What to consider when selecting new digital radiography systems

As proposed reimbursement changes take place this year for film-screen and in 2018 for computed radiography, your practice just like many others, may be looking into upgrading radiographic equipment to digital radiography (DR).

In an article published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, Alisa Walz-Flannigan, PhD, breaks down the common things to consider when weighing in on what best fits your practice after looking at the budget and needs.

Some of the criteria Walz-Flannigan suggests to be evaluated are:
• Image quality and dose
• Hardware configuration
• Total cost of ownership
• Advanced features
• Tools for quality control
• Interoperability and security

In addition to these main points, Walz-Flannigan notes how valuable it is to visit a practice that already uses the specific equipment you are interested in. Getting this experience will give you a better sense of the experiences and challenges you might face.

“In undertaking an equipment evaluation, conducting a well-organized search and relying on expertise from medical physicists, engineers, radiologists and technologists who have experience with the equipment under consideration can make a difference between adding value or headache to your radiology practice,” wrote Walz-Flannigan.