Abstract:
In a method and apparatus for determining the economic feasibility for an operator to acquire a further medical-technical apparatus, or a replacement of an existing medical-technical apparatus, an analysis device has access to data representing usage of said existing medical-technical apparatus, data characterizing a remuneration of the operator from the usage of the existing medical-technical apparatus, and data representing operational costs of the operator. The analysis device determines a profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus and dependent on that profitability, together with the aforementioned data, determines the profitability of acquiring the further device, or the replacement device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is directed to a method and to a system for determining whether an acquisition of a further medical-technical apparatus or a replacement of an existing medical-technical apparatus is economically feasible for an operator of the existing medical-technical apparatus.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The economic feasibility of medical-technical apparatuses, particularly radiological systems, is dependent on many factors that are currently not easily discernable for an operator or a supplier of the medical-technical apparatus or for a creditor of the operator. When the operator of a medical-technical apparatus would like to acquire a further and, in particular, expensive medical-technical apparatus, the creditor who provides the operator with credit for the acquisition of the further medical-technical apparatus must, for example, rely on imprecise estimates of the potential profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus. The creditor therefore sets a correspondingly high risk margin when extending the credit.  
           [0005]    Suppliers of medical-technical apparatuses are sometimes compelled, for example, to enter into a buy-back obligation in the sales contract of the medical-technical apparatus if the operation of the medical-technical apparatus should prove unprofitable for the operator. Under certain circumstances, the operator of the medical-technical apparatus also takes on a high entrepreneurial and, possibly, personal risk in the acquisition of the medical-technical apparatus. In all of these cases, it would thus be desirable to determine the potential profitability of the replacement of an existing apparatus or the acquisition of a further medical-technical apparatus in a simple and fast way.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An object of the present invention to provide a method that creates prerequisites for ascertaining in a simple way whether the acquisition or the replacement of a medical-technical apparatus is economically feasible. Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable system with which it can be determined in a simple way whether the acquisition or replacement of a medical-technical apparatus is economically feasible.  
           [0007]    This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a method for determining whether the acquisition of a further medical-technical apparatus or the replacement of an existing medical-technical apparatus is economically feasible for an operator of the existing medical-technical apparatus, including the steps of automatically determining first data describing utilization of the existing medical-technical apparatus during the course of utilization thereof, automatically transmitting the first data to a central data bank, determining second data that describe remuneration of the operator on the basis of the utilization of the existing medical-technical apparatus, determining third data that represent operational costs of the operator, based on the first, second and third data, determining the profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus with an analysis device allocated to the central data bank, and based on the first, second and third data and on the profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus, determining the likely profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus, or of the replacement of the existing medical-technical apparatus, with an analysis device allocated to the central data bank.  
           [0008]    Inventively, thus, the profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus of the operator is determined on the basis of the first, second and third data. The first data describe the utilization of the first medical-technical apparatus. The utilization of, for example, a radiological scanner is, for example, its time of usage or a number and type of examinations that are undertaken with the radiological scanner. The second data reflect the remuneration of the utilization of the medical-technical apparatus. In the case of a radiological scanner, for example, this can be the remuneration by health insurers for exposures produced with the radiological scanner. However, the second data also can include a remuneration for a consultation or diagnosis that ensues in conjunction with the examination of the radiological scanner. The third data cover the operational costs of the operator. These costs are incurred, for example, for maintenance of the radiological scanner. These costs also include rent for a treatment room in which the radiological scanner is located. Further operational costs are, for example, the salary for an operator of the radiological scanner, etc.  
           [0009]    On the basis of this profitability, thus, a decision is made in accordance with the invention as to whether the acquisition of a further medical-technical apparatus is economically meaningful at all or whether the existing medical-technical apparatus should be replaced by a new medical-technical apparatus. The profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus or its replacement, or the profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus, can be implemented in an especially practical way according to an embodiment of the invention wherein the first, second and third data are transmitted to a central data bank and the profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus and the potential profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus, or the profitability of replacement of the existing medical-technical apparatus, is/are automatically determined with an analysis device allocated to the data bank. The data bank and the analysis device allocated to the data bank make it possible to determine the potential profitability of the replacement or of the acquisition of the further medical-technical apparatus from the large amount of first, second and third data.  
           [0010]    The potential profitability is especially efficiently determined since the first data are automatically determined by the first medical-technical apparatus. A modern radiological scanner has, for example, a control computer that suitably controls the radiological scanner during an exposure with the radiological scanner and prepares a measurement log. This measurement log can at least serve as a basis for the first data.  
           [0011]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the third data can, in particular, be a detail about personnel costs, interest costs, deduction for wear (DfW) and/or overhead expenses of the operator.  
           [0012]    The potential profitability, further, can be determined in further detail when the tax burden of the operator and/or data representing potential patients for the operator and/or medical referrers of patients in the coverage area of the operator are taken into consideration in the determination of the potential profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus or of the replacement for the existing medical-technical apparatus according to preferred versions of the invention. According to one embodiment of the invention, the representing potential patients can include patient classes, a regional purchasing power profile and/or a proportion of private patients.  
           [0013]    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, future applications that can be implemented with the further medical-technical apparatus or the replacement for the existing medical-technical apparatus are taken into consideration in the determination of the potential profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus or of the replacement for the existing medical-technical apparatus. It is usually relatively wealthy private patients who are often more receptive particularly to new and especially expensive applications.  
           [0014]    Taking the presence of competitors into consideration in the determination of the potential profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus or of the replacement for the existing medical-technical apparatus is also provided according to one version of the invention.  
           [0015]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the existing medical-technical apparatus, the further medical-technical apparatus and/or the replacement is a magnetic resonance apparatus, a computed tomography apparatus, an X-ray apparatus, an ultrasound apparatus and/or a lithotriptor.  
           [0016]    The second object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a system for determining whether an acquisition of a further medical-technical apparatus or replacement of an existing medical-technical apparatus is economically feasible for an operator of the existing medical-technical apparatus, having a central data bank that can be connected to a communication network, the existing medical-technical apparatus, which is configured such that it automatically determines first data describing its utilization and communicates the first data to the central data bank via the communication network, and an analysis device allocated to the central data bank that, based on the first data, and based on second data stored in the central data bank that describe remuneration of the operator from the utilization of the first medical-technical apparatus, and based on third data stored in the data bank that cover operational costs of the operator, determines the profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus, and, based on the first, second and third data and on the profitability of the existing medical-technical apparatus, determines a potential profitability of the further medical-technical apparatus, or of the replacement for the existing medical-technical apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the inventive system.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows a measurement log of a magnetic resonance apparatus of the type generated and used in the inventive method and system.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the inventive method. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows a radiologist  2  in a medical practice  3  to which a number of magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  belong. The magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  in the exemplary embodiment respectively include computers  4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  connected to the Internet that control the respective magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  in a known way during the examination of a patient and respectively prepare a measurement log during the examination. FIG. 2 shows an example of a measurement log  20  that was produced by the computer  4   a  of the magnetic resonance apparatus la during an examination of a patient in the present exemplary embodiment.  
         [0021]    The measurement log  20  was produced in the following way:  
         [0022]    Before the radiologist  2  examines the patient  5  with the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a , the radiologist  2  registers the patient  5  with the computer  4   a  by entering the personal particulars of the patient  5  into the computer  4   a . If the personal particulars are already stored in the computer  4   a , the radiologist  2  fetches them. Subsequently, the radiologist  2  selects a measurement sequence suitable for the examination of the patient  5 , so that the magnetic resonance apparatus produces an image dataset of the patient  5  in a well-known way. Subsequently, the computer  4   a  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a  uses the image dataset  1   a  to construct MR images in a well-known way which are used by the radiologist  2  to prepare a diagnosis for the patient  5 .  
         [0023]    The computer  4   a  automatically produces the measurement log  20  shown in FIG. 2 during the measurement exposure. The measurement log  20  in the present exemplary embodiment includes the times of day at which the examination of the patient  5  with the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a  begins and ends, the type of measurement, a code that reflects the reason for the examination, the identity of the patient  5  in encrypted form and the number of reconstructed MR images.  
         [0024]    In the exemplary embodiment, the measurement log  20  also includes a code allocated to the diagnosis for the patient  5  that the radiologist  2  enters into the computer  4   a  after preparing the diagnosis.  
         [0025]    Subsequently, the computer  4   a  automatically communicates the measurement log  20  shown in FIG. 2 to a data bank connected to the Internet that is located in a business office  11  of the manufacturer of the magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c.    
         [0026]    In addition to the measurement log  20 , the computer  4   a  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a  communicates further measurement logs that are allocated to other patients (not shown in FIG. 1). The computers  4   b  and  4   c  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   b  and  1   c  likewise prepare measurement logs during examinations implemented with them, containing details similar to those of the measurement log  20 . These measurement logs are likewise transmitted to the data bank  10 . The measurement logs produced by the computers  4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  are referenced  30  in FIG. 3.  
         [0027]    In the exemplary embodiment, a table  31  schematically shown in FIG. 3, patient statistics compilation  32 , a list  33  and a cost table  34  also are stored in the data bank  10 .  
         [0028]    The table  31  includes information about the remuneration of the radiologist  2  on the basis of the services the radiologist has provided. This information includes the remuneration for the examinations performed with the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  or  1   c , costs for the production of MR images produced with the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  or  1   c , remuneration for a diagnosis prepared on the basis of the examination, etc.  
         [0029]    The information stored in the patient statistics compilation  32  include average purchasing power, the proportion of private patients and the number of further radiologists in the coverage area of the radiologist  2 .  
         [0030]    The list  33  includes details about new applications for a magnetic resonance apparatus. These, for example, are newly produced health checks or new, non-invasive preliminary examinations that can be implemented with a magnetic resonance apparatus.  
         [0031]    The cost table  34  includes details about operational costs that the radiologist  2  incurs due to the operation of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  or  1   c . These costs include costs for an employee  7  of the radiologist  2 , power costs, interest, rent, etc.  
         [0032]    On the basis of the data in the measurement logs  30 , in the table  31 , the patient statistics compilation  32 , the list  33  and the cost table  34 , an analysis device  12  allocated to the data bank  10  uses a suitable computer program to calculate an ongoing investment reckoning  35  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  from which the computer program respectively determines respective income excess reckonings  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  of the magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  before taxes.  
         [0033]    The computer program stored in the analysis device  12  subsequently applies with tax data of past years that are stored in the data bank  10  in a list  37  to the income excess reckonings  36   a ,  36   b  and  36   c . On the basis of this operation, the computer program stored in the analysis device  12  subsequently determines the current operating results (profitabilities)  38  of each of the magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c . On the basis of the current operating result  38  and, in particular, taking the details stored in the table  31 , in the patient statistics  32 , in the list  33  and in the cost table  34  into consideration, the computer program stored in the analysis device  12  determines the potential profitability of a replacement for one of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  or  1   c . The computer program also determines the potential profitability of a further magnetic resonance apparatus that the radiologist  2  may acquire in addition to the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c.    
         [0034]    The plurality of three magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  is only cited by way of example. The inventive method can also be applied when the radiologist  2  has one, two or more than three magnetic resonance apparatus.  
         [0035]    As noted above, the magnetic resonance apparatuses  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  respectively have computers  41 ,  4   b  and  4   c  connected to the Internet. The inventive method also can be used, however, when the computers of the magnetic resonance apparatus are not connected to the Internet. Data that describe the utilization of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  need not necessarily be compiled in a measurement log  20 . Transmission of the measurement log  30  via the Internet is likewise merely optional.  
         [0036]    The inventive method also can be employed for calculating the profitability of additional options of the magnetic resonance apparatus  1   a ,  1   b  or  1   c.    
         [0037]    The inventive method also can be applied to other medical-technical apparatuses such as, in particular, computed tomography systems, lithotriptors, ultrasound apparatuses and/or X-ray apparatuses.  
         [0038]    The measurement log  20 , the measurement logs  30 , the table  31 , the patient statistics compilation  32 , the list  33  and the cost table  34  are, shown in the illustrated format merely as examples.  
         [0039]    Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.