Buying medical equipment online can be practical, easy, and affordable. All of which are important to the purchasing process. But did you know there are better options for buying online than others?
In this article, we’ll cover the top five factors you need to consider when purchasing medical equipment online.
1. Quality of Medical Equipment
Yes, it should not be understated how important quality products are. Ever have a syringe tip break as it was about to be injected into a patient’s arm?
Let’s keep it that way.
If a site has equipment that you’ll be using on a regular basis, search the product page to ensure it is compliant with the FDA’s Quality protocols.
Can’t find it on the product’s specific page? It’s a red flag, but not the end of the world. Search the site’s ‘About’ section. Then move to any liability page they may have in case something goes wrong with the product.
If they can’t offer you guarantees on damaged or malfunctioning equipment, run to one of the many other online equipment stores.
2. Supplier Reputation
Once you know that the equipment you’re looking for is up to the FDA’s standards and that if any equipment is defective you can be reimbursed, let’s talk the supplier.
Medical equipment prices are wild across the web. And if a supplier is charging something ludicrously higher (or lower) than the competition, you need to ask the question: “Why?”
Check out online customer reviews to see if the supplier is reputable. Do they deliver their equipment on time? Do they offer prompt returns and refunds if it arrives damaged?
Are they selling numerous brands of equipment? Or do they only carry one line? If they carry multiple brands, they might be a middle-man, meaning you could potentially go to the source for a better deal.
Of course, if they only offer one specific line of products, then they may have a slower distribution network. All of this must be taken into consideration when buying medical equipment online.
3. Customer Support
Going along with a supplier’s reputation is their level of support. Even small networks with few products can (and should) offer extensive levels of support.
Depending on whether you’re buying stethoscopes, to Zoll defibrillator mounting, having support ready to assist you if something isn’t functioning right is vital.
4. Durability and Usability
A two-for-one tip! Needles are one-time-use items. Bladder scanners, defibrillators, and EKG scanners are not.
If these items aren’t guaranteed to last or are known for shorting faster than the competition, don’t get them. Similarly, if you purchase a bunch of vein viewers but your team can’t figure out how to use them, what good are they?
Ensure that the equipment is usable and, if applicable, reusable for years to come.
5. Price
Yes, cost comes last. Because once you’ve taken into consideration everything else, you now have a better idea of what a piece of equipment’s value is.
If something is $100 and lasts a lifetime, while something else is $10 and lasts only a month, which is likely the better investment for a hospital?
That’s an easy answer. Compare costs with the factors above to know what you buy is worth it in the long run.
Get Buying Medical Equipment Online
Now you know the tools of the trade. Buying medical equipment online isn’t so different than shopping for other products online. Since you can’t see, touch, or hold what you’re buying, you’ve got to put a little more effort in.
The rewards are worth it though, finding better products for better overall value.
Do you work in the medical field? Interested in health, finance, and more? Check out our related blog posts.
