Smaller U.S. hospitals to increase imaging equipment budget 32% in 2009

Well this is good news, HealthImaging reports Smaller U.S. hospitals to increase imaging equipment budget 32% in 2009:

U.S. hospitals with fewer than 200 beds are budgeting major increases in their capital spending for diagnostic imaging equipment in 2009, compared to 2008 spending levels, according to a new study by IMV Medical Information Division.

“Capital budgets for diagnostic imaging equipment remained virtually flat between 2007 and 2008 in smaller U.S. hospitals,” said Mary C. Patton, director of market research at IMV. “But, radiology administrators in these hospitals are generally bullish on capital spending plans for 2009. Many hospitals with aging diagnostic imaging equipment acknowledge that they cannot remain competitive if they continue to postpone investment in newer technologies.”

Of course by “imaging” they mean “Radiology imaging”; Pathology imaging is not [yet] on the radar...