Economic analysis of body computed tomography units including data on utilization

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging Technology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) technology adoption in the US.
• Previous data on CT utilization and economics from January 1976.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare CT utilization and economic data from May 1977 to January 1976.
• To assess changes in CT availability and clinical demand.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CT installations.

Main Methods:

• Survey of all operating body computed tomography installations in the United States in May 1977.
• Data collection from 74 out of 118 installations.
• Comparison of utilization, economic, and scheduling delay data with January 1976.

Main Results:

• CT availability improved, with scheduling delays decreasing compared to January 1976.
• Rising CT demand observed at installations with over 5 months of experience.
• Estimated annual technical costs ($359,000--$392,000) exceeded net technical revenue for patient volumes of 25-50 per week.

Conclusions:

• CT availability is improving but demand is increasing.
• The cost of CT technology may outweigh its revenue, particularly for facilities with lower patient volumes.
• Further analysis is needed to understand long-term economic viability.