Diagnostic company I-MED ramps up its remote controlled imaging in regional communities

A pilot this year trialling technology that links an MRI machine in a regional or remote area to a ‘cockpit’ location some distance away is bringing faster diagnostic imaging to isolated areas.

Diagnostics such as MRI can be assessed from a location a considerable distance from the machine. Picture: AAP

As the likely sale of diagnostic imaging business I-MED Radiology Network approaches, the company has been improving its reach into regional and remote communities.

Driven by a national and regional shortage of radiologists, I-MED launched a successful pilot this year trialling new technology that links an MRI machine in a regional or remote area to a “cockpit” location operated by technicians.

I-Med operations manager for Queensland and the NT Ben Brock said the trial showed how it was possible to provide “continuity of service” to potentially vulnerable patients.

“What the advantage is that it’s not dependent on the onsite technicians expertise. In regional locations we have the same resourcing issues that any industry,” he said.

“At the regional end we will still have radiologists at any point in their training, or with little or no MRI experience, liaising with the experienced operator at the cockpit.

“From a patient’s perspective they won’t experience anything different. They will still be taken into the room and positioned on the machine. The interaction happens between the local operator and the cockpit operator.”

I-MED is owned by European private equity firm Permira, which purchased the company in 2018 for $1.3bn. It has more than 250 clinics across Australia and in the past year Permira has been in talks with potential buyers for a figure of about $3bn.

There has been speculation of a September sale and some of the potential buyers mentioned have been ASX-listed giants Wesfarmers and Macquarie Group, along with global private investment firm Bain Capital.

I-MED said it has undertaken a significant program of capital expenditure investment in technology and capability on the remote MRI trial and rollout.

The recent Queensland trial linked MRI services at Rockhampton Mater Hospital to a cockpit in Ipswich, enabling 20 more hours of after-hours appointments every week and patients to access scans more quickly.

I-Med operations manager for Queensland and the NT Ben Brock. Picture: David Nielsen

I-MED has completed more than 1000 remote MRI scans to date – mostly at Rockhampton, – bringing forward patient treatment for those who would have had to wait or travel. The team undertook 400 hours of remote scans.

As a result of the successful pilot there are now six cockpit locations in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, supporting 12 remote MRI sites. Three are already being used to scan patients and nine are due to start.

The technology is used in Brazil and Germany, and about to go live in the US – and it is the first time this type of technology has been tested in Australia.

Mr Brock said there was a national shortage of radiology professionals, including skilled imaging technologists and radiographers, particularly in regional centres.

He said remote MRI offered benefits to local radiographers, provided access to training and education that might otherwise be unavailable to them, and the opportunity to upgrade their skills.

“I-MED is not substituting the local services, but instead extending the opportunities and opening up greater availability for regional communities to access MRI service,” Mr Brock said.

“Innovation is a key focus at I-MED – we continue to invest in technology and find new and improved ways of doing things for patients, referrers and other stakeholders.”

In July, I-MED announced it had reached a deal to acquire San Diego-based teleradiology group StatRad. Teleradiology is the sharing of medical images such as X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans, via electronic technology.

The move will allow the company to expand into the North American market. The global teleradiology market is growing rapidly and has had a compound annual growth rate of 24 per cent since the 2021 financial year.