MESA, Curagita join forces to bring Diagnostic Imaging services to Germany

Medical Equipment Solutions and Applications (MESA), Europe's leader in multi-vendor service for Diagnostic Imaging systems, equipment and parts, and Heidelberg-based radiology management company Curagita are joining forces to bring new and broader solutions for a full range of Diagnostic Imaging services to the German healthcare market.

Curagita is the leading independent provider of radiology services in Germany managing a co-operative radiology network consisting of 100 large private imaging centres. Having organised their own co-operative diagnostic imaging service organisation on behalf of their 360 member radiologists, Curagita and their radiologists recognise the benefits of a quality-controlled, independent multi-vendor service with the size and experience of MESA. On account of their ISO 13485 certification for quality practices specific to the medical device industry, MESA are able to provide a number of advantages that put their service at or above the level of the original manufacturer. Among those advantages are fast response times, centralised management of diverse OEM systems and modalities, and uptime guarantees that keep MESA's clients' pan-European installed base operational with less than 1% downtime. Not only are there benefits in terms of quality of service provided to Curagita's network of radiologists, but MESA's multi-vendor service and European supply chain network also give additional savings to the composite cost structures that Curagita's radiologist members already enjoy over OEM service costs. With this venture, Curagita's diagnostic imaging service to its radiologists will be expanded with MESA support and the strength of MESA's entire European network.

Dr. Norbert Reekers, Curagita's Equipment and IT Executive states, "With MESA, we are partnering with the largest and best European independent service provider in order to both increase the high-level of quality service we are able to provide while allowing Curagita to work with a single, centralised asset management partner across all OEMs and modalities in a much more cost-effective way. In this way, we take advantage of working with the OEMs for the best technology and clinical equipment manufacturing while working with MESA for the best service offerings and flexibility of alternative solutions given that Service is MESA's 100% focus."

The new joint venture, MESA Deutschland GmbH, is beginning service immediately in Germany, leveraging MESA's direct presence and local network of infrastructure and engineering partners in Germany where MESA has been increasing local investment the last 6-12 months. The new service company will provide both a local team of technicians and warehouse locations that will be supported by an additional 140 specialised field engineers and the centralised logistics and customer infrastructure that already operates MESA's pan-European service. Even those who are not yet members of Curagita's radiology network and hospitals will have the opportunity to try a new multi-vendor equipment service.

Says Oliviero Zasa, MESA's Regional Manager for Germany-Austria-Switzerland, "Our goal is to benefit clinical service delivery to patients and the healthcare providers who treat them by promoting a centralised, multi-vendor service delivery model that increases both the quality of care and the reliability of imaging services while providing more cost effective and efficient solution options for customers. We are very pleased to partner with Curagita, as together we share the passion to deliver our services under the highest quality standards, service innovation, better efficiency and a greater variety of options to the German healthcare market."

The German radiology market consists of over 1,000 imaging centers and 750 radiology hospital departments with more than 6,800 radiologists. As a first-mover in Germany, Curagita is determined to support local radiologists by leveraging their "franchise," expanding their radiology groups and rolling-up the private imaging centre market through mergers and acquisitions. MESA and Curagita are certain to make an impact with the beginning of this new venture.