A portable ultrasound machine is an important piece of equipment in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of health conditions. Ultrasound machines aren't only used in obstetrics, but also in radiology, endocrinology, vascular medicine, and more.
If you need to purchase an ultrasound machine for your healthcare operation, you should keep the following four things in mind so that you end up with the right piece of equipment.
Looking into the service contract offerings
It's important to take advantage of the manufacturer's warranty to get regular maintenance performed on your ultrasound machine.
Your warranty may only last a limited time, but manufacturers should offer service contracts. Service contracts ensure that an experienced professional regularly inspects ultrasound equipment to make sure that transducers, cables, and wiring are intact and functioning properly.
Being aware of the technical skills of those who will use the machine
Some ultrasound machines require more skill and training than others to operate. It's important to consider the training and capabilities of staff members who will be using the ultrasound machine.
Some manufacturers may offer on-site training services or educational resources online that will help staff members to learn to use ultrasound equipment pieces. When you're making your purchase, consider the skills of your staff members and the training resources offered by the manufacturer to make sure that you'll have the know-how to operate the machine.
Knowing if parts will be available as replacements become necessary
Down the road, you're going to need to be able to purchase consumables and machine parts to repair your machine when it malfunctions. An ultrasound machine contains parts like control panels, monitors, casters, panels, and power supply hookups that will wear out and need to be replaced over time.
You need to look into parts availability for the model ultrasound machine you're interested in buying. If parts are unavailable, you may not be able to repair your machine when you need to. This means you may lose the money you invested in the initial purchase of your machine.
Discuss parts availability with the manufacturer before you commit to purchasing an ultrasound machine model.
Having call-in technical support when you have operational issues
You need to explore the terms and conditions of your ultrasound purchase. Inevitably, you're going to need to call in for technical support at some point to have questions answered.
Some ultrasound manufacturers will offer around-the-clock assistance through a call-in technical support service. With call-in technical support, you'll get help troubleshooting problems and diagnosing issues.
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