Survival of the Fittest
RSNA has a long history serving the industry with both educational sessions and technical exhibitions. It dates back several decades and with many years of successful growth in both attendees and exhibitors. But while the official show statistics are reportedly available in January, (albeit long after our attention span has lapsed) even to the casual observer this year’s RSNA was lean. The fact the annual rad-fest drew 100 first time-exhibitors is interesting but doesn’t necessarily compute to an industry growing. I mean, after all, wasn’t one of those first-time exhibitors was a therapeutic massage company?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing the industry I’ve dedicated my company and my career to. Overall, I see some significant changes at the RSNA this year that reflects a ‘thinning out’ of the RIS and RIS/PACS marketplace. There was a lot of empty floor exhibit space that was historically fully booked. This is primarily a result of the current economic times (companies going out of business or cutting back on their unnecessary expenditures).
It is now, more than ever, a ‘survival of the fittest’ world in the radiology field. The companies, like Swearingen Software, with years of experience, solid products and services and a significant recurring stream of revenue, are surviving. The others, who depend upon new sales, are slowly but steadily disappearing or being absorbed by the more successful companies.
The fittest in the industry should weather the economic storm and continue to invest in their products and their customers, and survive. Whether you’re considering replacing a RIS, PACS or both, I encourage you to look for a survivor - a vendor with passion and one who is fit for the challenge. The last thing a buyer needs is to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on a RIS or RIS/PACS only to find that company out of business soon afterwards.
I welcome your comments.
Randall