How the Refurbishing Process for Used Medical Equipment Can Make All the Difference
As more and more hospitals look to purchase used and refurbished medical equipment, some concerns have been raised by the American Medical Association about the refurbishing process. Buying used medical equipment isn’t the same as buying other used machinery, as their operability can greatly impact another person’s well-being. Some of the primary concerns among physicians were echoed by AMA officials, who are looking to create standardized guidelines for the medical equipment refurbishing process. Their key concerns: Are these used machines safe to use? How can a buyer be sure that the equipment they buy has passed all the tests and is fully operational?
For companies that sell critical care medical equipment that was previously used some only do minor repairs and cosmetic refurbishing before reselling the machines. Known in the industry as “repaired/reconditioned”, this label can be deceiving. In many cases, a much more robust overhaul is needed in order to bring the equipment back up to manufacturers’ standards. In the case of anesthesia equipment and patient monitors, it may include the compilation and analysis of failure data. This information helps technicians figure out which critical-care components need to be replaced. Consequently, the machine will be rebuilt according to this data and certified technicians will use only new parts throughout this process.
Buying used medical equipment can save your hospital or medical office 50 to 70 percent off of retail prices, representing a huge savings on the most expensive machines. However, if you plan to buy a piece of critical-care medical equipment from a used medical equipment dealer, you need to be sure it is safe. Ask the dealer for a summary of the work that has been done on the machine, including who performed the repairs and when. Only then will you have an accurate picture of the equipment and a reasonable expectation of its potential life span.