Return on Investment
The near- and long-term financial benefits of digital radiography
Digital radiography may be more affordable than you think. It can also generate significant revenue—and reduce your taxes.
Increase your revenue by 30% or more.1
Affordable
Use our Interactive Economic Model to calculate how a digital radiography system could fit into your budget. Bottom-line benefits of converting to digital radiography include:
- No processor lease or purchase costs.
- No fees or equipment for disposing toxic processing chemicals.
- Recaptured square footage and costs for darkroom space and x-ray film storage.
Six reasons to go green by going digital 
- No toxic chemicals to get into the water or soil.
- A safer workplace for employees.
- No more costly regulatory fees for disposing of toxic processing chemicals.
- No hazardous waste contracts, filtering systems or septic tanks for disposal and storage.
- Decreased insurance liability.
- Positive perception among patients and the community.
“The decision to buy the IDEXX Digital Imaging system was a good one indeed. In addition to the economic benefits, our practice is truly cleaner, greener and safer than before and that feels good!”
Smith Veterinary Hospital • Sante Fe, New Mexico
Read the full testimonial >
Environmental benefits of digital imaging
Purchasing the IDEXX Digital Imaging system seemed like a very big decision at the time. The City of Santa Fe mandated disposal of all fixer, developer and water that went through our x-ray processor as hazardous waste.
We had multiple inspections by the environmental department and the City of Santa Fe. It was hard to argue with them when we looked at the brown stains on our counters and sink in the radiology room. With disposal costs of $300 a week, we had to consider alternatives. When all hard costs, including chemicals, film and disposal, were totaled, we calculated a two-year payback on the system. Soon after we installed the system, we realized the benefits were far greater than ever imagined.
First, having no chemicals to handle, store or dispose of has been a huge relief. The x-ray room now looks and smells clean. Our technicians are absolutely thrilled to not have exposure to the chemicals, especially when cleaning the processor. The City of Santa Fe and the environmental department can no longer be concerned about our x-ray chemicals. We don't have to schedule or pay for pickups for the chemicals and there are no more manifests to sign, file and produce for inspectors. Our practice is truly cleaner and greener than ever before.
Secondly, we take far fewer x-rays per animal than we did before. The safety benefits are greatly appreciated by everyone who takes radiographs in the hospital. In the past, an x-ray that was too light or too dark left you with two choices: read a bad x-ray or send the technician and the animal back to get another dose of radiation. And—not having to drag that big chow back in the x-ray room makes everyone appreciate the system!
Third, eliminating the clutter and storage hassle of all those films has been a huge benefit to the practice. Organizing, filing and retrieving films seemed like a full-time job. Digging through piles of unfiled films and searching for those missing in action is now a thing of the past. Also, no one missed standing at the front desk and arguing with a client about who owns the film—now we simply hand them a CD.
Finally, the general excitement created by implementing the new technology was marvelous for our practice. While the benefits of this cannot easily be calculated, they are certainly real and substantial. With factors such as technician time savings, additional animals being radiographed and improved practice morale on top of hard cost savings, the payback period on the IDEXX Digital Imaging system is closer to one year.
Kathy Dobesh, DVM, and Mike Dobesh, DVM
Smith Veterinary Hospital
Sante Fe, New Mexico
Tax advantages
The Federal government has extended key provisions of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 into 2009. And, as Gary I. Glassman, CPA, points out, your practice could qualify for significant tax savings (PDF) when you invest in in-house diagnostics such as an IDEXX Digital Imaging System.*
Per IRS tax code section 179, you can immediately deduct up to $250,000 for calendar-year 2009 expenses, as long as total purchases are below $800,000. Alternatively a temporary tax incentive that allows you to immediately deduct 50% of the cost.
The archived Webinar Smart Practice Investments in a Tight Economy at the IDEXX Learning Center explains more about the tax advantages of investing in in-house diagnostics.
References
1.
Navigating veterinary digital ROI calculators. Animal Insides Web site.
www.animalinsides.com/learn/digital-imaging/172-roi.html. Accessed February 24, 2010.
*
This information is for general reference only and is not intended to be tax advice. Please contact your accountant or tax advisor to discuss IRS Section 179 and to receive complete details on current regulations, limitations and guidelines as they may apply to you.
