Sensible Solutions for Refurbished Radiology

Do you know the difference between used and refurbished medical imaging equipment? Does anyone? I decided to look online and see what people’s comments and questions were. I was surprised—and not surprised—by the level of confusion out there. Some people thought that “used” means the equipment is still working and can be sold again. Some thought “refurbished” means the equipment is broken and scratched, then cleaned up and repaired and sold for lower price. Others thought that used equipment was sent back to the factory for minor repairs and was then wrapped in plastic and sold as refurbished.

Here at Atlantis Worldwide, we sell a lot of OEC C-Arms. That being the case, we get asked all sorts of questions about them: Why is it called a C-Arm? Do I need Vascular Capabilities? Will this C-Arm fit in a 10’ x 12’ Room? When it comes to OEC 9800s, the question we hear the most often is, “What is the difference between an OEC 9800 and an OEC 9800 Plus?”

Admit it. You heard that old song in your head when you read the headline, right? And if you’re a podiatrist or other physician who specializes in treating hands, shoulders, knees++ and toes, you’re sure to fall in love with a Mini C-Arm—and the revenue it can generate in your clinic or facility.

Have you had a bone scan done to measure bone density and fracture risk? If so, then you probably know what a bone densitometer is. It’s a specific kind of x-ray system that uses two x-ray beams to measure the calcium content of bone to reflect bone density and bone fracture risk. Each x-ray beam has a different energy level that’s aimed at the patient’s bones. The soft tissue absorption is subtracted, and then the Body Mineral Density (BMD) can be determined from the absorption of each beam by bone. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is the most popular bone density measurement technology used.

Back in the day, all MRIs were long, dark and uninviting. Patients entered a confining, deep tunnel for the procedure, which proved uncomfortable for some patients, and impossible for those with claustrophobia. And let’s face it, no one wanted to have his or her child—or elderly relative-- experience that type of MRI exam. When Open MRI system hit the market, the number of potential MRI patients grew tremendously. In addition, to the new appeal of an open environment, many Open MRI systems were easier to site and less expensive than their high field counterparts. In addition because Open MRI systems did not use cryogens, their service contracts were also lower than high field MRI systems.

Until 2004, physicians who required high field stre

A R/F Room stands for radiography/fluoroscopy. It is the grandfather of human imaging studies. The changes to this modality over time have been minimal and brings value to imaging departments and centers.

Don’t you love comparisons? Atlantis has compiled a list of best comparisons so that you can read all about the diagnostic imaging equipment you are interested in and see how they compare.  If you are interested in learning about other equipment comparisons that you do not see on this list please send us an email and we will get that information for you.  Just email us at marketing@atlantisworldwide.com

C-Arm Comparisons

In a perfect world with high reimbursement and unlimited patient volumes, the high cost of acquiring or siting an MRI system would not matter. You could lease any system you wanted and every five years, at the end of your lease term, you’d get a new MRI system. Reimbursements were high for outpatient imaging center. Vendors, radiologists, administrators and imaging center owners negotiated the system, service and price, and it was a win-win for everyone. And while service contracts were high, MRI imaging was still highly profitable, whether in a hospital or an outpatient imaging center.

Well, that may have been the case 25 years ago, but not anymore.

The OEC 9900 is the latest and greatest OEC currently on the market—and being such, it can be a costly purchase for a healthcare facility. Many clinics, hospitals and practices are considering a more affordable solution: the OEC Brivo C-Arm.