United Medical Instruments - Diagnostic Ultrasound Blog!

Prevention is certainly one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle and having access to care is critical in ensuring potential illnesses are caught early.  Regardless of what is happening in healthcare today from a government perspective, one area to be proud of is the passing of the stipulation for women to have Well-Woman care without a co-pay or deductible.  This is a section of legislation that the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) worked with US Congress, the Institute of Medicine, and the US Department and Health and Human Services to see this pass.

According to their press release: “Today, our nation affirms the importance of a woman’s ability to access needed preventive care,” says ACOG President James T. Breeden, MD. “An annual well-woman visit is a fundamental part of medical care and promotes prevention practices, recognizes risk factors for disease, identifies medical problems, and establishes the often life-long patient-physician relationship. This annual visit provides an excellent opportunity for ob-gyns to counsel patients about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and minimizing health risks.  The new law ensures that important services, including preconception care, screening and counseling for intimate partner violence, and lactation support, are covered by employer health plans.

To read the full article click here.

To learn which ultrasound machines United Medical Instruments carries for Women's Health, visit our site.

Women with dense breast tissue are at a disadvantage when it comes to cancer screening which can be

detrimental because those with dense breasts are also at higher risk. Dense breast tissue consists of a lot of glands, ducts, tissues and fibrous with less fat that other breast tissue. In the case of mammograms abnormalities are not always detected. However, when ultrasound is included there is a better chance of visualizing lesions. Ideally, the ultrasound system will have clear resolution, high frequency transducer, such as the VF10-5 found on the Siemens Acuson X300 ultrasound machine, as well as biopsy capability in case a needle guided procedure is required during the exam.

London company announces educational tool to assist healthcare professionals with learning and understanding anatomy when performing musculoskeletal ultrasound related procedures. The company, Primal Pictures, launched an online and DVD educational resource called 3D Anatomy for MSK Ultrasound: Lower Limb.

According to the report by "Medical Diagnostic & Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices Market (2012 - 2017) - Global Trends & Competitive Analysis", the portable ultrasound system market and MSK clinical market are both growing quickly as this modality becomes more affordable and patients are realizing results from joint injections.

Here is a snippet off the press release from Primal Pictures:

Primal Pictures has launched 3D Anatomy for MSK Ultrasound: Lower Limb. This online and DVD resource provides medical practitioners with images and content to aid in the interpretation of ultrasound imaging used to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions of the hip, knee and foot. It is also used as a learning tool for faculty and students in ultrasound and radiology technology programs. Developed to support the rapidly growing use of MSK ultrasound, it is the latest tool from the award-winning publishers of the most complete and medically accurate 3D model of human anatomy.

"More and more practitioners are using ultrasound imaging to help diagnose musculoskeletal problems, and told us they wanted a tool that offers them visual guidance, clinical support and patient education," said Peter Allan, Managing Director of Primal Pictures.

In June, 2012 United Medical Instruments finalized negotiations with Toshiba America Medical to partner with them to increase distribution of the Toshiba ultrasound systems both cart—based and portable, to the physician market. United Medical Instruments (UMI) has been an industry leader selling ultrasound systems, transducers, and service for over 15 years. The company focus is in the private physician market because there is flexibility to act as a consultant with the customer, work within their budget and guide them to the right ultrasound system to meet their needs.

Toshiba America Medical is a KLAS award recipient in the areas of breast ultrasound and cardiovascular ultrasound applications. Recently their Aplio 500 ultrasound machine received recognition from University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio who is using their ultrasound –CT fusion technology to provide more accurate and better care for patients.

"Toshiba's Aplio 500 ultrasound system and Smart Fusion improve visualization during liver biopsies, giving our team the ability to see CT and ultrasound images side by side on a single screen," said Dr. Nami Azar, assistant professor, Case Western Reserve University School and a radiologist at its primary affiliate, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Division of Abdominal Imaging. "In a retrospective review, Smart Fusion has shown the potential to reduce radiation dose by lowering the number of CT procedures needed. It also has the potential to decrease costs compared to CT-only guided biopsies."

We are pleased to be working with Toshiba and if you'd like to speak with a representative please call us at 877.490.7036 or if you'd like to request a  FREE Virtual Demonstration  of an ultrasound system from the convenience of your office, click here.

Guidelines Established by American College of Cardiology for Appropriate Use of Ultrasound for Peripheral Vascular Testing

As reimbursement cuts continue to be made, determining if and when a diagnostic test is necessary is becoming more prevalent. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) collaborated with 10 other medical organizations to develop a set of guidelines to assist clinicians with their decision making process for diagnostic testing. The group focused on determining testing appropriateness for vascular ultrasound and functional testing for patients with suspected or known non-coronary arterial disorders.

Ultrasound is a cost-effective diagnostic tool that provides information to physicians needing to evaluate vascular blockages and disease in areas such as arteries of the neck, kidneys, abdomen, and lower extremities. In addition to be used as a screening measure, ultrasound is also used for determining the status post peripheral vascular procedures, such as arterial bypass, surgical removal of plaque (endarterectomy), or stenting.

The team used a rating scale coupled with timeframe intervals. According to the press release "The group found arterial vascular testing to be "appropriate" in about half of the clinical situations evaluated. Overall, vascular studies were deemed appropriate when clinical signs and symptoms were the main reason for testing. For example, Dr. Mohler explains it is reasonable to order a lower extremity vascular study for a patient who reports calf pain upon walking that resolves with rest. Tests that were conducted in patients with existing atherosclerotic disease or to establish a "baseline" after a revascularization procedure were also considered appropriate based on ratings."

• Ordering an ultrasound of the carotids or neck arteries in someone at low risk for heart attack or stroke.

• Screening for kidney artery disease in someone with peripheral artery disease with well controlled high blood pressure (hypertension) on one medication

• Choosing to perform an abdominal ultrasound in a patient with non-specific lower extremity discomfort

• Ordering a mesenteric artery ultrasound (arteries that supply the small and large intestines) as an initial test to evaluate the patient with chronic constipation or diarrhea

• Having current ultrasound technology in a clinician's facility is essential for careful diagnosis. To learn more about our recommended Toshiba Viamo portable ultrasound machine for vascular procedures, click here.

As physicians struggle with the need to diversify patient services while managing their cash flow, one company has implemented an innovative program to help customers demo ultrasound equipment, online, before committing to a major purchase – a program which has increased customer satisfaction by ensuring the ultrasound machine meets their needs.  Providing customers with ultrasound system demonstrations is not a new concept, all the large manufacturers like Siemens, Toshiba, and SonoSite typically go on-site to customer offices’ or hospital departments to demonstrate the equipment prior to purchase. Demoing a system is a great opportunity for customers to engage with a clinical person to ensure the ultrasound machine is going to meet their expectations: See image quality, verify software features for their clinical exams, and ask questions to a clinical expert. In these economic times, a private physician cannot risk spending thousands of dollars on capital equipment and have it not meet his or her needs.

United Medical Instruments, Inc. is a multi-vendor ultrasound reseller, selling both new and used ultrasound equipment, and now they offer its customers a new program to evaluate systems prior to purchase. It’s called UMI Interactive™ and it’s the first program of its kind where physicians and sonographers can evaluate ultrasound equipment prior to purchase.

Purchasing new or used ultrasound machines from a reputable ultrasound reseller is a good solution for those working with a budget. But on the flip side, there isn’t enough money built into these transactions to allow for onsite ultrasound system demonstrations. But with the UMI Interactive™, customers have the ability to schedule a convenient demo time and work directly with one of the registered staff sonographers to participate in live scanning and verify the system features and image quality meet their requirements.

To learn more about this program and schedule an online demo, click here. Explore United Medical Instruments, Inc. by visiting their website.

Armed now with feedback from your peers, an understanding of what your current reputation is, and a vision to strengthen that reputation, the next step is to embrace the multitude of online communities to market yourself or your practice. Regardless if you are a student, a seasoned professional or a practice owner, the best way to convey your online physician reputation and find opportunities for success is to market yourself.

Last week, I suggested you invite feedback from your colleagues on how they perceive you, as a way to get a good understanding of your reputation in the field. Were you able to solicit and hear the feedback? Did you hear adjectives like team player, flexible, innovative -- or aloof, unapproachable, unrealistic? Did you hear a few adjectives that weren't what you expected?

Who needs to worry about marketing and branding? You do. The reality is that we form opinions about people every day, whether or not we think we're being judgmental and regardless if we know someone personally. You are forming an opinion about me right now as you read this post. My reputation has been built over the past two decades in the ultrasound market. I may think I have a good reputation but — here's the kicker — what I think doesn't matter. It's how I'm perceived and what others think of me that truly forms my reputation.

Adding ultrasound to your practice not only helps improve patient services by allowing you to keep control over the care your patients receive, but it also creates an additional source of revenue. For a private physician considering an ultrasound system purchase selecting the right system can be a challenge. Hospitals typically have funds allocated for capital equipment purchases or have group buying power through contracts established with pre-negotiated and discounted prices. What about the private physician making a solo or partner-driven ultrasound purchase? During a time when there is a question of budget vs. quality, how do you choose? Do you pay new system prices, or, take a risk and purchase a used ultrasound system?

Let's look at new ultrasound equipment first. Just like buying a new car, buying new ultrasound equipment at first looks lucrative: nobody has used it, the probes and elements are all functioning, and it comes with a warranty. However, just like a brand new car depreciates the minute you drive it off the lot, so does the ultrasound system. Can you imagine needing to resell or trade-in that brand new ultrasound system within a month to find that it depreciated by 20%

Second, is the topic of used ultrasound equipment. Used ultrasound is defined as buying from a website like EBay or from an unknown reseller because what is being sold is cheap and fits into your budget. This is the ultimate scenario of Buyer Beware. When buying from an unknown entity you do not know if the equipment has the software features enabled that you need for your exams, you don't know if the ultrasound transducers have dead elements, which compromises image quality and jeopardizes care for your patients, and it doesn't come with a warranty. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Third, is the great compromise of being on a budget and having quality ultrasound equipment. How? When you purchase refurbished ultrasound equipment from a quality ultrasound reseller you can be assured that the equipment you buy has gone through an extensive OEM and ACR recommended inspection process. The ultrasound machine and attached probes are checked in, tested repeatedly for functioning boards, heating capacity, etc. In addition, all repairs, if needed, are made to manufacturer specifications. The ultrasound system then leaves the facility with a warranty in place to provide peace of mind to the customer

To learn more about the inspection guideline requirement enforced by the American College of Radiology visit our blog Ultrasound Equipment Maintenance is Mandatory for Accreditation

Click below to download the FREE "Guide to Buying Refurbished Ultrasound Equipment" or to learn more about the refurbished process at United Medical Instruments.