One year, a study in the journal Clinical Journal of the American Medical Association said that hospitals in the United States spent almost $200 billion on medical equipment. After personnel and administrative expenditures, supply costs—including those for medical devices—represent one of the highest costs for healthcare institutions. {Supply budget spending accounts for 25 to 33 percent of hospital operating costs for medicine and surgery.|Supply budget accounts for 25–33 percent of all hospital operating costs for medicine and surgery.
Unfortunately, even after a catastrophic illness, hospital budgets are low. Therefore, hospitals must find innovative ways to get quality medical equipment at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
The different types of medical equipment
There are many types of medical equipment and supplies. The main categories for medical equipment and supplies include surgical, durable medical equipment (DME), medical imaging equipment, storage and transport. There are also a number of subcategories, too.
When a company decides to make an investment in medical equipment, it becomes vital to extend its life and maintain its value. Maintenance programs are essential to make sure that every dollar that you spend on your medical equipment investment is used wisely. But if you want to use your medical devices for a long time, it is just as important to have them repaired or serviced.
When it comes to medical equipment, some hospitals can afford to replace and update their equipment regularly. Others can struggle to purchase brand new equipment. If you work with an expert repair service that offers exceptional repairs to medical equipment, you will save money by buying a used microscope or other device.
The high cost of surgical microscopes
The market for surgical microscopes is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10.7% until 2027. With the rising numbers of car accidents, chronic disease, and increase in orthopedic surgical procedures, the call for more microscope equipment availability is rising exponentially. Operational microscopes are costly, and many healthcare centers cannot provide the level of care that 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 medical equipment enables the market to accept previously owned medical equipment. Although the medical equipment may have been used before, this does not mean that it is in a condition that would affect its functionality.
On the contrary, every refurbished microscope goes through a meticulous process during which the equipment is upgraded to meet the current OEM specifications. Refurbishing surgical microscope equipment saves 30 to 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 this way, refurbishing a microscope is not just a case of someone doing a regular service to fix it; it is much more involved than buying a cheap replacement. 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.