Sensible Solutions for Refurbished Radiology

When a hospital or imaging center has small lapses of operation due to down time it is inexcusable.   Your CT scanner has many moving components that are electrical, and the heat in the gantry can build up rather quickly. Cooling is a major requirement when it comes to modern multi slice CT systems that are designed to accommodate up to 100kW of tube power and very high patient load. Hence you need to keep the system and room chilled to prevent over-heating.

These days, there’s an increased popularity in “Spot the Difference” photos.  You see them on the internet, in Facebook, in popular magazines—at first glance the photos seem identical.  But look closer, and there are some real differences.  One shirt has five stripes instead of six, one girl has freckles and the other doesn’t.  Well, if you put an OEC 9600 C-Arm next to an OEC 9800 C-Arm, you’d be hard pressed to be able to tell the difference.  The frame is nearly identical.  The size and weight are the same.  Even most experts can’t tell the difference at first.  

Whether you are a physician looking to open up a pain management practice, or a facility thinking of expanding to add surgical procedures, you will need a C-Arm system. We know the search process can be overloaded with information, and purchasing a C-Arm can be an expensive undertaking. But if you keep these 3 key questions in mind, your answers will steer you in the right direction, and you’ll find the perfect device, whatever your radiology needs may be.

Okay, so you’ve got some medical imaging systems that you don’t need or want anymore.  It happens.  Well, you basically have three options. 

Deciding to purchase a C-Arm for your practice is easy enough, but choosing which one is appropriate for you can be a little more complicated. To simplify things, we’ve outlined the questions you should ask and ideas to keep in mind while you shop. Follow these guides, and you will be pleased with your purchase. Then, later on, you won’t have to ask yourself, WHY? 

We know what’s it’s like.  Your healthcare facility, clinic or practice needs a new C-arm.  And everyone has an opinion.  This bright, new shiny toy that just came out.   Look at this brand.  Don’t spend too much.  Make sure you get the right size.  Maybe we can’t afford one. We’re sure we can’t afford not to. Where are you going to buy it?  Talk to my cousin, he can get you one. 

Everyone understands that most diagnostic imaging systems are a long-term investment. The inevitable “big” question is, “When is it time to purchase newer equipment versus making do with perfectly functional existing technology?”  It’s a challenge that faces most purchasing departments, clinic and hospital administrators, physicians and office managers—and it’s where Atlantis Worldwide can step in and help make a decision easier.  No, we don’t have a crystal ball that allows us to gaze into the future and determine your best course of action.  But we DO have more than 20 years of experience in buying and selling imaging equipment, so we understand the market and can help our customers identify the best equipment solutions for their budgets and needs.

When you involve the Atlantis Worldwide team in the decision making process, we will work with you to gather pertinent information that will enable you to make a more informed decision.  We’ll compile review a wide range of data:  what are the comparative costs of installation?  Can your existing system be upgraded easily, or is it easy to remove and replace the equipment?  What is the turnover timing?  How has your market changed and what are the current needs of your patients, physicians and community?   What is the current and ideal workflow?  How does equipment depreciation factor in?  How will the impending changes to Medicare and the insurance industry impact your business?  What are the cost differences in servicing new systems versus upgrading existing ones?  By answering these and other questions, oftentimes it illuminates the perfect solution for your diagnostic imaging needs.

In the not-so-distant past, many hospitals and imaging groups would rush to buy the biggest and the best medical imaging equipment.  After all, who doesn’t want the shiny new toy?  But oftentimes these purchases were made without reviewing the needs of a specific facility, market and patient population. Reimbursements were high, and referrals and insurance acceptance were strong, so why worry?  In fact,  many diagnostic imaging centers were launched on the “if you build it, they will come” philosophy.

Most kids grow up with dreams of becoming a firefighter, a rock star or a famous sports figure.  As Atlantis Worldwide LLC CEO and founder Jeff Weiss said, “It’s not like I woke up one day and said—“Hey, I think I want to sell refurbished imaging solutions worldwide.  It’s just where my skills, talents, connections and luck led me.”

We’ve all heard the stories:  two guys build a gadget in a garage in Northern California and it ends up launching a multi billion dollar company.  Another entrepreneur turns a passion for coffee into a worldwide destination for caffeine consumption.  Or, in the silence of a lab, a new drug is developed that can cure a disease.  They all have one thing in common:  someone recognized a need, and came up with a solution.