Abstract
InMedica is proud to present a new series of reports providing direct feedback from doctors on the use of ultrasound imaging equipment in hospitals and imaging centres across Europe.
- Three "European Customer Insights" reports are available, each one
dedicated to a different medical specialty:
- Ultrasound in Cardiology
- Ultrasound in OB/GYN
- Ultrasound in General Radiology
- 100+ specialist doctors from across Wstern Europe were recruited to take part in each survey.
- Doctors provided very detailed information to help develop the equipment they use.
- The questionnaires were developed with equipment manufacturers to focus on key marketing and product development areas.
- An open questionnaire design was used to maximise doctors input and obtain unique personal insights.
- Questionnaires were made available online and hard -copy in 5 languages, English, French,
- Germ an , Italian and Spanish .
- All responses have been translated into English and are presented in the Appendix of each report.
REPORT INTRODUCTION
InMedica' s "European Customer Insight" series of reports provides direct feed back on the use of ultrasound imaging equipment in the hospitals and imaging centres. A comprehensive survey of doctors across Western Europe has been done for each report, using a questionnaire designed in partnership with leading manufacturers of ultrasound equipment. The results of these surveys are presented in the three reports, Ultrasound in Cardiology, Ultrasound in OB/ GYN, and Ultrasound in General Radiology.
The customer insight reports are designed to be a consumerfocused companion to the annual InMedica report on the world market for ultrasound imaging equipment.
- Each of the 3 reports provides unique information on the following areas:
- The ultrasound systems owned and the models that are most commonly used.
- The type and frequency of examinations performed.
- The problems doctors face using their equipment and the system improvements they would make.
- The system features that are the most important to doctors when considering new equipment purchases.
- The current and future use of 3D ultrasound.
- What doctors really think about portable ultrasound and how they think it will be used in the future.
- New training requirements of doctors in using the latest ultrasound imaging equipment.
- Views on the service provided by manufacturers.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter 1 - Introduction , Scope and Methodology
- 1.0 Introduction
- 1.1 Scope
- 1.2 Report Objectives
- 1.3 Report Contents
- 1.4 Methodology
Chapter 2 - Results
- 2.0 Introduction
- 2.1 Question naire Respondents
- Q2 . Do you work in a hospital or an imaging centre?
- Q3 . What type of health provider do you work for?
- Q4 . What is your primary speciality?
- Q5 . On average, how often do you use ultrasound equipment?
- Q6 . How often do you delegate ultrasound scans to other members of staff?
- Q7 . Who refers patients requiring an ultrasound examination to you ?
- 2.2 Ultrasound Equipment Used & Examinations Performed
- Q8 . In total, how many ultrasound systems do you have available to use?
- Q9 . Who manufactured the 3 ultrasound systems you use the most?
- Q10. What are the model names of your 3 most commonly used systems?
- Q11. What types of ultrasound equipment do you use, and what types do you think you will use in the future?
- Q12. What is the most likely role of hand -carried and portable systems in your work for the next 3 years?
- Q13. Do you think that you will ever totally abandon cart-based ultrasound for hand-carried or portable devices?
- Q14. How do you think hand -carried and portable ultrasound system will impact your workflow in the future?
- Q15. What are the 5 most common examinations for which you use ultrasound imaging equipment?
- Q16. What percentage of your ultrasound work do the 5 most common examinations represent?
- Q17. How many times a week do you perform the top 3 examinations listed?
- Q18. What are the main difficulties you encounter when using ultrasound examinations in the examinations listed ?
- Q19. Do you currently use 3D ultrasound for clinical diagnosis?
- Q20. Do you currently use 3D ultrasound for patient-driven exercises (i.e. baby-bonding )?
- 2.3 Technology Features & Improvements
- Q21. Have improvements in ultrasound technology changed the way you work over the past 3 years?
- Q22. Which 3 features of ultrasound equipment have improved the most in the past 3 years?
- Q23. What 3 improvements could be made to ultrasound systems to make workflow more efficient?
- Q24. Do you think a single ultrasound device could provide a complete solution for use in all the examinations you are required to do ?
- Q25. Do you prefer to have a single transducer for all examinations, or have a choice of different transducers?
- Q26. Please rate how important the following features are to you in regards to overall ultrasound workflow
- 2.4 Training & After Sales Services
- Q27. Have you received any training on how to get the best use out of your ultrasound equipment?
- Q28. Would you like additional training on how to best use ultrasound imaging equipment in certain examinations?
- Q29. If you were to attend a training course on how to best use ultrasound equipment in clinical diagnosis, what 3 topics would be most beneficial to you?
- Q30. How much would you be willing to pay for a one-day training course on how to make best use of ultrasound equipment in the 3 areas you listed above?
- Q31. Do you have a service contract for your ultrasound imaging equipment?
- Q32. What type of service contract do you have?
- Q33. For your service contract provider, how would you rate the following areas?
- 2.5 Observed Trends & Government Legislation
- Q34. Do you know of any new government programs that will impact the way you work with ultrasound in the future?
- Q35. Do you expect to see any changes in the reimbursement provided by the government for ultrasound examinations?
- Q36. Are there any emerging trends that you think will influence the use of ultrasound in the future?
