The money that goes into buying medical imaging constitutes a considerable investment for hospitals, diagnosticians, and other high-level medical personnel. So big that it magnifies both the choice of equipment and the equipment vendor, which means it’s essential to have a firm grasp on every aspect of the process when it comes to finding a medical imaging equipment supplier.
With that in mind, let’s review some of the most common ways to buy medical imaging equipment. Several are well-regarded within the industry, but each comes with tradeoffs. What follows is a breakdown to help you make the best choice possible if you’re involved in the buying decisions and the process of finding a medical imaging equipment supplier.
Equipment Providers and Service Organizations
Typically, these organizations own the equipment that they’re selling. That means they almost always know it inside out, so buying this way guarantees quality and reputation.
Because they own the equipment, these companies can offer service warranties or agreements, and another advantage is that they have the tech knowledge and experience to back them up.
That knowledge and experience usually come in the form of an engineering team, whose members tend to have a high level of certification.
These companies tend to be very invested in both the industry as a whole and the products they’re selling, so you know they will be in it for the long haul when it comes to supporting the equipment they sell.
It’s an excellent high-level solution, but the downside is the higher cost. You’re paying a premium price to get high-end equipment and fast, reliable service and maintenance; that combination doesn’t come cheap.
There are ways to save money, though. Companies like TTG Imaging offer new and refurbished medical imaging equipment and parts, plus they can also provide high-end maintenance and repair contracts for sophisticated nuclear imaging equipment.
That makes them an excellent choice for smaller hospitals and specialized medical practices. These entities often operate according to a strict budget, and sometimes the money they can save with a company like TTG Imaging can significantly impact their bottom line.
Brokers
Another option is to buy medical imaging equipment by using a broker. What brokers do is buy and sell this kind of equipment, and their goal is to keep things simple. They want to make a sale that comes with a specified profit and take as little risk as possible in the process.
Some are intermediaries between buyers and sellers, and if that’s the case, they will usually be even more eager to keep their involvement to a minimum.
As for the equipment itself, brokers usually subcontract the refurbishment, transport, testing, and installation to a company with comprehensive expertise in all those areas. Or, in some cases, those tasks are left to the buyer.
Either way, it’s essential to keep in mind that you’re dealing with a proverbial “middle man.” This can burden buyers who don’t have the resources or expertise to handle the automatic needs that come with buying medical imaging systems, which is also a possible downside.
Partners and Parenting Companies
The main benefit of buying medical imaging equipment through either a partner or a parent company is that they provide solutions that tend to be more comprehensive. But that thoroughness does come with a price.
Specifically, these companies will ask for a percentage of the equipment’s income, or they may even ask for a portion of the revenue from the buyer’s medical business.
That makes them an excellent soup-to-nuts solution, but buyers who choose this route should understand the financial compromises involved. They can lower profits and revenue, affecting working capital, debt load, and other financial factors.
Consultant Group
Consultant groups typically take the same approach as a parent or partner company, but the big difference is that they don’t take a piece of the action financially.
They’ll handle every aspect of the system, from transport to installation and then maintenance and repair, so it’s yet another viable solution.
What they ask in return is an upfront warranty or a long-term service contract, so while that makes them less expensive than partners or parent companies, there’s still a payout that can represent a liability for some medical businesses.
The TTG Solution
If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution with great financial flexibility, TTG Imaging is one of the best choices out there. To see what they have available, go to TTGImagingSolutions.com, and follow up with a toll-free call to our sales, service, or parts department to get more specific solutions for your medical imaging needs.
