OCEANIC Medical Imaging (OMI) has uncovered gaps in Perth’s private diagnostic imaging market to quickly establish itself as a player in the sector.
OCEANIC Medical Imaging (OMI) has uncovered gaps in Perth’s private diagnostic imaging market to quickly establish itself as a player in the sector.
OMI, which opened its first practice in August 2008, has tried to gain an edge over its competitors by offering a more personalised and prompt service to doctors, reduced waiting times for patients, partial bulk-billing and using the latest digital equipment.
While OMI offers all the core diagnostic services to a growing number of patients, the business has aimed its latest practice in Nedlands at offering a specialist scanning service to help cancer patients.
OMI claims the scanner at its Hollywood PET-CT Centre, launched in July last year, is the only one in the state outside of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. It has cut normally long waiting lists for cancer patients and operates under Medicare rates.
Positron emission tomography (PET) and computerised tomography (CT) are both state-of-the-art imaging tools that enable doctors to pinpoint the location of cancer within the body before making treatment recommendations.
“This has put OMI on the map as being a company which can achieve big and difficult goals and is punching well above its weight in innovation and service delivery,” OMI says.
The PET-CT practice is also involved in research into Alzheimer’s and cardiac and endocrine diseases.
OMI, which was set up by five healthcare practitioners in March 2007, also has a practice in Leeming to service suburbs in Perth’s south-east. The company plans to expand north of the river and, eventually, operate statewide.
OMI claims it benefits from the fact the company’s owners also practice in it. Coupled with this, OMI’s goals are clearly communicated to its staff. Roles and expectations are well defined.
The company believes its edge in the market comes from maintaining a high-quality and affordable service backed up by friendly and motivated staff who have a passion to grow and succeed.
OMI is led by four managing directors – Nat Lenzo, Julie Crouch, Chris Wood and Victor Wang. It currently employs 34 staff, up from 10 three years ago. This is tipped to go to 42 this year.
Revenue has also grown sharply and is budgeted to increase again this year.
OMI says a sound strategy backed by strong financial performance and the right company structure is behind its expansion.
“The directors of OMI feel that without commitment, not only from themselves but also their staff, the company would most likely not progress optimally,” it says.
On the community front, OMI has employed two people with disabilities, both from Workpower.
“The best thing OMI has done in terms of commitment is try and maintain our mission to provide high-quality, friendly and affordable diagnostic imaging to patients and referrers as well as show our appreciation and commitment to our staff,” OMI says.
