Points to Consider When Purchasing Used CT Equipment

Note: This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you click on them.

For those who manage a hospital or imaging center, the burden of making the annual budget which includes allocating funds properly for equipment services is their responsibility. The decision on which equipment to buy for the hospital should be weighed carefully because new imaging equipment can cost millions of dollars.

However, some smaller hospitals and diagnostic centers may have very limited budgets that purchasing new CT equipment could put a very big dent on their cash flow. To go around this problem, the purchase of pre-owned CT equipment seems like the most logical solution.

However not all refurbished CT scanners are created equal. Here are some points to consider before purchasing used CT equipment.

1. Determine what type of CT scan equipment your hospital or imaging center needs. There are various types of modalities available. Do you need a 64-slice scanner or will a 16-slice scanner suffice? Choose your used CT equipment not only from a financial perspective, but also from a utilization perspective. You might buy a machine that you may not be using that often and will not serve your patients needs properly. Choose one that will be the most practical for your hospital’s or imaging center’s testing and patient care needs.

2. Interview several suppliers that specialize in providing a refurbished CT scanner. They should be able to describe how they choose a CT scan for refurbishing, the steps in their refurbishing process and the type of service contract or warranty they offer. Purchase equipment from one of the major manufactures like Philips Medical.

3. Have the equipment inspected by a third party professional, preferably the company that is going to be in-charge of the maintenance of your equipment.

4. Choose providers that are members of the International Association of Medical Equipment Remarketers and Servicers (IAMERS). This will guarantee that they are a reputable provider and follow a strict code of ethics.

5. Pay only when you are sure that the equipment meets your standards and needs and a thorough inspection has been done.

Keeping these points in mind will allow you to make the right decision when buying used CT equipment which will ultimately cut your expenses in half, allowing for other diagnostic imaging equipment purchases.