Vendors are increasingly turning to second-tier CT scanners to achieve the right balance between price and quality, according to a new KLAS report. “CT 2014: What Can You Do with Less?” examines second-tier vendors including GE Healthcare, Philips, Siemens and Toshiba.

KLAS spoke to more than 100 providers from 87 organizations to access their purchasing priorities. In many cases, providers opted for a lower-priced, second-choice product. Three out of four vendors in the study achieved a score in the 90s out of a possible 100, apparently indicating that the equipment meets providers’ key needs.

“We are hearing from providers that when it comes to CT, they don’t always need the high-end scanners with all the bells and whistles,” said Brady Heiner, report author. “Providers looking to save money but not sacrifice performance are turning to these second-tier CTs and have been overwhelmingly satisfied with their decision.”

The report is available to healthcare providers and vendors for purchase and download on the KLAS website.