Refurbished microscopes: A cost-effective way to outfit your hospital

In 2018, a clinical journal article reported that hospitals in the United States spent almost $200 billion on medical equipment. After salaries and other costs for staff and managers, hospital supplies are among the highest costs for healthcare institutions. {Supply budget spending accounts for 25 to 33 percent of hospital operating costs for medicine and surgery.|Supply budget accounts for 25–33 percent of all hospital operating costs for medicine and surgery.

Unfortunately, in a post-pandemic economy, hospital budgets are low. It is vital for hospitals to have easy access to high-quality medical equipment that doesn’t break the bank.

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The different types of medical equipment

These are typically identified by their functions and features. The primary categories of medical equipment and supplies include electronic, diagnostic, surgical, durable medical equipment (DME), acute care, and storage and transport, although there are numerous other subcategories.

When hospitals decide to spend money on new medical equipment, it is vital that they maintain it and that it continues to be useful. Maintenance programs are essential to make sure that every dollar that you spend on your medical equipment investment is used wisely. But medical equipment repair and services are just as important to promote long-term usage.

Some hospitals have the money to periodically replace and update their medical equipment. But others struggle to afford to do that. If you work with an expert repair service that offers exceptional repairs to medical equipment, you will save money by buying a used microscope or other device.

The high cost of surgical microscopes

The market for surgical microscopes is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10.7% until 2027. With the rising numbers of car accidents, chronic disease, and increase in orthopedic surgical procedures, the call for more microscope equipment availability is rising exponentially. Operational microscopes are costly, and many healthcare centers cannot provide the level of care that their patients expect.

Buying refurbished models from an expert in microscope services can make a huge difference, not only to the hospital budget but also to the services it can offer.

Why refurbished is cheaper and better

Refurbished medical equipment means putting used medical equipment back on the market. Although the medical equipment may have been used before, this does not mean that it is in a condition that would affect its functionality.

On the contrary, every refurbished microscope goes through a meticulous process during which the equipment is upgraded to meet the current OEM specifications. Refurbished surgical microscopes are reported to save between 30 and 50 percent compared to buying new equipment. Every facilities are seriously thinking about purchasing refurbished medical equipment in order to save money in the future.

It is not as though you are just getting a cheap repair service to repair your microscope. When shopping for a reconditioned microscope, you get the following:

  • The microscope reutilized up to 90% of its original material, which keeps costs low

The equipment is not obsolete, as it’s been processed to meet the current OEM standards

  • The microscope is under warranty, even though it isn’t a brand new item 
  • The purchase has a low environmental impact

When hospitals are facing high costs and high needs, reconditioned equipment such as surgical microscopes from a company like Prescott’s Inc., can help them save money and preserve important hospital functions.