In 2018, a clinical journal article reported that hospitals in the United States spent almost $200 billion on medical equipment. After salaries and other costs for staff and managers, hospital supplies are among the highest costs for healthcare institutions. {Supply budget spending accounts for 25 to 33 percent of hospital operating costs for medicine and surgery.|These budgets are responsible for a third to 25 percent of all hospital operating costs involving medicine and surgery.
Unfortunately, even after a catastrophic illness, hospital budgets are low. It is crucial that hospitals seek the best ways to purchase quality medical equipment that won’t cause them to break the bank.
The different types of medical equipment
There are many types of medical equipment and supplies. There are three main categories that can be grouped together as medical supplies: medical equipment that is used for diagnosing and treating patients; medical equipment that is used during surgery; and medical equipment that is used to store and transport medical supplies.
When a company decides to make an investment in medical equipment, it becomes vital to extend its life and maintain its value. Maintenance, training and repairs are essential to allow you to get the most value from your medical equipment. But medical equipment repair and services are just as important to promote long-term usage.
When it comes to medical equipment, some hospitals can afford to replace and update their equipment regularly. But others struggle to afford to do that. Working with a professional repair service can save you money by buying reconditioned equipment such as microscopes and other medical devices.
The high cost of surgical microscopes
Surgical microscopes will continue to grow at a rate of more than 10.7% from 2012 to 2027. Indeed, the increase in surgical procedures to treat orthopedic conditions, chronic disease, and the rising numbers of road accidents call for more availability when it comes to microscope equipment. Unfortunately, operating microscopes are expensive, leaving many healthcare centers unable to meet the level of care their patients expect.
Buying refurbished models from an expert in microscope services can make a huge difference, not only to the hospital budget but also to the services it can offer.
Why refurbished is cheaper and better
Refurbished equipment essentially means putting pre-owned medical equipment back on the market. This means that the medical equipment is in good shape because it was used before, but that does not mean that it is in a condition that could affect its functionality.
Every time a microscope is reconditioned, it is carefully checked to ensure that it is still performing to its original specifications and meeting the current OEM specifications. Refurbished surgical microscopes are reported to save between 30 and 50 percent compared to buying new equipment. Every facilities are seriously thinking about purchasing refurbished medical equipment in order to save money in the future.
In other words, refurbishing is not just a case of a generic microscope repair service. When you purchase a refurbished microscope, you are guaranteed of the following:
- The microscope reutilized up to 90% of its original material, which keeps costs low
The equipment is not obsolete, as it’s been processed to meet the current OEM standards
- The microscope is under warranty, even though it isn’t a brand new item
- The purchase has a low environmental impact
If hospitals are experiencing expensive and high-need services, remanufactured medical equipment like surgical microscopes provided by a specialist, like Prescott’s Inc., could help them save money and retain critical hospital functions.