Feb 06

Medical Imaging Solutions
New Dimensions For An Already Proven Infrastructure

Founded in 1998, Medical Imaging Solutions (MIS) has rapidly grown as an industry leader for refurbished MRI and CT equipment as well as preventative maintenance, emergency services, and complete turnkey solutions for hospitals and clinics throughout the United States and international markets.

The Medical Dealer had the opportunity to follow-up with Medical Imaging Solutions one year after their initial profile in February 2005. MIS continues to grow both internally and externally as 2005 was another great stepping-stone-year for this Atlanta-based company that has its sights, infrastructure, and alignments in place to become the nation’s principal provider of solutions for the refurbished medical capital equipment industry.

As we talk in depth with Arnold Bates, president of MIS, we gain further insight into what is behind their steady growth and why more clients nationwide continue to seek their world-class products and services.

What changes have taken place since Medical Dealer last profiled MIS (a year ago)?
Medical Imaging Solutions had another
successful year in 2005 not only from a financial standpoint but we added more dimensions to our already proven infrastructure. From an operations standpoint, MIS has increased its number of employees by 17% to maintain the highest level of support our clients have come to expect from MIS as well as to meet our own growing internal demands.

Internally we have added personnel to several key areas of our support staff. We continue to grow our electronic bench testing department where we are seeing a significant rise in the amount of parts and coil repairs we are carrying out for other companies. This growth has allowed us to add personnel as well as to expand upon our already impressive electronic diagnostic equipment. We feel growth in this area will only continue to place MIS in the forefront of diagnostics and repair of coils and parts for MRI and CT Systems.

Additionally, we added new engineers to our expert service team. As our client base expands year after year, it is imperative that we maintain the highest level of support our long-time clients have come to expect from MIS as well as our newly entrusted ones. MIS will always remain true to its roots as a service company; delivering the highest level of engineering support can only be accomplished by adding the industry’s most talented and dedicated engineers to our esteemed engineering base.

Furthermore, we’ve added a regional manager to our offices in Texas. As MIS continues to be recognized and sought after for its expertise in finding solutions for our clients, maintaining exceptional business relationships with each one is critical. Our managers, engineers, and office staff take a personal interest to see to it that our clients’ business remains successful. Our new regional manager is a great asset and comes to MIS with a high level of knowledge, business skills, and dedication that not only MIS requires but for which our clients will be grateful.

Any new product or service offerings that our readers should be aware of?
Yes, of course. As mentioned earlier, MIS takes a personal interest into the success of our clients’ businesses and we will continue to explore alternative avenues and develop relationships where we feel our strength and expertise can be leveraged to the benefit of our clients. In the past year, MIS identified a growing need to support the tubes on our CT systems. We are very excited to say that we have partnered with Dunlee, the leading manufacturer of OEM and replacement imaging components for CT and X-ray. Now our valued clients can benefit by knowing their CT tube can be covered either on an individual basis or by utilizing Dunlee’s impressive Glassware Solutions program.

Exploring and developing relationships with industry leaders, such as Dunlee, gives MIS additional strength to service CT systems and a “piece of mind” comfort level to our existing clients. That is a win-win situation from which MIS and our valued clients can benefit.

Another example where we’ve added new services is our upgraded mobile fleet. Our newest and most profound change is the addition of a Siemens Emotion Duo CT mobile scanner. We have had this impressive multi-slice CT mobile scanner custom built.

Not to be outshined, our impressive line-up of mobile MRI systems was increased by the addition of a Siemens Symphony 1.5T short-bore MRI scanner in 2005. This high-end mobile 1.5T short-bore MRI system is completely loaded with all of the high-end options such as Integrated Panoramic Array (IPA), Turbo Neuro, Turbo Ortho, Head/Neck MRA, Turbo Body, and several others. It’s been a great investment in a world-class mobile system that will remain in high demand for years to come.

Any changes/additions/renovations to your overall facility?
Keeping up with the evolving technology these systems undergo year after year forces us to invest in our own infrastructure. As mentioned earlier, we’ve invested heavily into our electronic bench test department which again has proven to be a win-win situation. Our clients benefit by having this high-end technology and expertise at their disposal and MIS benefits by outsourcing these world-class resources to other companies that need MRI and CT parts and coils repaired.

In early 2005, we added a state-of-the-art paint booth to our refurbishment department. Our highly skilled refurbishment team ran by industry veterans who utilize the latest in paint technology to refurbish the covers of every system offered from MIS. With this great addition now every system looks as if it just came off the assembly line. Our clients are very pleased with the end product. Now their system looks, operates, and is guaranteed to OEM specifications just like a brand new scanner.

What's in store for MIS in 2006?
Steady growth and continued customer satisfaction. Year after year more end users as well as other professional companies in this industry are becoming aware of our ability to provide solutions of the highest level. We are working with more asset management companies every year. They realize the benefit of leveraging our knowledge, infrastructure, and strength in the industry to service the medical capital equipment segment so they can concentrate on other areas of management. Moving forward, many asset management companies will see that in order to maintain the highest level of support their clients demand they must either utilize the OEM or MIS; and since we are usually more cost effective than the OEM with the same standards, this is a great fit for MIS and their clients.

What can customers expect from MIS in the years to come? Any plans to expand the business?
MIS is continuing to position itself as the industry’s leading equipment and support provider. As the combination of improved technology which comes at a high price and government involvement into the diagnostic imaging industry bearing down firmer on the regulations, companies that are not as well established as MIS will have a harder time keeping up with the industry’s demands. It is starting to happen now and over the next several years you will see a wider divergence with the OEM’s and MIS separating themselves from others in the industry.

As for expanding our business, we will prudently explore alternative ways to support our clients’ needs and leverage our knowledge and expertise in the industry. However, we will not deviate or depart from our original founding commitment which is our company’s mission statement: “To pursue excellence through the highest level of quality service and refurbished equipment. To always perform with strong work ethics, teamwork, integrity, and professional values.” Our clients remain our best testament and we will not waiver our commitment to them.

Anything else you'd like to add?
As MIS moves forward to becoming one of the nation’s leading equipment and support providers, first of all we want to thank all of our employees who have wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to this company. A company is only as good as its employees and we have put together one of the most dedicated and committed teams to making themselves and MIS a valuable asset to the industry.

We want to thank all of our valued clients, partners, and outside relationships for entrusting MIS with your business and reputation. A great surprise came to MIS in late 2005 when you voted MIS for the first time into the annual “Readers’ Choice Awards” rankings hosted by ‘Medical Imaging Magazine.’ MIS ranked in the top 20 in the “Accessories, Supplies, and Service” category and in the top 10 in “Dealer/Distributor & Remanufacturer/Rebuilder” category. We are very proud to be among the industry’s leading companies and are proud to say we are the only alternative to the OEM’s that provides equipment and service that made the rankings.

We are very honored to be recognized for our hard efforts and we want to thank everyone for their support. We will continue to offer our services to the best of our ability and we look forward to serving the industry for the years to come.

For more information about Medical Imaging Solutions or the product and services they offer, please call 866.592.9191 or visit their web site at www.medicalimaginggroup.com