Radiology, Vol 166, 27-30, Copyright © 1988 by Radiological Society of North America
Economic and utilization analysis of MR imaging units in the United States in 1987
RG Evens and RG Evens Jr
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis 63110.
The 72 most experienced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging installations were
surveyed for operational and economic data from January or February 1987.
The typical MR imaging installation was operating 69 hours and examining 58
patients per week, with 82% of the studies being neuroradiologic. The mean
fees were $545-$603 for the technical component and $111-$232 for the
professional component, with a higher charge for body procedures. The mean
annual gross revenues were $1,193,000, and revenues after deductions
totaled $1,014,000. Estimated expenses for a typical MR imaging
installation were $968,000, with a net annual revenue of $46,000 or more.
Compared with 1985 data from the same study group, weekly patient volume
and hours of operation have increased--from 35 to 58 patients and from 54
to 69 hours. Installations are more efficient, as the number of patients
examined per hour has increased from 0.6 to 0.8. Demand for MR imaging is
growing, as the outpatient scheduling delay has increased from 5.3 to 11.4
days. The financial position of MR imaging units has markedly improved from
a previous loss of $460,000 to an estimated current gain of +46,000 or more
annually. MR imaging installations have shown improvement by several
objective criteria - patient throughput, operational efficiency, and
financial net revenues.
