Interventional cath and angio systems are not only big investments, they're a cornerstone modality in hospitals and clinics. This is why it's crucial to have the right level of service coverage for them.
If you're not confident in your service coverage, few things are worse than finding out the tube or detector on your cath lab has failed and needs to be replaced. To avoid situations like this, which can quickly rack up costs in time, money, and aggravation, you can mitigate the problem with the right service plan.
Below, we'll cover things to consider while you shop for cath lab service and the three levels of coverage and what they offer in support and peace of mind.
selecting Interventional cath and angio lab Service
The best type of service coverage will depend on your facility's needs: (volume, staffing, hours, etc).
As you approach your service decision, consider these questions:
- Do you have qualified biomeds on staff? They may be able to handle some of your troubleshooting and parts installation.
- Do you book interventional procedures around the clock, or just during “business hours?” More comprehensive coverage can offer 24/7 service options if you need a hand in the middle of the night.
- How long do you expect to have your system? Over the course of its life, a high-volume lab will wear through its fair share of parts. A service plan that includes parts coverage goes a long way toward mitigating those costs.
Now that you’ve thought through these questions, here are some of the available service options, and an added cost-savings rule to follow.
Full Service
Full service coverage provides the most security in that all parts and labor are covered, including the tube and detector.
The standard here is 8am - 5pm coverage, but full 24/7 support can be added on if needed.
Because of the complexity of cath lab systems and the high replacement cost of key components like tubes, detectors, and table-side controls, most facilities choose this level of coverage.
Parts Only
This option can be a strong fit for facilities that have qualified on-site biomeds to handle troubleshooting and repairs. With significant savings vs. a full-service agreement, you still get full parts coverage, including the tube and detector, without paying for engineering labor and travel.
Preventative Maintenance Only Service
While this option only provides for a certain number of preventative maintenance visits per year, those visits will help keep the system running, and the inspections will help identify potential concerns that could affect uptime in the weeks or months following.
For a cath lab, this is a “bare minimum” coverage plan. It’s certainly better than waiting until the system has a serious problem to have it looked at, but it also leaves the responsibility for paying for parts and labor solely to the site.
How to Save Money on Cath Lab Service
Now, we mentioned an additional tip for saving on service.
Here it is: If you don't plan to replace your cath lab in the near future, you can save thousands by committing to a multiyear service agreement. It's the same principle as buying in bulk. The longer the commitment, the bigger the savings, with the biggest savings coming at 5+ years.
Service Savings Example:
Let's run through a cath lab service savings example. For ease, we'll work with some round numbers taken from the current market range of refurbished systems and Block Imaging service coverage. Say the system is purchased at $300,000, including refurbishment, installation, and a year of service, with service priced at $67,000 a year.
Starting with a $300,000 system purchase and adding service one year at a time, the total cost over 6 years would be $635,000.
By including a 5-year service extension with the initial purchase of the system, our multi-year discount kicks in immediately with a 10% reduction. In this case, the cath lab buyer saves around $35,000 on their monthly payments over the course of the coverage.
The Takeaway
Not all cath lab facilities are the same, so naturally, your cath lab service plans shouldn't be either.
Whatever the circumstances are at your facility, there's a service option that can accommodate your appetite for risk, your budget, and the clinical needs of your equipment.
If you're looking for a plan that fits you right now, the service team here at Block is ready to help you find the right one to begin protecting your investment. Contact us via form today or speak to the team directly at 517-668-8800.
Kenn Dextrom
