Durable Medical Equipment and their Many Advantages

tech | Friday January 13 2012 5:39 pm | Comments Off

In the search for a better healthcare for all — using an innovative technology — such as the one found in durable medical equipment, may just be the answers to the questions that hospitals and medical institution have been asking for. Here are some key factors that your medical institution should take into consideration before making that decision of whether they should buy new or used medical equipment.

When it comes to buying durable medical equipment – a major factor that could sway people in the opposite direction is the cost of such equipment. But here’s something to put things into perspective. It’s true that buying the new equipment would mean investing more money in the first place. Since you are getting quality medical devices, you can expect the devices to last a very long time with minimal downtime or maintenance hours. Whereas if you get used equipment, you will pay less in the beginning, but there’s no guarantee that the machine will work great for the long term and won’t breakdown easily.

Another consideration to buy new durable medical equipment is the fact that they usually come with full warranty. The warranty usually covers most damages and defects that the equipment may suffer from – as long as they are being used under normal situation and condition. Apart from the hardware coverage, the warranty that comes with new equipment also covers the software component. Thus, buying the new equipment provides a total peace of mind and none of the headaches usually associated from buying used products. Apart from the regular warranty, your medical institution can also opt for an extended warranty. However, do note that it usually comes with an extra cost.

Another benefit of getting new medical equipment is the fact that it has great after sales service. Any technical difficulties that you may have in operating the device can be addressed right away by the manufacturer. In fact, they usually provide a proper technical training for your staff – so that they can operate the device and machine proficiently. On the other hand, buying used product will not get you all the advantages mentioned above. You are stuck with only the manuals.

The availability of spare parts and accessories of the medical device is also one thing you should consider before making that decision. New medical devices will naturally come with a wide array of accessories. Should something go wrong, you can also get the necessary spare parts. All of the reasons mentioned here should be enough to convince you to buy new durable medical equipment, instead of a used one.