Remanufactured OEC 9600 C-arm — Frequently Asked Questions

An increasingly popular alternative to new equipment purchases, our remanufactured systems address many cost vs. quality issues facing healthcare facility managers worldwide. We've listed answers to some of our most common remanufacturing questions for your convenience.

How does remanufacturing fit into the purchasing process for diagnostic imaging equipment in today's marketplace?

Unrelenting pressure for cost containment and greater productivity continues to force many health facilities to explore new decision making scenarios in equipment acquisition. An increasingly popular purchasing approach often involves an entire team of health care professionals. This team works closely with the CFO to develop a budget, create a formal presentation and gain approval for capital acquisition requests as a collaborative business decision.

Most successful acquisition campaigns assess imaging needs based on both care and cost issues. This delicate process has become increasingly important in addressing the business of imaging. One alternative that addresses these important cost and quality issues head-on is remanufactured diagnostic imaging systems. Unlike many other rapidly changing technologies in healthcare, fundamental X-ray technology has remained relatively flat. It is because of this technological equality that thoroughly remanufactured imaging systems can offer a viable and reliable alternative to new equipment at about half the cost.

What are some of the most important issues to consider in this business environment?

Striking a balance between cost and quality is a pressing concern for all parties involved in the budget process. Very often, there is an immediate need for updated equipment to maintain or improve upon current levels of healthcare quality throughout the facility. Unfortunately, most budgets do not adjust as quickly as the current needs. The budget level required for comprehensive new equipment purchases is out of reach for many facilities.

There are select, high-end remanufactured systems available with detailed engineering, superb imaging and solid service histories that often outperform many new systems. At savings of forty to sixty percent over new equipment, remanufactured systems continue to gain acceptance and popularity as a very viable business option.

Can you suggest an effective acquisition strategy for facilities interested in remanufactured systems?

Your team's formal presentation for capital acquisition, or business plan, must demonstrate that the desired equipment will contribute to the overall success of the organization. Your collective role as product champion is to prove how the acquired equipment will effect your return on investment, increase your competitive advantage and integrate with existing information systems. Out of the many new and preowned equipment options, thoroughly remanufactured systems meet all of these tough business objectives in a reliable, cost-effective manner.

Choosing a reliable system and remanufacturer is the next step to ensuring that you receive quality equipment that will fulfill the needs of your facility. This is a very important complement to cost savings in justifying this collaborative business decision.

What differentiates quality and reliability levels among remanufactured systems?

There are many levels of preowned, refurbished and remanufactured systems available today. It is important to find a company that is committed to providing consistent and reliable long-term quality. ISO 9001/9002 quality registration is a good indicator that the facility has a documented quality process in place and that it is regularly audited to ensure that quality levels are maintained.

Thoroughly remanufactured systems are supplied with all necessary electrical, mechanical, and cosmetic upgrades required to provide excellent imaging and like-new operation. Beware of suppliers who sell equipment that may have only received a light dusting or quick paint job before being put back into service. Be sure that the remanufacturer you choose digs deep into each and every operational system.

In addition, detailed labeling and documentation further ensures that the equipment has been thoroughly checked and brought back to OEM specifications. In short, remanufactured equipment should allow facilities to perform affordable diagnostic imaging without sacrificing diagnostic quality.

Are there any technology issues associated with remanufactured systems?

At forty to sixty percent cost savings over new equipment, remanufactured diagnostic imaging systems open the door to new opportunities and savings for many facilities. These savings can be applied elsewhere to bridge the gap to other equipment or technologies like PACS and teleradiology for improved patient care.

Integrated with a new digital imaging system, remanufactured diagnostic imaging equipment offers any size facility the opportunity to provide high-tech exams. Because of the intricacies of most digital systems and the associated new generators required to run them, it is important that the system is completely pre-staged prior to delivery. Remanufacturers should have a dedicated staging area to setup and test all systems exactly as they will be assembled in the buyer's facility. This ensures that all components perform to the very highest quality standards.

All systems should also be guaranteed to meet or exceed OEM specifications. Check to make sure that all applicable upgrades for the system have been installed and that the equipment has the very latest safety and performance features recommended by the original manufacturer.

This combination of current upgrades and the expansion in available technology provided by the cost savings generated from choosing remanufactured equipment enables large, average and even small facilities to provide current, state-of-the-art diagnostic health care.