"The medical community just doesn't handle these kinds of situations on a daily basis," says Travis Nipper, a principal with Clinical Engineering Consultants Inc., a company based in Kentucky but considered part of the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. "Medicine's clients are the public and their role is to oversee patient care. They are not expected to be experts at our business."

International Another Layer of Complexity


As challenging as a US only move can be, introducing an overseas element to the equation raises the ante considerably. With international shipping comes customs brokering, an endless stream of documentation, knowledge of which steamship lines sail which trade lanes, an ability to calculate the economic merits of shipping either by water or air, adhering to a profusion of import and export regulations, tax laws, complying with FDA guidelines. Again, the list is one long and winding road, and clearly calls for a level of navigational experience not found in any but the largest of hospitals or biggest of manufacturers.

Thus, as medical equipment increasingly becomes a global enterprise, international logistics companies like Calhoun, GA based M&S Logistics have found themselves in the midst of highly favorable business conditions. Many companies like M&S also offer warehousing during transit time, as well as serving as licensed customs brokers.

M&S principal Demetri Miltiades urges anyone eyeing the overseas market, either as importer or exporter, to "get price quotes from various sources and pick the logistics company that offers competitive pricing along with professional and experienced service."

Whether medical equipment is moving halfway around the world or cross city, industry advice to the buyers and sellers is not unlike that in any other line of business, when you wander out of your area of expertise, call in the experts whose area it is.

DOTmed Fact

Those firms currently in the medical equipment business might look to the export market for big returns. While demand for equipment is strong, the sagging US dollar is also playing right into exporters hands.

"The last 3-6 months has been unbelievably busy," says Erik Cruz of Logical Solution Services. "The dollar is so weak that there's huge advantages for buyers from overseas." And Cruz says overseas buyers are taking full advantage as medical equipment exports are soaring.

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DOTmed Registered Medical Equipment Trucking, Ocean & Air Freight Sales and Service Companies

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