What Is The Difference Between New, Used And Refurbished Medical Equipment?

By Author: Itay Drory
Total Articles: 1
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When thinking about buying medical equipment, one tries to find ways to save on spending given the fact that new devices are usually very expensive and even unaffordable at times. Besides trying to find the best price offer among different dealerships, the possibility of purchasing second-hand equipment inevitably comes to mind. It is true that during the last five years characterized by global economic turmoil, the term “pre-owned” has been used more and more frequently and not necessarily, if ever, in a negative way. Below we will take a look at the differences between the various options.
In order to decide on whether to buy new, used or refurbished medical equipment, it is crucial to understand what is included in these terms. Of course, when buying a brand new device, there is the assurance given by a never before used item. Additionally, it always comes with a service warranty and training is also often provided. New items will most probably reach the life expectancy for which they were designed to last and, if manufactured by a prestigious company, there is nothing that could justify being cautious towards such ...
... a purchase. However, financial constraints may turn these items into less smart investment especially if items of the same or quite similar quality can be found pre-owned.
The greatest confusion about pre-owned items comes when one tries to understand the difference between the terms “used” and “refurbished” medical equipment. Is there really any difference? Aren't they just terms used interchangeably? Well, the answer is no. In fact, used and refurbished medical equipment are quite different when it comes to quality assurance and service warranty. A used medical device can be purchased directly from a physician selling his old equipment, or from a third party source and it rarely has a warranty. Therefore, choosing a well-trusted source is crucial. Asking if a brief quality check can be performed prior to the purchase and getting opinions from other doctors having purchased items from the same source could be helpful.
A refurbished medical device, on the other hand, is a far more certified item. Refurbishment can refer to cosmetic repair or electromechanical repair, which means the machine is fully checked for proper function and calibrated. Refurbishment is performed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) such as Philips, Siemens and Toshiba, and some third party sources. However, very few third party vendors perform full electromechanical refurbishment. Among the various medical devices that can be purchased refurbished, imaging equipment is what sells more. Examples include MRI scans, ultrasound machines and CT scanners. A benefit of refurbished devices is that they come with warranty and after-sales service and that they are designed to have a quite prolonged life expectancy. Therefore many private sector clinics and small to medium sized hospital prefer this option as a guaranteed way to equip their institutions spending as much as 50 percent less funds on equipment.
In any case, if one decides to buy a pre-owned medical device, refurbished or not, he or she must consider if the technology used will meet quality standards and guidelines in the future. From that scope, a refurbished MRI scanner is a good investment, while an old ultrasound system is not, given the fact that technology has advanced a lot during the last decade.