Manufacturers, hospitals cooperate on imaging equipment acquisition.

In the past, some diagnostic imaging equipment manufacturers offered "boiler plate" financing strategies to healthcare organizations. Today, however, many employ representatives with backgrounds in finance and train them to work with hospitals to develop financing strategies appropriate for the organization. This consultive relationship allows equipment manufacturers to create customized financing plans to fit a hospital's individual needs. For example, radiologists and financial managers can now work with manufacturers' representatives to determine which imaging equipment would be the most appropriate and cost-effective for a particular hospital. Manufacturers' representatives also may consult with the hospitals' strategic planners to determine the most appropriate piece of equipment to buy and to arrange financing.