BOTHELL, WA - October 22, 2008 - Sonosite, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound at the point-of-care, announced today that an independently conducted, random survey of U.S. customers showed that 99% are satisfied with their Sonosite product and that nine out of 10 customers are "very" or "completely" satisfied overall. The statistically significant survey is the fifth commissioned by Sonosite since January 2005 to document similarly high approval ratings.
Sonosite Products Exceed Expectations
The survey measured satisfaction among both new users, defined as those who had acquired a Sonosite system within the past four to six months, and long term users, customers who had acquired a Sonosite system within the past eight months to three years. To participate in the survey, respondents were required to be involved in the day-to-day operation or usage of the Sonosite products and not just involved in the acquisition decision. The survey found a commanding majority of participants of both new and long-term users said that Sonosite products exceeded their expectations for image quality, reliability, durability, ergonomic design of transducers and ease of use and that they would recommend their Sonosite product to colleagues. Most customers say they would be "very likely" to acquire additional Sonosite products and that they would recommend their Sonosite product to their colleagues.
Image Quality Most Important Attribute
Customers cited image quality as the single most important attribute for their purchase of a Sonosite product and as one of the top three reasons why they are likely to recommend their system to colleagues. Ease of use and reliability ranked as the second and third reasons for purchase of Sonosite products. The survey included owners of the MicroMaxx® system, which the company began shipping in 2005, as well as the M-Turbo™ and S Series™ systems, which the company began shipping in the fourth quarter of 2007. Among customers of the new products, nearly all regard the image quality of their system to be better than other products they have used. Verispan, an independent health care information research firm, conducted the company-commissioned survey.
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in hand-carried ultrasound. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by ten subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. Sonosite€™s small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high performance ultrasound to the point of patient care. The company employs over 600 people worldwide.
Sonosite Products Exceed Expectations
The survey measured satisfaction among both new users, defined as those who had acquired a Sonosite system within the past four to six months, and long term users, customers who had acquired a Sonosite system within the past eight months to three years. To participate in the survey, respondents were required to be involved in the day-to-day operation or usage of the Sonosite products and not just involved in the acquisition decision. The survey found a commanding majority of participants of both new and long-term users said that Sonosite products exceeded their expectations for image quality, reliability, durability, ergonomic design of transducers and ease of use and that they would recommend their Sonosite product to colleagues. Most customers say they would be "very likely" to acquire additional Sonosite products and that they would recommend their Sonosite product to their colleagues.
Image Quality Most Important Attribute
Customers cited image quality as the single most important attribute for their purchase of a Sonosite product and as one of the top three reasons why they are likely to recommend their system to colleagues. Ease of use and reliability ranked as the second and third reasons for purchase of Sonosite products. The survey included owners of the MicroMaxx® system, which the company began shipping in 2005, as well as the M-Turbo™ and S Series™ systems, which the company began shipping in the fourth quarter of 2007. Among customers of the new products, nearly all regard the image quality of their system to be better than other products they have used. Verispan, an independent health care information research firm, conducted the company-commissioned survey.
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in hand-carried ultrasound. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by ten subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. Sonosite€™s small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high performance ultrasound to the point of patient care. The company employs over 600 people worldwide.