The company spoke with two OEMs and Diagnostix Plus, Inc., Rockville Centre, NY, an established nuclear medicine consulting company known as PET experts and nuclear medicine equipment recyclers. The company secured a 2003 Siemens/CTI Reveal PET scanner, which was fully refurbished and upgraded for Tyler's installation and application.
"Nobody else had this level of expertise and skills and were selling a stand-alone PET at the time. The large companies were only pushing the PET/CT," Hefner said. "We didn't feel PET/CT would be beneficial in our practice."
"This was a complete turnkey system that had the practice ready and able to scan patients on the second day of training," said Wayne Webster, Managing Director, Diagnostix Plus. "Nothing was left untouched in refurbishing the unit."
Diagnostix Plus teamed with Marquis Medical LLC for the installation and warranty service, and with Bracco Diagnostics for the radiopharmaceutical delivery system.
The unit, installed in August 2008, complements the group's seven Philips echo machines and three Philips cardiac nuclear SPECT cameras.
"The first day we had our PET scanner operational we got a referral of a patient who needed clearance for surgery. They sent her for a cath but she asked if there was anything else that could be done," Hefner said. "With this new PET scanner she was found to be fine with no problems and cleared for surgery."
In the past three months Tyler has done over 600 nuclear procedures with their cardio MDs [SPECT] and PET. The practice is proof that recycling valuable and sophisticated diagnostic equipment can extend the useful life of medical technologies.
"The OEM will take a PET scanner as a trade-in and shred these units," Hefner said of the system now put to good use for his patients and practice.
Read a report on nuclear medicine in the June 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News
Like many practitioners, they recognize the utility of a stand-alone PET, despite the market trend in which large OEMs no longer offer new units. This leaves opportunities for the re-sale market.
"One of the cardiologists brought this idea of acquiring a pre-owned unit to the group... after taking a strong look at it from an administrative and financial standpoint, we felt this would be a good fit for our practice," said Rick Hefner, Chief Executive Officer. The reimbursement for PET is more favorable than for many other studies so that was one plus. "We felt the PET would also give us a better diagnostic tool. After we ran the pro formas we saw that this could really work," he said.
The company spoke with two OEMs and Diagnostix Plus, Inc., Rockville Centre, NY, an established nuclear medicine consulting company known as PET experts and nuclear medicine equipment recyclers. The company secured a 2003 Siemens/CTI Reveal PET scanner, which was fully refurbished and upgraded for Tyler's installation and application.
"Nobody else had this level of expertise and skills and were selling a stand-alone PET at the time. The large companies were only pushing the PET/CT," Hefner said. "We didn't feel PET/CT would be beneficial in our practice."
"This was a complete turnkey system that had the practice ready and able to scan patients on the second day of training," said Wayne Webster, Managing Director, Diagnostix Plus. "Nothing was left untouched in refurbishing the unit."
Diagnostix Plus teamed with Marquis Medical LLC for the installation and warranty service, and with Bracco Diagnostics for the radiopharmaceutical delivery system.
The unit, installed in August 2008, complements the group's seven Philips echo machines and three Philips cardiac nuclear SPECT cameras.
"The first day we had our PET scanner operational we got a referral of a patient who needed clearance for surgery. They sent her for a cath but she asked if there was anything else that could be done," Hefner said. "With this new PET scanner she was found to be fine with no problems and cleared for surgery."
In the past three months Tyler has done over 600 nuclear procedures with their cardio MDs [SPECT] and PET. The practice is proof that recycling valuable and sophisticated diagnostic equipment can extend the useful life of medical technologies.
"The OEM will take a PET scanner as a trade-in and shred these units," Hefner said of the system now put to good use for his patients and practice.
Read a report on nuclear medicine in the June 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News
