Making the decision to purchase the right DR Panel (Digital Radiography) for your office can be confusing, but we’re here to help. Let's take a look at the main features to consider before buying a new panel for your x-ray system:
- Software & Digital Overlay Tools
- Size and Mobility
- Duration of Support
- Image Quality
- Price
Software & Digital Overlay Tools
Software and DR Panels are sold as a package. Software features are really the main thing to be focused on when making a purchase like this. The software is what gives you true flexibility.
There are some software platforms that focus more on sharing capabilities and there are some that focus on overlay measurements and angle measurements. Depending upon your practice, you may want to look at the capabilities of the software tools, rather than top brands in hospitals.
These software packages will provide a basic toolset that will allow you to:
- Change contrast
- Brightness
- Window levels
- Single distance measurements
- Single angle measurements
- And more...
These software platforms give you specialized toolsets that can be used in more focused practices like chiropractors, podiatrists, and dentists. X-ray software will allow you to take the measurements that many of these practices require on a daily basis.
Chiropractic toolsets provide the ability to measure the spine in many different ways. Podiatry toolsets will allow you to create image overlays with different widely used podiatry measurements.
When looking at new software, do yourself a favor and inquire about what tools come with the panel and research the usability. Our YouTube has a library of the different types of software we provide and the tools that come with them.
Additionally, it's very important that the software you purchase has the built-in overlay toolset that you would like to use. For example, chiropractors are looking for Upper Cervical tools (NUCCA, Orthospinology, Advanced Orthogonal or Blair), Gonstead Tools, CBP (Chiropractic BioPhysics) Tools, Etc.
Size and Mobility
The three most popular options on the market today are 14”×17” cassette size, 17”×17” cassette sized, and 17”×17” fixed (larger than cassette sized). The term Cassette here means the DR Panel is of the same size as Film or CR cassettes, and can be easily fitted into existing cassette trays and bucky.
User’s choosing to go with a DR Panel package typically already have an x-ray system, so think about the panel size you already use today. Would you change it?
The 17”×17” fixed DR is the perfect option for practices like chiropractors and pulmonary specialists. This equipment stands upright most of the time, which makes it easy for patients to be exposed in the Upright Wall Stand receptor (Bucky).
It's important to choose a system that has a Mini-PACS feature where you can use the acquisition PC to act as a server. This feature allows you to view patient images from different rooms in your office. You can analyze the images, produce a report, and perform administrative tasks from a remote PC within the office.
Duration of Support
Something very common in the industry today is to have a 5-year manufacturer's warranty on the hardware, and we recommend you choose a provider that offers one.
Another important feature that we recommend is continued remote support for the system. Things will need updating. You'll want to have someone to reach out to if you need assistance with the PC; as well as with continued training on things like specialized toolsets.
Typically these DR Panel packages will include remote support of 1-year. Depending on your practice needs you may want to opt for a 5-year plan to avoid disruption of service and equipment issues.
Something to keep in mind, if you add the extended support during the purchase of the DR Panel, this will help you in two ways:
- When you bundle this together at the beginning, it is cheaper than paying for each additional year after the fact
- You can put the entire cost into your financing, which will keep your costs as low as possible.
Image Quality
There are two types of Scintillators (Panel Lighting Layer) within DR Panels that are used most often. Gadolinium Oxide (GadoX) and Cesium Oxide (Csi).
Typically Cesium panels have 20% better image quality than Gadox for about a 20% higher price. Many manufacturers of DR Panels are looking to produce more units in order to out-compete. Recently, Cesium production has increased enough to make panels at a price that is more competitive with GadoX, making them more affordable than they used to be. We do recommend Cesium panels these days because of this change in affordability.
Price
Overall prices for DR Panel packages have become quite affordable these days. Maven works very hard to keep the affordability factor as easy to work with as possible, while keeping customization at the same level.
When looking at DR Panels, the prices of different makes and models can vary greatly. Assess your needs, then compare similar products and prices to find the best offer for you. We can help with this as well. It’s really important that you buy the right product, so it best suits your needs for all employees in your practice. It’s also important that you get a good return on investment, we can help with this as well.
