Fostering transformation in radiology

With the growth in the availability and use of imaging technologies such as MRI, CT, and PET for medical diagnosis and treatment, the question arises as to whether x-ray is a modality of the past, or of the future. What does it have to offer the healthcare industry, hospitals, diagnosticians, and of course, the patients themselves?

In fact, x-ray, and specifically DR, occupies an important space in the patient’s healthcare journey – from screening and diagnostics, to treatment and chronicity. Within this journey, hospitals are continuously under pressure to achieve more, more quickly, more efficiently, and by using fewer resources.

Around the world, hospitals are adopting different approaches to successfully meet that pressure. These can be categorized broadly as patient-centric, productivity-oriented, academic, and cost-focused. Such designations are in no way a commentary on the quality of care they deliver, or on their commitment to patient care, but only on the strategy they follow, especially in terms of resources.

Regardless of the approach of the hospital, in order to do more with less, they must find and leverage efficiencies at different stages of the patient’s journey. This may be taking action to reduce the time the patient needs to stay in the hospital, or finding intelligent ways to use big data to provide more efficient healthcare services based on the patient’s past records. Or it may be increasing the autonomy of patients for screening and for follow-up of chronic conditions and illnesses. These latter situations take on new urgency as the healthcare industry addresses the needs of an aging population.

As x-ray plays a key role at all these stages of care, DR in particular can offer opportunities to create efficiencies all along the patient journey. This is especially true when it is enhanced with intelligence, such as Agfa’s SmartXR portfolio.

The evolution of the market has left it fragmented. Without clear, strong leaders who are committed to the future of DR, innovation and sustainability are stifled. Yet, it is at this time that innovation is most needed, as two significant factors drive the ongoing transformation of the healthcare industry.

The first of these is the aging population, combined with an increased focus on population health. This moves attention from treating individual pathologies after an individual diagnosis, following an acute episode, to addressing singular pathologies, especially chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, etc., over a large population and, ideally, engaging in preventive care.

The second factor is the increased potential of digital in the healthcare sector, with artificial intelligence, big data, and new business models. Combined, these two factors are driving demand for huge volumes of images and imaging data – which was further accelerated by Covid-19.

Agfa has the software DNA and innovative capabilities to take a leading position. Our DR portfolio already has differ­entiated solutions that can provide intelligent, meaning­ful answers that match the varied approaches of the hospitals.

But to do this, we must grow and scale, so that we can transform into the pioneering leader the market needs. One delivering innovations in image acquisition and interpretation that further increase the importance of the x-ray within a transformed healthcare landscape.

With a clear plan, we will:

• Ignite our growth by focusing on specific geographies and technological areas of interest;
• Transform and scale up in size and maturity, connecting with new and existing customers through our software business models and solutions;
• Foster transformation by cultivating the creation of value and differentiation, as well as by accelerating innovation; and
• Operate more efficiently and simplify our operating model to support that growth.

Agfa already offers innovative solutions for many of the modality needs. In mobile imaging, for example, SmartXR delivers added value for patient-centric customers, while tomosynthesis supports the needs for productivity-oriented caregivers. The DR Retrofit is also a strong player in both customer categories – fitted with full leg/full spine one shot, it is ideal for the patient-centric hospitals, while the Dura-line detectors match the approach of the productivity-oriented facilities. Staying with the latter target segment, the DR 400i has made it possible for hospitals and imaging centers to have a value solution that meets their needs for productivity and Agfa’s uncompromising image quality.

For radiography/fluoroscopy and DR rooms, we will build on our existing strong solutions with SmartXR and VALORY, while digital subtraction angiography capabili­ties add to the flexibility of the multi-purpose DR 800 room.

While the x-ray market is currently unstable, DR has a clear role to play in enabling healthcare providers to meet their responsibilities to all stakeholders, delivering excellent patient care while optimizing resources. However, strong vendors with the scale to drive true innovation are needed to support the transformation of radiology. Agfa is prepared to take the lead, with the vision, plan, and sound direction to strengthen the x-ray modality’s crucial role in the healthcare diagnostic imaging sector.