Is your old X-ray holding you back?

Your old X-ray may actually cost you more to keep using than replacing 

Despite advancements in higher-end imaging modalities like CT and MRI, X-ray will continue to be the first line of diagnosis for various clinical indications as prescribed by respective country guidelines. X-ray remains the most widely diagnostic imaging modality accounting for 55% of all medical imaging procedures.^[1] Utilization rates differ with 800 exams per 1,000 people in developed countries to 400 per 1,000 in emerging countries.^[1]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is enabling AI-aided triaging and interpretation of X-ray imaging for a more efficient and productive reading workflow. New X-ray systems are highly automated, streamlining the entire examination process and saving minutes per patient to allow for higher imaging capacity.^[2]

Yet for many radiology departments and imaging centers, investing in a new X-ray system is often overlooked, particularly in an era of declining reimbursement or market uncertainty, or due to the desire to invest in higher-end systems such as CT or MRI. In many organizations, budgets are tight and many sites may forgo investing in a new X-ray system thinking their old system can keep up.

But is your old X-ray system costing you more money to operate it compared to buying a new X-ray system?

Hidden costs of older X-ray systems

As an X-ray system ages, so too does all its components. It may require frequent repairs as different components fail. For machines older than 10 years, parts may become more difficult to acquire, potentially leading to prolonged downtime that can impact the department’s scheduling and ability to accommodate referrals and walk-ins. This may result in physicians sending patients elsewhere or a delay in healthcare services for patients that can increase their dissatisfaction.

When an X-ray system needs repair, there is a potentially larger hidden cost tied to downtime loss. Disrupted patient appointments are just the tip of the iceberg. The impact on downstream services, such as secondary imaging with CT or MRI, surgery or other interventions, can be more significant for the patient and the facility than the initial X-ray delay alone. For example, a patient with a fracture who receives an X-ray may need surgery to properly set the bone. Or, a chest X-ray that depicts a lung abnormality in a patient will often lead to additional imaging and potentially a treatment pathway.

If the X-ray is down, the patient goes elsewhere, breaking the continuity of care and slowing the path to diagnosis and treatment.

Equipment downtime can also impact patient and staff satisfaction. Patients may become unhappy with long wait times due to backlogs and seek other providers for their X-ray services. Once you lose them to another health system or imaging center, they may not come back. Technologists may also become frustrated with unreliable equipment and frequent repair downtime and seek employment elsewhere. With a technologist vacancy rate hovering around 16%[SB1]  for radiography,[3] losing well-trained staff who may be difficult to replace may impact your department’s productivity and ultimately, total billable services which can affect profitability.

There are less obvious and potentially higher hidden costs of keeping an old X-ray system: reduced efficiency from limited patient throughput, and repeated and rejected X-rays. Variability in patient positioning and exam setup represents a majority of the reasons why as many as 25% of images can be rejected.^[4]

More efficient, automated X-ray systems can help streamline the imaging process and enable technologists to accommodate higher patient throughput and volumes. Modern X-ray systems are outfitted with advanced, intelligent software and technologies that automate the imaging process, from patient positioning to image capture to digital archiving. Automated X-ray systems and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software may lead to fewer repeats by improving image quality, optimizing exposure and ensuring proper patient positioning.

Automation and AI maximize quality and patient throughput

To remain competitive, hospitals and imaging centers are seeking X-ray systems that provide faster processing, digital capabilities, and AI-aided workflows.^[1]

Some newer X-ray systems may also provide a cost-effective upgrade path that modernizes a current system and help maximizes its value. Upgrades and lifts are designed to reuse as many original parts as possible and to minimize downtime to avoid disruptions to patient care.

Modernizing your X-ray system fleet can help you achieve greater efficiency and higher patient throughput to maximize the impact of your investment. To help you decide what’s best for your practice or center, GE HealthCare has developed a Radiography buyer’s guide with key considerations and questions to ask any vendor.

Should you replace your X-ray system?

When assessing whether your current X-ray system is still cost-effective or whether replacement would deliver a better return in efficiency and patient care, you may consider the following:

• System age: Is your X-ray system 10 or more years old?
• Repair cost ratio: Do annual repair costs exceed 30% of the system’s current market value?
• Breakdown frequency: Has your system been out of service more than twice in the past 12 months?
• Parts availability: Are replacement components not readily available for your system?
• Total cost of ownership (TCO): Does the 5-year TCO of your current system exceed the TCO of a new system?

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, it may be worth evaluating whether the ongoing costs of your current system outweigh the investment in a modern replacement.

References

[1] . MarketsandMarkets (MnM) Insights, “General Radiography Sector Insights for LTS”, March 18, 2026. Market estimates based on MnM analysis, primary interviews, and secondary research. Used with permission.

[2] . GE HealthCare. “Streamlining the radiology workflow to improve efficiency and capacity.” December 6, 2022. Insights. https://www.gehealthcare.com/en-us/insights/article/streamlining-the-radiology-workflow-to-improve-efficiency-and-capacity.

[3] . American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), 2025 ASRT Radiologic Sciences Staffing and Workplace Survey, July 24, 2025. Survey of 18,419 radiology department managers; 475 completed responses; margin of error ±4.4% at the 95% confidence level. https://www.asrt.org/main/news-publications/news/article/2025/07/24/asrt-staffing-and-workplace-survey-shows-vacancy-rate-increases-near-record-highs-aligning-with-overall-health-care-profession-trends.

[4] . Little, Kevin J., et al. "Unified Database for Rejected Image Analysis Across Multiple Vendors in Radiography." Journal of the American College of Radiology, vol. 14, no. 2, 2017, pp. 208-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2016.07.011.