There is no issue of greater importance to hospitals and other providers, payers and patients/enrollees than the effectiveness and cost of new medical technologies. But it’s often difficult to get an objective picture of all of the costs and benefits ... and straight answers to questions like:

• What clinical advantages does a new technology actually provide? Are there measurable improvements in outcomes? Is the safety profile reasonable? Do these factors justify an increase in cost?
• What are the total costs expected, not only for acquisition but also for ongoing operations, training, supplies and liability?
• What are hospitals charging — and health plans paying — for a procedure?
• What has been the experience of hospitals and health systems that have adopted the technology?
• What marketing advantages does the technology offer ... in terms of attracting more patients and recruiting the most reputable or highly skilled physicians?
• Why are specific health plans covering a technology for their enrollees, or not covering it because of concerns over effectiveness or other issues?
• What factors will influence the future of the technology?

To help hospitals, health systems and other providers balance competing demands for their scarce resources, and help health plans keep up with ever-changing trends in coverage, Hayes, Inc. and Atlantic Information Services, Inc. have teamed up to publish The Hayes-AIS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ADVISER, a comprehensive new monthly report on the effectiveness, cost and safety of significant new medical technologies.

Need information on a specific topic? Order individual stories previously published in Medical Technology Adviser for $78 each.

As a subscriber, each month you’ll receive two exhaustive stories on major changes in the way clinical problems are being addressed by new technologies that could lead to high utilization and high costs. You'll read detailed, thoroughly objective reports on important topics like:

• 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) and 3.0 Tesla (3T) high field MRI scanning
• Artificial cervical disc for treatment of degenerative disc disease
• Total joint arthroplasty and alternatives
• PillCam for the diagnosis of esophageal disorders
• X-stop for disc disease
• Endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins
• Tykerb for the treatment of breast cancer
• NC-Stat System for non-invasive nerve conduction testing
• Radiofrequency tissue volume reduction for upper airway obstruction
• Avastin/Leucentis for wet age-related macular degenration Exablate for the ablation of uterine fibroids

Each comprehensive technology story addresses the same recurring issues:

• Common applications
• Clinical research findings
• Market advantages
• Coverage and reimbursement issues
• Obsolescence
• Costs associated with performing the procedures
• Staff learning curve
• Purchasing and operating costs
• Liability issues
• Volume and hospital charges per procedure
• Physician adoption
• Outlook for the technology

Expert Interviews. Each month you’ll read informative exchanges with medical technology experts on topics such as: the pitfalls of adopting technologies based on manufacturer pressure and limited evidence; whether sham treatments are ethical in clinical trial design; and the type of evidence you should use when making technology decisions about end-of-life care.

Regular News Columns. And you’ll have a reliable scan of all technologies in the news, with hard-hitting summaries of selective clinical trial results, late-stage FDA decisions, coverage decisions by Medicare and major payers, and other key medical technology news.

Be sure you’re making the wisest technology decisions possible for your patients/enrollees, providers and bottom line. Sign up for your No-Risk Charter Subscription to Medical Technology Adviser today!