Monday nights are different for people who work in the medical imaging industry. Like millions of others, we’re at home watching the newest episode of House with our customary bowl of mustard pretzels on the coffee table and an ice cold Shasta in hand. Dr. House has just given a particularly obnoxious patient a well-deserved verbal drubbing (leaving us wishing we could be so liberal with our vitriol) after which the patient was summarily sent away to receive the episode’s 15^th ultra-costly test.

Saying Farewell?

Are the rumors true? Are you really relocating your OEC 9400 C-Arm to a different facility? Say it ain’t so! You and “Big Tan” have been through so much. You spent the 90’s together for crying out loud!

Ah, banks. Can't live with them, can't live without them. While your local bank may do a great job of providing working capital for your hospital or imaging center, they will likely look at you with blank stares if you ask about financing refurbished medical imaging equipment like MRI machines, CT scanners, PET/CT, Cath/Angio Labs or C-Arms.

“My C-Arm was quite an investment, so I treat it with kid gloves. With the care I take, it’ll never break down!” Yeah; and in a perfect world there’d be no taxes and dirty diapers would smell like carrot cake.

Meet Dr. Smith. His friends call him John, but you’ve only just met, so let’s stick with the title, okay? Dr. Smith loves racquetball, Jimmy Stewart movies, a delicate white paired with a salmon filet, and imagers that print crisp pictures and don’t break down.

After reading one of our previous posts, Dear Radiology and Imaging Industry... #YouMatter, Lindsey was inspired to share her own story about how diagnostic imaging technology and caring doctors made a significant impact on her life and forever changed the way she sees things.

If the title of this article caught your attention, you’re one of two types of people: a big fan of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, or the purchasing representative for a hospital or clinic considering the purchase of an R/F room (Sorry movie buffs, but since this is an imaging industry blog, we recommend you navigate away from this page and go check out IMDB; we’re going to talk turkey with the latter type).

A lot can happen in five years; our babies can be out of the crib and in the classroom, a president can come and go, the lustrous locks of our mahogany hairline can retreat like Napoleon at Waterloo, or, on a societal level, people can turn increasingly to internet content for the information they need.

Arab Health 2012 truly was a wonderful and very busy week for the Block Imaging team and we have pictures to prove it! It was quite an honor meeting and visiting with so many of our industry friends during our time in Dubai. To everyone who stopped by the Block Imaging booth to discuss refurbished imaging equipment, spare parts and ways to collaborate in the Middle East... Thank you so much!

Selling used medical imaging equipment is probably not your favorite task. You know that it is time to sell that MRI, CT, C-Arm, Digital Mammo or Bone Densitometer but where do you start? The first thing to do is to find out what your equipment is worth. But where can you get this information, and without asking the OEM or feeling pressured into selling today? You can read our earlier article on Free Fair Market Valuations for Medical Imaging Equipment and learn how you can take advantage of this free service from Block Imaging. Our team of experts can tell you what your equipment is worth by asking you a few basic questions.  However, what you really want to know is...

To date there have not been any official guidelines set up by the FDA or the medical industry to identify the definition of “refurbishment” as it pertains to medical imaging equipment. So, when you’re in the market for a used C-Arm, it is particularly important to define in writing what a supplier means when they are offering you a refurbished C-Arm because not all refurbished C-Arms are created equal. Because definitions of "refurbished" vary from supplier to supplier, we thought you could use a few tips to help make sure you don’t get anything less than you bargain for.

Refurbished C-Arm Basics

True C-Arm refurbishment should should start with full dismantling, disinfection and internal cleaning of the equipment. This is crucial. C-Arms are used in invasive surgery and urology, which means in virtually every C-Arm you will find blood, contrast dye and other bio-hazardous materials that have leaked through and dried in the cracks and crevasses of the system. This can be a breeding ground for bacteria and a liability if proper precautions are not taken. Ask your supplier for a list of their c-arm refurbishment steps. If you are working with an ISO certified vendor, this will be a document that they have on hand. Another option is to ask to visit the supplier’s warehouse. Many brokers don’t actually have a warehouse and will subcontract refurbishment. Others may have a facility but their hesitation to allow you to visit should be a warning sign that something is amiss.

Meet Bo.

Bo has wild hair, blue eyes, an effervescent 2 yr old sister, an adoring daddy and Bo is totally smitten with his momma. When Bo was 6 months old his momma went to the doctor.

So, you’re looking to step up your C-Arm imaging capabilities without feeding your budget (not to mention all your space) to the “C” monster. The spine, back, and pain physicians are always hogging the full-size C-Arm and you're just looking to heal a hand or a foot! Logically, the first option that comes to mind is the Mini-C. From there, you end up wondering about mini C-Arm prices, typing your questions into the nearest search bar, and then reading a helpful blog that breaks it all down for you. Great story huh? Well, stop clicking your heels Dorothy, ‘cause this ain’t Kansas and you’re right in the middle of it!

Managing the Mini Market

Used Mini C-Arms can vary widely in price. Age, features, and manufacturer will all be variables. Depending on what you purchase, you could spend anywhere from $15,000 to $47,500. To determine where your mini C-Arm purchase will land in that range, there are two major factors that come into play: equipment and services.

Mini C-Arm Equipment Options

First and foremost, your price will be determined by the model of mini C-Arm you choose. Systems like the Hologic Fluoroscan III will appear on the lower end of the spectrum while the OEC 6800 or the Hologic Premier Encore will be on the high end. For those whose budget falls somewhere in the middle, the OEC 6600 will likely emerge as a candidate.

Mini C-Arm Services

The balance of what you spend will be on services provided such as level of refurbishment, delivery, set-up, FDA documentation, a parts and labor warranty and a brush up "in-service" or full applications training session. While you may need some or all, they are all pieces of the cost puzzle.

Uh-Oh! Your MRI Coil Just Blew Up!

You’ve been minding your p’s and q’s: your air conditioner is keeping things in the low 70’s, your helium level is in the low 90’s, and your service group has done a PM on your MRI every quarter since you had it installed around three years ago. You’ve been the perfect magnet owner. So what did you do to deserve MRI coil problems? The answer is: probably nothing.

Purchasing and moving C-Arm fluoroscopy equipment can be a daunting process but it doesn't have to be! With decades of collective experience, the Block Imaging project management team knows first hand how significant it is to innovate new and better ways for keeping time between first contact and product pick-up to a minimum.

Balancing Need and Cost in Medical Imaging Equipment Service

Full Service Agreements

When it comes time to talk pricing for medical imaging equipment service, there is frequently some initial “sticker shock” at the cost of full service coverage. This is understandable, considering the big investment you have already made in purchasing equipment and training your personnel in how to use it. However, we want to reassure you that a full service contract pays for itself not only with maintenance and parts, but with the peace of mind it brings.