Healthcare facilities strive to provide their staff with the best possible equipment. After all, if they don’t have the right tools, then how can they maintain high standards of patient care. However, there isn’t always a correlation between the most expensive option and the best choice. Mobile medical carts represent a significant investment for medical clinics, and the reasons are understandable. The flexibility and value that the units bring to the ward can be invaluable.

The question is whether hospitals need to spend so much money buying brand new carts, or if they could make significant savings by buying refurbished medical computer carts. Healthcare facilities can always benefit from having surplus finance to spend on improving staff training, patient care, and upgrading equipment. In deciding if a refurbished cart is a suitable option, it’s important to dispel some myths.

Healthcare facilities strive to provide their staff with the best possible equipment. After all, if they don’t have the right tools, then how can they maintain high standards of patient care. However, there isn’t always a correlation between the most expensive option and the best choice.

Mobile medical carts represent a significant investment for medical clinics, and the reasons are understandable. The flexibility and value that the units bring to the ward can be invaluable.

The question is whether hospitals need to spend so much money buying brand new carts, or if they could make significant savings by buying refurbished medical computer carts.

Healthcare facilities can always benefit from having surplus finance to spend on improving staff training, patient care, and upgrading equipment. In deciding if a refurbished cart is a suitable option, it’s important to dispel some myths.

New carts are fresh off the production line, and used units are ones that have been in use before. Refurbished carts are somewhere in the middle of new and used. While they have been working in hospital environments previously, qualified professional technicians have then restored the unit to a condition that is as good as if it were new.

Used carts are ones that have come directly from another clinical environment, they may or may not have been checked for faults. On the other hand, in the case of a refurbished cart, the technicians will have thoroughly examined the carts, replace any worn or outdated parts, and will certify that the cart is ready to go back to work on the ward.

This is a false belief, which probably comes from people thinking that since the cart has already been in use, that it may have previously sustained damage, or may not be as robust as when it was brand new. However, as carts are subject to vigorous testing before being labeled as refurbished, this is not the case.

Many people don’t realize that a manufacturer may ship a new cart to a hospital, only for them to return it as it has a minor fault. In this scenario, the manufacturer will fix the issue and then resell the unit as a refurbished model.

It can also take manufacturers several attempts to release a new model that does not have any faults. If a hospital purchases a new cart, it may find the technology isn’t yet ready for their requirements. By purchasing a refurbished cart, they can be confident that the unit has been working on a ward already.

Some professionals view refurbished mobile carts as being cheap imitations of a new cart. This is incorrect. A reputable company selling carts that they have inspected will only replace worn or outdated parts with high-quality materials.

The company treats signs of rust or corrosion and replaces parts that see particularly heavy use, such as casters. Suppliers have to be willing to put their name beside any cart they sell. By using poor quality or cheap materials, they would be risking their reputation.

It is standard practice for new carts to come with a warranty, usually for between 1-3 years. It is another myth that refurbished carts don’t come with a guarantee. Suppliers must be able to stand by their work, and if they are unwilling to offer a warranty, then this should cause concern.

A reputable supplier should offer a limited warranty with a refurbished unit. This not only gives reassurance to its customers that the cart will last but also shows the supplier has confidence in their work.

One of the key benefits of mobile medical carts is their wide variety of customization options. Manufacturers design their carts to accept various configurations for equipment, and to accommodate the latest technological upgrades.

This design feature also means the carts are not any more challenging to repair than a new unit. Should parts be worn, or their technology outdated, qualified technicians will replace those items with the latest pieces available.

Not only does this facility allow the technicians to return the cart to a standard at least as good as it was when the cart was new, but they can even make it more advanced than it was before by adding in the latest technological advances.

A final myth is that a new cart will outlast a refurbished unit and therefore is a better investment. However, new carts can be more prone to problems as they have not yet worked in a real hospital environment. A refurbished cart has been worn in, and it is used to the rigors of life in a ward.

Also, suppliers will have already replaced any worn parts before it is available for sale. It may even be the case that it combines the best of both – it has already been put to the test, and some parts swapped out for brand new pieces.

Preventative maintenance is the best way to help a cart have a long lifespan. It can be a wise investment for a hospital to outsource their mobile computer cart maintenance to a reputable firm. Qualified technicians can inspect the carts regularly and carry out maintenance and repair work.

The healthcare facility will then be fully prepared for regulatory inspections on their carts and know that their staff are working with equipment that is appropriate for the job.

Healthcare facilities are continually striving to improve their standards of patient care, and the cost savings they can make by purchasing a refurbished mobile medical cart, instead of a brand new one, may free up money to allocate to other resources.

For a free consultation and quote, contact one of our experts at KbPort Healthcare today. With years of experience in refurbishing mobile medical carts, we can give you impartial professional advice.

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