SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Microcap & Penny Stocks : Fonar - Where is it going?
FONR 14.67+1.3%Dec 29 3:59 PM EST

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: BlueCheap who wrote (10597)7/28/1998 11:42:00 PM
From: James L. Fleckenstein  Read Replies (1) of 19354
 
It seems to me that alot is now riding on the commercial success of the OR360. Keeping out the competition sounds nice but how do we know there is even a market there? While the potential may be HUGE, what is today's reality? I am not being negative here, just cautious. My limited conversations with people doing this kind of interventional MR indicate that acceptance is quite sluggish. This doesn't mean this is not the way of the future, just that the future may not be here next year. The reasons why acceptance is not immediate are 1) Billing for magnet time and the procedure time may require some time to be established. I am sure Medicare won't reimburse for the MR time AND the procedure--not yet anyway. Where medicare goes so go the other 3rd party payors, as a loose approximation. 2) Why tie up your scanner for 3-4 hours doing one procedure when you could have run through 5-6 paying patients? Scheduling unknown amounts of time will wreak havoc with calenders. 3) "Turf" issues: Will the MR machine go into radiol dept or the operating rooms? Some of you may relish the notion of obviating the radiologist and therefore applaud the bypassing straight to the surgeon, but a tacit threat to the insecure lot of radiologists is potentially an important snafu. I think Dr. D was aware of this when I told him I thought he will want to put a heavy marketing pressure on surgeons he was quick to say that radiology is where his market is. Still, I think Fonar has wisely gone after the surgical marketplace. The whole point here is that even if this is the best thing since sliced bread, the MR OR is no "gimme". Exciting potential yes. I think the most reassuring PR to see would be something about research agreements reached with 2-3 academic sites. That would promote the likelihood that Fonar will catch some limelight as the budding technology declares itself in the scientific/medical care circles. FWIW IMO
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext