The other day, I had dinner with Don Bogutski. Don is an old friend of mine and we have seen the industry expand and contract a lot in the last 30 years.

We have always shared the opinion that health care is really a recession-proof industry. But this week Don expressed concern to me about the future.

There is less new equipment and there is less used equipment. Because hospitals are buying less new equipment, there is less used equipment on the market.

Because there is less used equipment on the market, it is harder to find parts, which means keeping equipment operational is harder and costs more.

There are more consolidations, and more and more free-standing imaging centers are either going out of business or being absorbed by the local hospital.

Don suggested that only those companies that know how to operate efficiently and without making mistakes are likely to survive.

I thought back about how much easier it was to operate in the 80s than it is now and I wonder if Don is right. I am hoping things turn around and crossing my fingers.

If any of you have any opinion on this subject, I would love to hear it.




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