Sensible Solutions for Refurbished Radiology

Another RSNA has come and gone and most exhibitors and attendees are back at work, returning to their daily lives.  Though the show has concluded, the lasting affects will be felt as we head into 2016. It would take forever to discuss all the happenings of the RSNA so I will limit it to the field that I specialize in: C-ARMS! 

It's the 21st Century. I've said it once and I'll say it again. Technology is constantly improving. Gone are the days of Eight Tracks and Video Tapes. We live in a digital world. A great example of this is our computer monitors. Computer Monitors used to be a big box CRT that would sit on top of the desk and take up a lot of space. Fast-forward to present day where the monitor is digital and so small that it has become handheld. 

Have you ever gone to McDonald's? Of course, that’s a silly question, since 68 million people go to a McDonald’s every day. I’m sure you have been one of those 68 million people at one point in your life. So, when you walk up to the counter, what do you ask for? Small, medium, large or super-sized fries? That usually depends on how hungry you are. And just because the fries are super-sized doesn't make them better fries, right? It just means that you get more of them. 

If you’ve visited the Atlantis Worldwide website before you may remember a blog we posted a little over 2 years ago. It focused on the risks and dangers of buying C-Arms on eBay. No, we’re not kidding some doctor’s offices have actually considered this.

Let me set the table. You’re improving your radiology capabilities and one thing has become abundantly clear; you need a C-Arm. Whether you’re building a new facility, buying a C-Arm for the first time, or you’re ready to upgrade to a newer/better model – it’s going to take a lot of work and research to make this purchase happen.

C-Arms have been around for more than 30 years, and people often view it as a “Coke and Pepsi” market: dominated by OEC C-Arms and Philips C-Arms.  Okay, and maybe Siemens C-Arms, too. But there is another fairly big player that’s often overlooked: Ziehm C-Arms. I like to think of them as the RC Cola of the C-Arm market. They've been around just as long as the big guys (1983) and the quality of their C-Arms is actually on par, as well.  (We all know RC Cola is just as good as Coke and Pepsi!) However, for some reason the Ziehm name does not carry the same appeal or recognition as OEC, Philips or Siemens. 

So you need a C-Arm. There are countless options out there and it’s an important decision you don’t want to mess up. You do your research, you take a look at your practice and the procedures you perform and you pinpoint the C-Arm that works best for you. You decide that a refurbished C-Arm will provide the performance (and price!) you need, so you call the dealer, ready to buy. Then that knowledgeable salesman asks you what kind of C-Arm table you want. What?

NEW 2021 C-Arm Price Infographic online now! Click here to see 2021 Updated prices.

Search no more; we have prices listed for the most popular C-Arms on our new Infographic or Slideshare presentation.  As a leader in refurbished and used C-Arms we want to help you with C-Arm questions and identify the best solution at the appropriate price.

So your clinic, hospital or practice needs a new C-Arm. And you’ve figured out which type you want, but you don’t know which model or manufacturer will fit your needs.  How do you know which one is right for you?  What’s the real difference between an OEC  9800 and OEC 9900? Which C-Arm is a real workhorse, and which one won’t stand up to day-in and day-out use? And is it better to buy a new one? Or can you get way more bang for your buck—and a great warranty—by buying a refurbished one? Popular Siemens C-Arms, Philips C-Arms and GE OEC C-Arms compared!

New is great. Everybody loves new. If it were up to me, I would ONLY have new everything—from cars and cell phones to homes and imaging devices. But let’s be real.  New is expensive. And if you’re talking about medical imaging devices, new is REALLY expensive. Let’s say you wanted to buy a new OEC, Philips or Siemens C-Arm. You’re looking at more than $100,000.00. Ouch. So it’s no wonder Atlantis Worldwide has been so successful.  We’ve helped clinics, hospitals and other health care entities get the medical imaging equipment they want and need, but at a used or refurbished price.