Weighing the Benefits of New Imaging Tech

A new article in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology provides a roadmap for imaging manufacturers to navigate the unique and increasingly complex US regulatory and reimbursement environment. "Evidence Requirements for Innovative Imaging Devices: From Concept to Adoption," identifies and addresses the five phases of an imaging procedure's lifecycle and the distinct clinical evidence needs for each phase.

The article is authored by Richard Frank, the vice-president of global clinical strategy and policy at General Electric; Donald W. Rucker of chief medical officer at Siemens Healthcare USA; Michael A. Ferguson, global director of clinical outcomes and translational research at Philips Healthcare; and Terry J. Sweeney, senior vice-president of corporate quality and regulatory affairs at Philips Healthcare.

"We think there is a critical need for this kind of roadmap, given the current mismatch between the pace of advances and the time required to clear regulatory, reimbursement and adoption hurdles," Frank said. "Only with full adoption does the patient population truly gain access to the benefits of innovation; for example, in reduction of exposure to radiation or increased compliance with screening recommendations and, hence, earlier detection of disease, better outcomes and reduction in overall cost of healthcare delivery."

The article closely examines the design, regulatory clearance and approval, early adoption, reimbursement and full clinical adoption of imaging technology.

Although the development of imaging technology is global, the US has been the largest and most influential adopter of advanced imaging. Therefore, increases in US evidentiary standards may have a global impact on innovation and access to imaging.

"It is our hope that this study will help to foster greater certainty for manufacturers and all stakeholders in navigating the concept-to-adoption pathway so that patients can continue to benefit from these innovative and often life-saving technologies," Rucker said.

"The potential of medical imaging is incalculable, and we need to make sure that the next generation of Americans are able to benefit from transformative imaging technologies in the same ways that we were," Ferguson said. "We believe that the roadmap we have provided is a strong first step to ensuring that manufacturers are able to invest in such watershed technologies and that, as a society, we are able to achieve this goal."

For more information, visit: www.jacr.org