Used Medical Equipment Discussion about reconditioned medical equipment

Senior citizens are part of a growing population that is responsible for increasing the demand and the market for home medical equipment. Faced with a variety of medical needs and mobility challenges, the simple act of standing up from a seated position can be extremely difficult. When dealing with mobility hindering diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, some movements increase the risk of falls and other injuries. A lift chair can provide senior citizens with more freedom and flexibility without relying on a caretaker’s aid.

What is a Lift Chair and How Does It Operate?

A lift chair allows persons who have mobility challenges to easily shift from a seated position to an upright position. A lift chair, which resembles a typical reclining chair, has an electronic mechanism device that is located in the base portion of the chair that raises or lowers the chair. The chair’s up and down movement is easily navigated with a simple button-controlled hand device.

Types of Lift Chairs

There are many options for those people who are interested in purchasing a lift chair. First, lift chairs come in a variety of models. The three basic models are:

· The Two- Position Lift Chair – Two-position lift chairs are the cheapest of the three models. This model can only recline at a 45 degree angle and therefore it is not conducive for sleeping.

· The 3-Position Lift Chair – 3- Position liftchairs are the most common models. When the chair is fully reclined, the chair is in a horizontal position that is comfortable for sleeping.

· The Infinite-Position Lift Chair – This model is different because it allows for more individualized customer customization. The backrest and the footrest can be adjusted separately in addition to the chair’s standard three movements.

Consumer Options

There are many options available for those people who are interested in purchasing a lift chair. First, lift chairs come in a variety of sizes, colors, and models and are equipped with different features depending on your personal needs. It is important to shop for a chair that fits your body measurements to maximize effectiveness. Because there is a wide selection available, prices can vary. For seniors who are interested in reducing out-of-pocket-costs, there are online medical supply companies that sell quality used medical equipment at discounted prices. It is always recommended that you check your health insurance plan to see if you are eligible for any type of coverage or reimbursement.

As we age, injury, old age, and illness can cause us to lose the mobility that we once enjoyed in our daily lives. Simple tasks present challenges that we are not accustomed to and in an effort to rise to the occasion it is often necessary to modify how we approach these tasks. Purchasing medical equipment for our personal use is a way that we can once again gain the freedom that we enjoyed in previous years.

Walking is one of the many challenges we face as we get older. Mobility scooters are increasingly replacing traditional wheelchairs. With their smaller and sleeker compact design, these motorized scooters are more aesthetically pleasing, and carry fewer stigmas than wheelchairs. They are an excellent choice for those who want to maintain their independence. The key is to choose the right scooter that fits your specific needs.

Depending on the particular model and features, new mobility scooters can range anywhere from $1.000 to $3000.00. This can be a costly investment for many families. Insurance companies may or may not cover the cost of the equipment depending on your plan coverage and your determined need. Fortunately, gently used mobility scooters are available at reasonable cost. Used medical equipment sales are a new trend that is growing in popularity in response to rising costs of consumer goods and services. Consumers can save as much as 60% purchasing a second-hand motor scooter online from a reputable medical supply company.

While shoppers may be tempted to explore the popular online auction websites, this is not a recommended alternative. These websites are not obligated to comply with certain laws and regulations pertaining to the safety and sales of used medical equipment. In truth, with these sites, one cannot be certain what they are purchasing. The best option is to establish a relationship with an online medical supply company who can accommodate all of your medical supply needs while offering superior quality assistance and service.

A defibrillator implant, commonly known as cardiac defibrillator, or an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a heart implant that physicians surgically implant in patients who have had heart attacks, are at risk of a heart attack, or suffer from abnormal heart rates. Patients who have a history of heart arrhythmias and other heart diseases can also benefit from heart implants. A defibrillator device can be implanted surgically during open heart surgery of through collarbone or breastbone incisions.

Medical research proves that these medical devices save lives of heart patients and positively impact the daily activities of patients undergoing long-term treatment. Patients with ICD’s often demonstrate progressive health changes. The reassurance that the ICD will enable that their heart to work properly, helps put patients at ease. However, defibrillator medical equipment can cause some side effects and pose certain limitations on patients, so it is important to discuss these issues with a medical doctor.

Less than five percent of patients who have had an ICD implant have reported major complications such as, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, and infections at the incision site. Some patients have to limit the amount of physical stress that they put on their bodies. When an ICD corrects a “serious cardiac arrhythmia”, a patient could experience dizziness, become light-headed, and could faint. For this reason, some doctors may restrict a patient from certain activities such as intense cardiovascular exercise or operating a motor vehicle. Intense physical strain on the body can cause damage to the medical equipment and cause it to malfunction.

Surgical procedures typically pose risks to patients. Primarily, cardiac medical equipment devices enhance the lives of patients that are diagnosed with heart problems. However, every patient case is a unique situation and therefore it is in the best interest of the patient to let a doctor determine the best treatment plan.

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Hospitals that are considering purchasing a medical emergency helicopter need to consider their budgets and evaluate their specific needs before embarking on this large financial commitment. For larger hospitals in urban areas, or hospitals that are located in rural locations, it may well be worth the cost. Hospitals that have burn units, trauma units, or offer prestigious cardiology or transplant treatment may increase their patient load when an emergency transport system is implemented. Estimates show that a hospital’s admitted patient numbers can increase by 3-4 people a day when a medical helicopter is being utilized. On other hand, for a smaller hospital, that is located in the vicinity of a larger hospital, a more realistic and economical option might be to contract through a local vendor or dismiss the idea altogether.

Purchasing a fully equipped medical helicopter can cost hospitals in the range of $600,000 dollars. In addition to purchasing the helicopter, the hospital will need to have or acquire a landing pad along with a fueling facility, purchase radio equipment, and provide wages for pilots, trained in-flight medics, and qualified mechanics to service the aircraft medical equipment. Another issue that must be considered is liability insurance to protect the hospital from any misconduct or negligence on behalf of the helicopter service.

Standard medical equipment for a medical evacuation helicopter typically includes, the same emergency monitoring units that are used in an ambulance, and equipment that can help to maintain emergency transplant, cardiac, and burn patients. Medical equipment that is needed aboard the helicopter includes:

o Blood pressure monitors

o IV infusion pumps

o Ventilation equipment

o Defibrillators and cardiac monitors

o Intra-aortic balloon pump

Some aircraft used in medical emergency transportation are equipped with navigation systems that allow them to be flown in dire weather conditions. A typical medical aircraft can carry a maximum of two patients, four medical flight personnel, and one pilot. Regulations require that there be at least one physician and one nurse on all flights.

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Hospital obstetrics units and gynecologists are often in need of upgraded equipment that is less expensive, especially where their equipment budgets have been cut down to the minimum. But until recently, there weren’t many reliable sources for used fetal monitors, which forced many doctors to buy or lease a new monitor every couple of years. Now, with a more robust online medical equipment marketplace, these doctors are able to find pre-owned fetal monitors from a very reputable used medical equipment dealer at a significant discount over new machines.

The more specialized a piece of equipment, the more difficult it can be to find at a decent price. At least that’s what many doctors thought when they first started looking. But today there are several reliable sources for even the most complicated machines. For example, at Absolute Medical Equipment, they carry single and twin fetal monitors which utilize a combination of parameters, including toco and ultrasound sensors, pulse oximetry and ECG cables in one reliable piece of equipment.

One of the more popular fetal monitors often found at Absolute Medical is a Corometrics 171 fetal monitor. Representing a new generation of high-tech machines, this monitor includes larger LED display screens for easy confirmation of uterine activity and fetal heart rate. The Corometrics 170 monitor has ultrasound parameters that use a nine-crystal pulsed Doppler machine with a wide-beam profile and an interface for an optional fetal acoustic stimulator.

In addition to these features, the Corometrics twin monitor allows for a heart rate offset to clearly separate the heart rates of twins, and the option for advanced fetal movement detection. It even uses independent volume control to allow for the differentiation between fetuses.

This is just one example of the type of fetal monitor that can be found online in the used medical equipment marketplace. Search the current inventory at Absolute Medical for real-time information on fetal monitors and other equipment.

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Among the many types of used medical equipment available today, digital mammography systems are in greater demand than ever. The reason for this may be based on patient concerns about the higher radiation exposure that comes from older mammography equipment. Plus, these machines offer a higher degree of spatial resolution and they store images more efficiently than older models. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer rates are on the rise. In their most recent published study, it was estimated that 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer would be discovered in 2009, with more than 40,000 women expected to die from the disease in that year alone. Only lung cancer was responsible for a higher number of deaths among women.

Greater awareness of the need for early detection of breast cancer has led many patients to be their own advocates. Beyond the regular mammograms recommended by their gynecologists, women are seeking out digital mammography specifically. This is especially true among women with dense breasts or a family history of breast cancer who wants to be sure their test results are accurate. Buying used digital mammography equipment is usually the best option for women’s healthcare clinics and hospitals, but there are three different technologies in use today. Before looking at used medical equipment in this area, you should know if you want a direct or indirect x-ray conversion detector, or a slot scanning system.

Images created by digital mammography systems are usually displayed on two high resolution monitors within the examination area; with a third monitor displaying patient information. Digital mammography machines are known to have a deeper dynamic range than film and/or screen imaging medical equipment, but it is important to keep in mind that pixel size is not always a good indicator of high resolution with these systems. Blurring and noise within the detector system can have a negative impact on resolution. The type of digital imaging used in mammography utilizes pattern recognition software to highlight any suspicious findings in the image, thereby bringing a potential tumor to the attention of the doctor.

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Healthcare costs have been a source of much debate in this country lately, with many citizens concerned about how recent healthcare reform legislation will impact the availability and quality of care. But even before the healthcare debate got started, hospitals were already cutting their budgets. The rising cost of malpractice insurance and a growing number of uninsured patients has caused many medical centers to either close or find a way to get by with less. Shrinking budgets for new equipment have created more demand for used medical equipment than ever.

The growth of the refurbished medical equipment market has opened up new opportunities for small hospitals to keep up with demand, while allowing larger hospitals to defray the cost of new equipment. Doctors and patients should not be concerned about the quality of used equipment. Better technology has made it possible to use most medical devices long after a newer model has been released, and trained technicians ensure that used medical equipment is in good working condition.

Even as the market for used monitors and diagnostic imaging equipment grows in the United States, it is also expanding in overseas markets. The availability of good medical care in developing countries is creating a huge overseas demand for affordable medical equipment. Many of these startup medical facilities are looking for everything from hospital beds to carts, patient monitors and EKG machines. As more US hospitals look to replenish their supply with refurbished equipment, it may take longer for them to find what they are looking for. In other words, what is available at a used medical equipment dealer today may be sold by tomorrow.
If you are seeking a reputable resource for refurbished medical devices and equipment, the best place to look is in the online marketplace; specifically with a dealer that specializes in buying and selling equipment. For nearly a decade, Absolute Medical Equipment has been providing new and reconditioned medical equipment to private practice physicians, hospitals and clinics. They stand behind their products and they guarantee the equipment they sell will perform to the manufacturer’s specifications.

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What are the differences between buying new medical equipment and getting refurbished equipment from a reputable dealer? The main difference is in the price. In many cases, buying a used EKG machine, ultrasound scanner or patient monitor will save you more than 50 percent. For hospitals and medical practices that are dealing with severe budget cuts, used medical equipment is a great way to save money without sacrificing the quality of care.

Surprisingly, most of the medical equipment that can be found new can also be purchased used, or refurbished. This includes everything from patient monitors to EKG machines, defibrillators and bone densitometers. When a piece of medical equipment is refurbished, it has been thoroughly cleaned, sterilized and tested to ensure it is fully operational and safe. In many cases, gently used medical equipment will still be under warranty.

Who refurbishes medical equipment?

Most of the equipment for sale today in the used medical equipment marketplace has been refurbished by technicians who are trained in the biomedical field. Because these technicians are aware of the exacting standards for these devices, they take great care to ensure they are in great condition.

Are there still advantages to buying new equipment? Yes. First of all, it is a lot easier to find good quality medical equipment with a warranty when you buy it new. While some used medical equipment comes with a warranty, it will not last as long as the warranty on new equipment. Also, when you need new equipment in a hurry, it can be hard to spend the time it takes to find what you’re looking for in the used and refurbished marketplace.

Ultimately, most hospitals find it much more cost-effective to buy refurbished medical equipment, saying it is worth the extra work. However, before purchasing used medical equipment from a dealer, be sure you review their credentials, return policy and quality standards.

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Even as the global economy struggles to rebound from the biggest financial crisis in decades, medical equipment manufacturers continue to release diagnostic and surgical equipment with more advanced technology than ever before. Clearly, there must be a budget somewhere for these high priced machines, but oftentimes it is not with the regional hospital or medical center.

Because their reputations depend on having the latest technology, the big-name hospitals in major metropolitan areas are usually the first to buy the newest devices. And when they do, many of them sell their used medical equipment – which is sometimes barely broken-in – in an online marketplace. The advantage of being able to buy used medical equipment is two-fold; it allows hospitals to update their facility’s equipment less expensively while giving the seller a small profit on their old equipment. Buying used medical equipment is a creative solution for hospitals and medical offices to maintain their high standards of care.

However, with countries like China and India going through a prolonged expansion, they are making the used medical equipment marketplace more competitive. As a result, some medical equipment auctions are becoming too expensive for the average US buyer. The only way to level the playing field is to set a price up front and allow medical equipment buyers an equal opportunity to purchase the equipment on a “first come, first served” basis.

As more hospitals see budget cuts in 2011, the demand for used medical equipment will steadily rise, especially for higher-end equipment that is relatively new. The most popular medical equipment to be found online is in the diagnostic area, which includes EKG machines, CT scanners, ultrasound machines, bone densitometers, x-ray machines and the like. Sales of veterinary and dental equipment are also sold online through used medical equipment dealers like Absolute Medical.

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For hospitals and medical offices, the purchase of used medical equipment can seem like a risky idea at first, especially when the use of such equipment requires a lot of specialized or technical information.

The most important aspect of buying used medical equipment online is the assurance that the reseller or auction site that sold it will stand behind their merchandise with ongoing support and product info. For this reason, most buyers look for a dedicated medical equipment site rather than a more generic online auction.

A dedicated used medical equipment site will do more than just sell you a machine; they will hook you up with the product catalogs and recommend training options for staff. They will also help you with selling your used medical equipment when the time is right.

If all you need are generic items or testing supplies, then an online auction can work well, but look to a niche medical equipment web site for high-end equipment such as EKG machines, laboratory equipment, bone densitometers and patient monitors.

Looking for a very specific machine should be easy if you are on the right web site. For example, you should be able to search by keyword, product category or brand name, and inquire about the products directly on the web site via email or instant chat. The supplier should also be able to provide accurate shipping rates, return policies, guarantees, and other pertinent information up front.

When you call the Customer Service department for the site, you should be able to get more information about the medical equipment you want. The site’s staff should be able to provide you with detailed information about the product before expecting you to spend several thousand dollars on it.

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