Imagine walking into a hospital (or other medical facility) and there was no medical equipment. No stethoscopes, no defibrillators, no fancy machines which say “Ping!” Nothing. Just beds, doctors, and good ol' intuition.
As a society we're used to these medical equipment and supplies being available to help doctors diagnose our problems and extend our lives. It is important, then, that hospitals always have access to what is needed to properly perform their services.
While it is easy to say that it is time for a hospital to upgrade its medical equipment supplies, actually purchasing them is a totally different matter. The expenses can be prohibitive, even for large hospitals, let alone smaller family doctors. As such, hospitals need to balance their ideal set-up with what is actually fiscally feasible.
Medical equipment companies usually have distributors and suppliers which hospitals have to purchase through. Getting equipment through a medical equipment supplier is an effective way to get the needed equipment with little fuss while allowing the medical equipment manufacturers to focus on making (and improving on) their line.
Fortunately, for facilities on a stringent budget, there are companies and distributors which do medical equipment leasing. Getting equipment on a lease has several perks, not the least of which is it becomes easier to upgrade when needed. At the same time, a long term lease (despite its initial financial appeal) can definitely cost more over time.
Another option for cost-effective equipment acquisition is investigating used medical equipment sales. Buying used equipment has the perk of saving your facility a lot of money, but the downside is that it means you'll likely be a bit behind the technological curve. However, for equipment which hasn't changed much, it is a good way to trim budget corners without sacrificing service.
If you end up buying used, be sure to test the equipment to make sure it works right. You don't want the machine to fail right when it is needed—not only does that put the patient at risk, but it makes your organization look inept.
Getting medical supplies and equipment is the obvious first step for any medical facility looking to open its doors. People will judge your facility by how prepared you are and how up-to-date your medical equipment is. An investment in good equipment gives your patrons the peace of mind that they're in good hands with your facility—an investment which will pay off in the long run.