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Some Tips on Shopping for Medical Equipment

ryan-frank | Sep 29, 2009 |

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Purchasing medical equipment for a new practice is a big investment. Finding the right vendor and the right equipment that fits your needs and comes at a price you can afford requires patience and some careful research.

Used vs. New

The question of whether to buy used or new medical equipment is a difficult one to give advice on. Basically it all depends on how much you're willing to spend, both in terms of money and time. Buying used equipment will save you a lot of money, and used medical equipment is indeed a popular option amongst young physicians who are starting up their first practice, but finding a good deal (in terms of warranty, quality, etc) on used equipment will take a lot more time and research than it would if you bought new equipment. However if you're willing to invest the time to find medical equipment manufactures that offers good warranties and repair service at a much lower price, than go for it. Keep in mind, though, that used and refurbished equipment will (almost always) not come with as long of a warranty as new equipment comes with.

Online medical equipment marketplaces, like DOTmed.com, are one good place to look for used and refurbished equipment. You'll find authorized retailers and dealers as well as manufacturers and private sellers. Be careful not to buy from private individuals, though, as these will likely not include a warranty and you won't get repair services.

So what about buying new? If you have the funds, new equipment can be a great choice. You get an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) warranty, which is a written guarantee that entitles you to repairs or full equipment replacement on faulty devices, a peace of mind that might be worth paying extra for.

Shopping Around

If you opt for new equipment, the best thing to do is to look for brands that specialize in making the kind of devices you need. Different companies are known for different types of devices. For example, Philips makes the HeartStart defibrillator, one of the most popular and easy to use defibrillators on the market. So if you're looking for an easy to use defibrillator, Philips might be a good choice. Other brands, like Zoll, are known for their quality portable defibrillators, which are lighter and smaller than any others on the market.