Encompass Medical Group/Premier Imaging in Kansas City, MO, bought three refurbished scanners when the facility opened for business in 2004. The group considered reliability as much a factor in its decision as lower cost.

Price was what ultimately drove the decision to purchase refurbished equipment, but the group also understood that this equipment performs the same high-quality imaging as newer modalities, according to Susan Stidham, director of radiology.

Refurbished equipment provides a cost-effective option for imaging facilities that need to adhere to a strict budget to maintain profitability without sacrificing quality of care, Stidham said. She characterized the savings possible with refurbished equipment to be greater than 25%. Encompass-Premier also carries service contracts on all its equipment.

“The service contracts ensure that we can continue to maintain the equipment properly and also provides options for computer software and hardware upgrades,” she said.

A variety of purchase or lease financing options were available to the Encompass-Premier group, which used a combination (see accompanying article). For the refurbished Siemens Sensation 64-slice CT, the group chose a lease option instead of purchase because CT technology changes so rapidly, Stidham said. Leasing gives the group more flexibility in terms of equipment upgrade. The 1.5T GE MR, on the other hand, was a capital purchase. The group also owns two refurbished ultrasound scanners, one from Siemens and one from Philips.

REFURBISHING PROCESS

Used imaging equipment sales and auctions can be found even in cyberspace. Plenty of bargains exist on the as-is market, but as-is equipment comes just as it says. As-is usually means no warranty and no vendor to stand behind the product. Let the buyer beware.

The first week of each month, however, government surplus medical imaging equipment goes up for auction at GovLiquidation.com. The auctions are typically well stocked with radiographic and ultrasound equipment. While the equipment is not refurbished and is sold on an as-is basis, some extraordinary bargains can be found.

“The bidder sets the price,” said Tom Burton, president of Government Liquidation. “It's not unusual for items to sell for the $150 minimum bid.” In March, a $32,000 Siemens Mobilett Plus HP radiographic unit sold for $4755.