by
Barbara Kram, Editor | November 11, 2009
Probst noted that administrators are keenly aware of this tradeoff but that engineers are not always. His ISO-certified company has checklists and procedures all along the way to handle parts correctly from removal of equipment to shipping of parts.
"Shipping causes the most trouble. We have had to adjust the way we ship and pack items. We have double checks on everything that goes out with another employee looking at the item to make sure it is clean and packed properly and will make it to the destination," he said.
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It is helpful to be aware that while ISOs offer a wide array of used parts, they also do sell new parts. On the flipside of the coin, OEMs aren't necessarily selling new.
"You have to be careful with the term 'new' because if it is coming from the OEM, that doesn't always mean new," said Kramer. "It may mean repaired just like a repaired part from us. What is important to realize, is that when a company does repairs they are adding value to the part. In that way, they find not just the failures, but the weaknesses. When we do a repair, we are looking at the components that have failed in the field on top of those components that are about to fail. We replace them all upfront so that what we send out is as close to new as you can get."
Modality Focus
As providers try to wring every bit of service life they can out of medical equipment, companies in the business of saving health care costs, such as parts suppliers, are well positioned. Ultrasound, an affordable, ubiquitous and versatile technology, is a prime example of a technology in constant need of parts.
Climate-controlled parts
inventory as seen at
C & G Technologies, Inc.
"The parts business is expanding rapidly. As hospitals and imaging centers are holding on to their systems longer, these older systems are more likely to breakdown and need parts. Hospitals are going to continue to look for reliable, yet reasonably priced parts," said David Trogden of Ultra Solutions. The company provides ultrasound parts and service.
Small firms to large, OEMs can prove a reliable source of quality parts. GE Healthcare saw fit to acquire Ambassador Medical in 2002, boosting the OEM's specialization in quality refurbished ultrasound systems and parts.
