After
selling Digital x-ray Systems for many years, I’ve noticed a pretty
significant trend in the excuses used for why not to replace film x-ray
imaging with digital x-ray imaging. The most frequently used excuse is
cost. People are justifiably scared of strapping themselves to a $750 –
$950 monthly lease payment. Most Veterinarians will say they would
love to have it, but have no idea how they would pay for it. For the
average veterinary clinic, the answer to this question is very simple. A
Digital Imaging System, when used to it’s potential, will pay for
itself.
selling Digital x-ray Systems for many years, I’ve noticed a pretty
significant trend in the excuses used for why not to replace film x-ray
imaging with digital x-ray imaging. The most frequently used excuse is
cost. People are justifiably scared of strapping themselves to a $750 –
$950 monthly lease payment. Most Veterinarians will say they would
love to have it, but have no idea how they would pay for it. For the
average veterinary clinic, the answer to this question is very simple. A
Digital Imaging System, when used to it’s potential, will pay for
itself.
The
average veterinary clinic, equine, small animal or mixed animal in most
cases are not using there radiology at even half its diagnostic
potential. The reasons for this are simple. Some are based upon
convenience, or lack there of. Ask your self how many x-rays in the
last week you have not taken because it was not convenient, the
processor either had bad or out of chem, the processor took to long to
warm up, or needed cleaning or the risk of a “bad” film could put you in
a situation of a non timely retake.
average veterinary clinic, equine, small animal or mixed animal in most
cases are not using there radiology at even half its diagnostic
potential. The reasons for this are simple. Some are based upon
convenience, or lack there of. Ask your self how many x-rays in the
last week you have not taken because it was not convenient, the
processor either had bad or out of chem, the processor took to long to
warm up, or needed cleaning or the risk of a “bad” film could put you in
a situation of a non timely retake.
These
reasons for not taking a film radiograph are amplified significantly
for an ambulatory practice. Hours are wasted traveling back and forth
to distant field calls. Drive out, shoot, drive back, process, drive
out, treat, drive back. Repeat steps one and two if you missed a shot.
In many cases the doctor may skip the radiograph all together and just
treat based on visual inspection or gut instinct. Pre-purchase exams
are usually out of the question. All this changes with the use of a
Digital X-ray System.
reasons for not taking a film radiograph are amplified significantly
for an ambulatory practice. Hours are wasted traveling back and forth
to distant field calls. Drive out, shoot, drive back, process, drive
out, treat, drive back. Repeat steps one and two if you missed a shot.
In many cases the doctor may skip the radiograph all together and just
treat based on visual inspection or gut instinct. Pre-purchase exams
are usually out of the question. All this changes with the use of a
Digital X-ray System.
Digital
X-ray Systems produce consistent results and are ready at a moments
notice. If an image is shot with the wrong exposure technique the image
can be manipulated with the imaging software to correct most exposure
technique errors. When positioning errors occur or the patent moves you
can repeat an x-ray is just seconds. For the equine doctors, it is a
night and day difference. Now, just one trip to the distant field call
will be all it takes to x-ray, diagnose, and in most cases treatment the
patient. The time savings alone will free you up for additional calls.
More calls equals more exams, more exams equal more money.
X-ray Systems produce consistent results and are ready at a moments
notice. If an image is shot with the wrong exposure technique the image
can be manipulated with the imaging software to correct most exposure
technique errors. When positioning errors occur or the patent moves you
can repeat an x-ray is just seconds. For the equine doctors, it is a
night and day difference. Now, just one trip to the distant field call
will be all it takes to x-ray, diagnose, and in most cases treatment the
patient. The time savings alone will free you up for additional calls.
More calls equals more exams, more exams equal more money.
Let’s
assume you are shooting 24 x-ray patients a month, and with the
convenience of a digital x-ray system you could easily double that
number to 48 films a month, plus you will have better radiographic
quality. Charging $80.00 per set of films, revenue will increase from
$960 to $1,920 a month. The extra $960 revenue increase will easily pay
the lease payment. With additional cost savings coming from your
savings in time and no film, chemical, or processor maintenance costs.
assume you are shooting 24 x-ray patients a month, and with the
convenience of a digital x-ray system you could easily double that
number to 48 films a month, plus you will have better radiographic
quality. Charging $80.00 per set of films, revenue will increase from
$960 to $1,920 a month. The extra $960 revenue increase will easily pay
the lease payment. With additional cost savings coming from your
savings in time and no film, chemical, or processor maintenance costs.
These could be
considered conservative cost savings figures. I have seen veterinary
clinics increase their radiographic revenue up to 4 times what was
produced with conventional film x-rays. With these increases in revenue
and cost savings it is easy to understand why purchasing a digital
x-ray system with a lease payment can result in an increase in revenue
that will quickly produce the lease payment and potentially produce
thousands more in positive cash flow. That is why we say a new Digital X-ray System purchase could be considered a “FREE” purchase.
