Used vs. Refurbished

In order to get the best deal on a used piece of medical equipment, make sure that it’s refurbished. Refurbished means that, if the device was broken, it was repaired; if parts were broken, they were replaced with new parts; and that it was thoroughly tested and restored to its best possible condition by skilled and experienced biomedical technicians before it was put back on the market. This is in contrast to equipment that is simply used and sold as is. Refurbished equipment usually comes with a better warranty as well (or rather it’s more likely to even have a warranty).  

How Big Are the Savings?

Purchasing used equipment can save you sometimes over 50% of what you’d pay if you purchased the same equipment new. The savings will depend on the company you buy from and on the actual condition of the particular piece of equipment you’re buying. A new nuclear medicine camera, just to provide one example, costs about $300 thousand. The same machine used costs about $200 thousand. That’s a savings of a full $100 thousand. A brand new defibrillator that normally costs $18,000 can be purchased used for only $7,000.

Downsides of Used Medical Equipment

It’s easier to find good quality equipment if you buy new. With medical exam tables and other new equipment, you know what you’re getting with more certainty and it comes with a much longer and reliable warranty. With used equipment, however, you won’t have as easy of a time finding a good warranty. Companies that sell used and refurbished medical equipment usually won’t provide you with training on how to use the devices you buy. This is fine for simple devices or machines you and your staff have used before, but for machines that you’re not familiar with and that are highly complex, the training comes in very handy, and if you buy used, you likely won’t get it.