New MRI purchasing approach could save upward of $520,000 per scanner
A new MRI purchasing approach could help radiology providers save upward of $520,000 per scanner, according to new research.
Experts with Vanderbilt, Philips and the Greenwell Project (a nonprofit focused on healthcare sustainability) recently discussed this “circular business model” Tuesday in JACR. The shift in mindset involves refurbishing or upgrading existing magnetic resonance imaging equipment, rather than buying brand new ones.
Researchers conducted a modeling study to forecast the impact of these approaches on both healthcare providers and the environment. They found that, compared to traditional MRI purchasing, “circular” models could reduce the total cost of ownership by up to 21%. At the same time, they also would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8% on conventional energy grids, and material use by up to 92%.
“This study highlights the potential value of circular MRI business models for hospitals, patients and [the] planet,” Elizabeth J. Snyder, MD, with the Department of Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, and co-authors concluded. “By embedding innovative procurement strategies, imaging centers can deliver care with less cost while reducing [greenhouse gasses] and saving critical materials.”
The analysis assumed replacement of a scanner at the 10-year mark and focused on a 3T MRI model from “vendor A,” which offers such circular options. Snyder and colleagues compared three different approaches including “linear replacement” (simply buying a new version of the same scanner), a “circular upgrade” (rebuilding the machine on-site to add 10 years to its useful life) or “circular refurbishment” (replacing the old MRI with one that was revamped at a factory).
The upgrade approach was found to generate the most savings at about 20%, due to the lower material costs. It also produced the greatest reduction in greenhouse gasses at about 8%, mainly from reusing materials, which lowers manufacturing emissions. Circular upgrades of an MRI machine would result in the retainment of about 92% of materials form the original scanner, the authors estimated. This would result in savings of approximately $420,000 to $520,000 per MRI. Especially important, the authors added, is the reuse of critical raw materials, representing 41% of what goes into such scanners.
“These materials are prone to increasing costs, material scarcity and geopolitical conflict,” the authors noted. “Reusing these materials can help de-risk supply chain vulnerabilities and secure patient access.”
Read much more, including potential study limitations, in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.