Buying Used Medical Equipment? Know These Terms

Brand new medical equipment can put a heavy dent in the pockets of hospitals and surgical facilities. Medical centers that want to provide high-quality care but still remain smart in today’s economic climate have found allies in the used medical device marketplace, which sell reconditioned, refurbished, and remanufactured equipment.

Shopping for used medical equipment can be a tricky project for uninformed buyers, and it pays to know what to look for in the sea of available products out there. Here are some terms to remember before buying:

Reconditioned equipment

This term means that the equipment needs only minimal touching-up such as painting, polishing, or cleaning. Otherwise, the equipment already functions to the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) specifications.

Refurbished equipment

Equipment under this type may have new replacement parts (which can be different from OEM parts) but still meet the original specifications.

Remanufactured equipment

Unlike the refurbished ones, the worn parts of this type of used equipment have been replaced with new OEM ones.

Understanding these classifications is a huge help for those in the market for used medical equipment. In addition, equipment quality is also dependent on the reputation and trustworthiness of the seller, and the value of a piece of equipment will ultimately be measured not in the amount of cash spent on it, but in how long it will serve the facility and how many people it will help save.