Thinking strategically about imaging capacity and capital

Diagnostic imaging continues to place high demands on hospital and health system capital budgets due to the high cost of most equipment and the rate of technological change. Diagnostic imaging also can be a significant service in competitive positioning, both alone and in conjunction with other programs and services. The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for linking diagnostic imaging to key hospital programs, and for forecasting future demands and capital requirements. The model has been developed over time in a number of settings in the United States and Canada. The specific examples are mostly from the Seton Healthcore Network in Austin, TX.