Ultrasound’s expanding clinical capabilities and economics contribute to worldwide growth.
Low in cost and minimally invasive, medical ultrasound is steadily infiltrating almost every field of medicine.
Markets and Markets reports that the global ultrasound market is expected to reach $6.86 billion by 2020, up from $5.25 billion in 2015. Ultrasound’s growing adoption is fueled in part by two factors: its expanding clinical
capabilities and economics.
In its early stages, ultrasound was used by radiology to capture images primarily for gynecology, and vascular and cardiac care. Today, its application has broadened into orthopaedics, critical care, sports medicine, rheumatology, pain clinics and numerous other medical specialties. The procedures listed as “common” by the FDA include:
- Abdominal ultrasound (to visualize abdominal tissues and organs)
- Breast ultrasound (to visualize breast tissue)
- Doppler ultrasound (to visualize blood flow through a blood vessel, organs or other structures)
- Echocardiogram (to view the heart)
- Fetal ultrasound (to view the fetus in pregnancy)
- Ultrasound-guided biopsies (to collect a sample of tissue)
- Ophthalmic ultrasound (to visualize ocular structures)
- Ultrasound-guided needle placement (in blood vessels or other tissues of interest)
The demand for ultrasound imaging is driven by physicians who understand and appreciate the rapid answers provided by this minimally-invasive imaging modality. Also, its increasing portability makes it well suited for point of care. Five years ago, no one envisioned ultrasound being used routinely in emergency medicine.
Economics also has played a role in making ultrasound one of the most popular imaging modalities worldwide. At a fraction of the cost of an MRI exam or CAT scan, it is much more affordable. Additionally, the 2015 American ICD-10-CM (diagnosis) and ICD-10-PCS (procedure) medical billing codes give healthcare facilities more flexibility for reimbursement for procedures that “meet medical necessity for ultrasound services”. Also, we are seeing more insurance companies approving the cost of the procedure as well.
The combination of increasing medical applications and economics is a powerful force that will continue to propel the use of ultrasound. I am highly optimistic that its growth trajectory will continue.
Hear Dr. Ghazle talk about other market forces impacting the growth of ultrasound. #sonography #ultrasound
Dr. Hamad Ghazle is Director of Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Rochester Institute of Technology and has been named one of the Top 25 Professors of Sonography by Medical Technology Schools.
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