Frequently Asked Questions About Medical and Surgical Supplies

Purchasing medical and surgical supplies online can be hard, particularly if you don’t have a lot of experience in this area or don’t quite know what you’re looking for. These types of supplies also represent a significant investment for your clinic, so you want to be sure that you’ve made the right choice.

Since our establishment in 2008, Paragon Care has helped countless healthcare facilities make informed decisions about their medical supply needs. To help those just starting their research, we’ve put together some of the most frequently asked questions that customers have about purchasing medical and surgical supplies. These include questions you might want to ask yourself, as well as information that it’s important to know before partnering with an equipment provider. Of course, our team of trained and experienced customer service consultants are available to provide advice tailored to your situation and needs.

Should I purchase new or second-hand surgical equipment?

This is one of the biggest questions that healthcare managers face when purchasing capital equipment. If you’re working with a limited budget or are needing to purchase several devices at the same time, investing in second-hand equipment is clearly attractive because of the lower price tag.

However, there are extra considerations you will need to take into account should you go down the second-hand route. To start with, it might not be possible to obtain warranty for a second hand device. The supplier may not offer maintenance and repair. And to state the obvious, you’re probably purchasing a device with a shorter life-span.

Paragon Care offers new equipment, along with full maintenance, repair, and warranty. We support our customers through the entire life-cycle of their asset and believe that this approach makes paying full price worthwhile.

What is the return on investment for this equipment?

Another popular question that you will need to ask yourself at the beginning of your research. Perhaps you’ve had your eye on a particular piece of equipment for quite a while, but feel that the price-tag is prohibitive.

The truth of the matter is that medical and surgical equipment and supplies can be expensive. One way to justify the cost is working out the return on investment. Calculate how often you will be using the equipment, whether you will be able to expand the types of services you offer, and what you can charge for using it.

Healthcare isn’t about making a profit but having these facts and figures can help you make an informed decision that won’t put undue pressure on your budget.

How often will I need to restock my supplies?

In the case of disposable consumables, keeping track of stock levels is a difficult and critical task. These days, there are a range of tools you can harness to help simplify the process.

Having a digital system in place to track and monitor stock levels will be of significant help when it comes to planning both logistics and budgets.

A question like this is best discussed with Paragon Care’s experienced customer service representatives, who can provide advice tailored to your clinic size and the types of services you offer.

Do you offer maintenance and repair?

Before purchasing equipment from a supplier, be sure to check whether they offer appropriate maintenance and repair services. Medical devices, like any other type of equipment, are prone to breakdowns. Should something go wrong with your equipment, being able to call on Paragon Care’s trained engineers provides invaluable peace of mind.

What kind of warranty is available?

Another important tip — don’t purchase medical and surgical supplies unless warranty is available. For the most part, this will rule out second-hand equipment. But given the funds you will be investing in equipment, warranty is a must-have.

Warranty is not only important from a financial perspective, it also protects your patients. Should a device breakdown, replacing it without a warranty can take a significant period of time. Patients who are waiting for a diagnosis or treatment might have their appointments pushed back or cancelled altogether.

Paragon Care offers warranty options to protect everyone, from your financial team to your very important patients.

How can I see your product portfolio?

Like many medical suppliers, Paragon Care’s online product catalogue and information is available to health professionals only. If you would like to learn more about our product range, please submit a Product Information Request today.

If you have any further questions regarding our range of medical and surgical supplies, reach out to Paragon Care’s friendly team today.