With the ongoing advances in medical technologies, it’s becoming more and more difficult for hospitals and doctor’s offices to keep their costs under ...
With the ongoing advances in medical technologies,
it’s becoming more and more difficult for hospitals and doctor’s offices to keep their costs under control. Since having the most up to date medical supplies is crucial to giving patients the best care possible, many medical providers are turning to cheap medical equipment to manage costs while continuing to give their patients the care they deserve. The challenge is how to find the medical equipment you need when you are on a budget.
As a health care provider, the first thing you need to realize when you are trying to stay on a budget is that very seldom will you ever find cheap medical equipment at a conventional retail store or through a medical supply salesperson. Remember, these types of suppliers have very high overhead and business models that don’t allow them to offer much, if any, discount on their products. A retail store needs to pay all the costs associated with having a brick and mortar operation and a medical supply salesperson is normally working on a commission that could amount to a large percentage of the price of the product.
While it’s true that the old style ways of purchasing medical supplies have their advantages, like more personalized service and being able to deal with someone face to face, they have their drawbacks too. Often times, a retail outlet or salesperson will only be able to offer you a limited variety of the equipment that’s out there. The problem is that the advances in medical technology are happening at such a rapid rate that it’s nearly impossible for one retail outlet or salesperson to be able to offer everything that’s available, let alone at a price that will fit your budget.
One possible solution to finding low cost medical equipment is to look for it second hand. Second hand or used equipment will almost always be cheaper than buying it brand new. While buying used may make sense for some items, in most cases it’s better to have the most up to date equipment with the most advanced technology, so your facility will run smoother and your patients will receive better care and keep coming back to you.
Fortunately, with all the resources available online, you can get the new equipment you need at the lowest possible prices from online outlets that cut out the overhead of having a retail store and cut out the commissions normally given to a salesperson. What’s more, they are usually able to carry much larger inventories because they don’t have the space limitations of a retail outlet.
When you shop for your medical supplies online, there are a few things you need to keep in mind: First, compare the prices of several online suppliers. When you are looking for medical equipment online, depending on the item you are looking for, there can be wide fluctuations in the price. It is best to compare many different websites to make sure you are getting the best quality equipment at the best possible price.
Second, designate someone in your office to do thorough research of the item you are thinking of purchasing and the online store you are considering buying it from. Read testimonials, feedback and customer ratings, but also ask around in several medical forums to make sure the company you are dealing with has a positive reputation. This may be somewhat of a time consuming task, but it will save you lots of head ache in the long run knowing you got your equipment from a supplier with good credentials.
Finally, when it finally comes time to buy your cheap medical equipment, use a credit card. This will give you an extra layer of protection in case something goes wrong with the purchase. If you fail to receive the item you ordered or it is damaged and you need to return it, you will have the ability to dispute the purchase with the credit card company if the online merchant refuses to cooperate.
