6 Things to Consider When Purchasing Healthcare Equipment in Australia
When setting up a new clinic, laboratory or hospital, one of the first considerations is selecting the right healthcare equipment. The right equipment can make the difference between saving and losing a life, which is why it is essential for hospital managers and administrators to make the correct choice.
Today, with advancements in medical science and technology, there are a number of medical devices available. The efficacy of each device, its user-friendliness and accuracy will differ, which can often make it difficult to make sure you’re making the right choice. When selecting healthcare equipment for your medical facility, keep the following in mind:
How to select the right healthcare equipment:
Nature of your facility:
The first thing to look at is whether your facility offers specialised services or is part of a larger facility that offers a number of different medical services. For example, the clinic of an obstretician and gynaecologist will be outfitted with different equipment than one of a urologist. Any good hospital manager or administrator will talk to the presiding doctors and nurses of the facility to find out what the medical facility requires. It is only the people who use the equipment everyday who can tell you what needs to be bought or needs an upgrade.
Moreover, consider the size of your facility. Not every piece of equipment will be suited to each situation. For example, a hospital emergency ward will likely see a lot of traffic and so the equipment fitted in the room needs to be able to handle that load. Finally, think about the power resources you have at your disposal and whether the equipment needs to be constantly charged.
Features of the equipment:
You want the healthcare equipment you buy to be easy-to-use and offer a number of different functions. If you’re buying new equipment and are not sure how it functions, talk to the supplier about giving some basic training to your personnel about its use. Ideally, you should be looking for user-friendliness along with functionality when looking for the right healthcare equipment. Your doctors, physicians and nurses don’t want to be fiddling around with controls when there’s a critical patient at their table.
Cost:
Most medical equipment is costly. But medical equipment is not something to cut costs on. Cheaply made, faulty apparatus can put a patient’s life at risk and could open your medical facility up to negligence lawsuits. But while patient care should always be the priority, it is not impossible to find quality products that fit your budget. Remember, cost should never outweigh quality when buying medical equipment for your healthcare facility.
Quality:
Speaking of quality, this is another consideration to keep in mind when it comes to selecting healthcare equipment for your facility. Look at the supplier or manufacturer’s ISO certifications, design techniques, use of technology and their quality control standards before buying equipment aimed for use at a medical facility. Good quality products are everything in the healthcare industry. Because doctors, physicians, nurses and hospital staff are dealing with people’s lives, it is imperative that only the highest-quality and most reliable products are used. To ensure you are covered if the equipment turns out to be faulty, also look for products with a full warranty.
After-sale customer service:
Technology can fail at any time. When dealing with medical equipment, if a fault occurs, you want your product to be back up and running in no time. A piece of equipment that is giving improper readings or won’t start can put lives at jeopardy, which is why after-sale service is so important. When buying a product from a supplier or a manufacturer, you need to be sure that the provider will supply ongoing care and maintenance when required.
Reputation of the supplier or manufacturer
Lastly, the supplier or manufacturer you buy from must enjoy a good reputation in the market. They should also have an extensive inventory of products in their portfolio. By buying all the equipment you require from a single vendor, you streamline the delivery and installation as well as the after-sales service for your facility. The best suppliers are those who not only have extensive market knowledge, but also have several satisfied customers who can vouch for their authenticity and service.
Paragon Care - leading providers of healthcare equipment in Australia
At Paragon Care, we ensure all of our equipment is sourced from the leading manufacturers in the industry and offer extensive after-sales customer service.
From veterinary to neonatal, orthopaedics to critical care in Australia, we have an extensive product portfolio to meet the needs of any healthcare facility in the country. We also offer other medical products and consumables such as surgical covers, needle guides, grids and drapes, IV sets and ultrasound probe covers to keep healthcare facilities well-stocked.