Today many healthcare facilities are upgrading their medical equipment, and the question arises of what to do with the older, used medical equipment. Many pieces are in excellent working condition and are only slightly outdated. For this reason, many organizations are opting to donate their used medical equipment to other health care institutions and charities in the United States, and in other countries. This generosity enables donators to aid less fortunate health facilities by providing with the means to provide more adequate health care for the people they are treating.

The first order of business, when donating used medical equipment, is to be certain that the equipment is in good working condition. If any maintenance or repairs need to be done, they should be done before donating any equipment. Never donate equipment that is in need of repair, since there is no guarantee that it will be repaired before it is used to treat patients.

Once you are sure that the equipment is in good working order, deciding who and where to donate it is the next step. The internet is a helpful resource to use to find out who is in the market or in need of quality used medical equipment. Donating locally is usually more economical, since transportation costs are minimal. Many charitable organizations will eagerly accept the equipment, and they will handle everything, even determining which medical facilities are in need of those items. The AMRF (American Medical Resources Foundation) only charges a minimal fee to collect, test, repair, store, and eventually ship used medical equipment.

Lastly, as with any donation, keep a record of any paper transactions and receipts that are related to any materials that are donated for your tax records. The benefit of donating used medical equipment is two-fold; many patients will benefit from your charity and donations are tax deductible.

The AMS Fund is a great place to donate your used medical equipment.

Technorati Tags: Medical Equipment, Medical Supplies, Used Medical Equipment, used medical supplies

With the latest technological advancements in medicine, home-based medical equipment has increasingly improved over the years and has changed the way a variety of diseases are treated and controlled. Patients who need to monitor their blood pressure on a regular basis can now do so efficiently without frequent trips to their physician’s office by using portable and digital medical equipment that manages their condition.

Mercury-based analog blood monitors, or sphygmomanometers, are being replaced with monitors that are portable and digital. These newer blood monitors function much in the same way as their older counterparts, however, they are more user-friendly mainly due to the fact that the reading is displayed in a digital format. In terms of portability, wrist monitors and finger monitors are both a convenient option. Automatic pressure cuff monitors are also a popular choice for patients offering more current technology and less hassle. Newer digital monitors offer a variety of functions to appeal to their patients’ distinct needs. Some models come equipped with a larger than usual digital display for visually challenged patients. There are also devices that offer voice-announced or printed readings. With such a large selection of digital blood monitor products, patients should always seek the guidance of their medical doctor to determine which model best suits their individual needs before making a purchase.

When proper guidelines are followed, pertaining to the use and care of this type of medical equipment, these monitors provide accuracy. Incorrect cuff placement, improper storing habits, and faulty batteries can result in inaccurate readings. Patients should be reminded that home self-care treatments should not be attempted without being under the professional care of a physician. It is important to note that patients should work with their doctors, by consistently keeping doctors informed during any type of treatment.

Technorati Tags: Medical Equipment, Medical Supplies, Used Medical Equipment, used medical supplies

Treatment options for diabetics are better today than ever due to modern medical equipment and technology. Diabetic patients are now able to monitor their own blood glucose levels and self-administer insulin treatments. Medical professionals collectively agree that self-monitoring, is an extremely important aspect when dealing with diabetic maintenance. Traditionally, a diabetic patient, who self-monitors the disease, does so by pricking their finger and putting a blood drop on a strip that is inserted into a portable glucose device that measures blood sugar levels. Newer portable glucose machines offer patients the option to take blood samples from a variety of areas such as: the thumb, arm, or thigh.

Additionally, insulin pumps have also made technological advances in the medical equipment industry over the past twenty-five years. Today, one major advantage is that an internal computer allows the device to be programmed to dispense the precise dose of insulin, required for the patient. Furthermore, insulin pumps are more compact and portable and they can easily and discreetly be worn under clothing. They can easily be disconnected and reconnected by the patient, as needed, for activities such as bathing or swimming. Newer insulin pumps also have implemented safety features than run safety checks and ensure that the insulin is consistently being transmitted properly. Alarms are installed in the devices to alert users of any problems, such as errors in program settings or insulin flow blockage so that the medication is not able to be administered incorrectly.

Diabetic medical equipment is typically referenced as “durable medical equipment” by the majority of insurance companies and is therefore covered at little or no cost to the patient. It is important to acknowledge that insulin pumps do not absolve patients from continuing to take blood samples to check glucose levels. However, this newer crop of diabetic medical equipment allows diabetics to manage their conditions even with busy schedules, dietary changes, or changes in their activity levels.

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With the Baby Boomer Generation standing on the brink of their senior years, the medical industry is seeing a surge in the demand for senior age-related medical equipment. Today, with all of the advancements in modern medicine, people are living well into their “golden years”. This aging population is beginning to encounter a variety of medical conditions that are creating personal limitations that decrease their mobility. Consequently, this dependence is rapidly creating a boom in the medical equipment industry.

Since many seniors are too proud and attempt to conceal their limitations of functions, physicians and caretakers should pay careful attention to their needs for assistive devices. Physicians will evaluate an individual patient’s impairment to determine if and what type of medical equipment is needed to improve a specific medical condition and the duration it should be used for. Some common reasons for seeking senior related medical equipment includes trouble walking, hearing loss, or difficulty using ordinary household items such as toilets, bathtubs, and showers. It is also important that the patient is able to operate and utilize the prescribed medical equipment.

Medical supply companies are also promoting many products such as lift seats, safety railings, raised for the elderly population. This type of medical equipment often eases the burden for patients that require assistance to function independently or are being looked after by a caretaker who is not skilled toilet seats, shower chairs/benches, and special shower heads, which provide comfort and convenience in nursing care. In addition, some medical equipment specifically aids in treating specific ailments or diseases. For example, some seniors require access to devices such as nebulizers, oxygen tanks, catheters, etc. These types of medical devices are not sold to the general population without a prescription from a doctor.

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Purchasing used medical equipment is no longer exclusively practiced by developing countries that are in desperate need for a bargain. Online websites and budget cuts have created an escalated demand in the United States for gently used medical equipment. Any informed medical professional can attest to the fact that often facilities hold on to medical equipment that is no longer being used. This can be both costly and burdensome. Therefore, used medical equipment sales are beneficial to both the buyer and seller.

Used medical equipment is effective and useful. People assume that because it is used that it is no longer functioning or too outdated to provide patients with quality medical care. Fortunately, this is not accurate information. If used medical equipment is not in proper working condition, it is illegal to sell it without disclosing that it does not work properly. There are many reasons why medical equipment that is gently used becomes available for public sale. For example, larger hospitals that typically have generous budgets are always trying to keep up with current technology. With technology constantly changing and improving, these hospitals often replace perfectly fine medical equipment on a regular basis.

Sellers and buyers alike benefit from living in a digital computer age where internet access to goods is convenient. The decision to sell moderately used medical equipment to lower budget facilities means that sellers no longer have to store their old equipment that takes up much needed space in their facilities. Sellers now have a reputable venue to unload the equipment that they no longer have a use for and at the same time recoup some of their budget funding that can be used toward purchasing newer equipment and supplies. In addition, the internet provides medical equipment buyers with catalog shopping convenience, reasonable costs, warranties, and secure payment options when purchasing used medical equipment online.

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Currently, mammography is still the best diagnostic tool used to detect breast cancer its early stage. While digital radiographic imaging has rapidly become the norm in the medical community, because of the distinctive requirements used in mammography, it was late to embrace digital technology. Full-field digital mammography medical equipment is a newer diagnostic tool that is being used to perform breast screening exams. When compared to traditional film screen mammography, which has recently been medically determined to be limited in detecting cancer in women that have denser breast tissue, digital mammography offers several concrete advantages.

What is the difference between traditional film mammography and digital mammography? Patients that are familiar with traditional mammograms will not notice much of a difference between the two types of exams. During a film screen mammographic examination, low energy level x-rays pass through compressed breast tissue and the exiting x-rays are captured on x-ray film. The processing time usually takes about ten minutes to develop the film and retrieve an image for the radiologist to read and evaluate.

With digital mammography, a patient will notice different equipment in the examination room. A flat screen television monitor is standard medical equipment that is used with digital mammography and allows the radiologist to see the image within seconds. In digital mammography, low energy level x-rays also pass through the breast tissue, but they are photographed and recorded by an electronic digital detector rather than by film. Digital technology is superior to its film counterpart diagnostically because the radiologist can manipulate the image(s) electronically to magnify specific areas, or alter the brightness and contrast of the image(s). Images are then displayed on a monitor or can be printed if desired.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Digital mammography medical equipment a little more costly than film screen mammography. However, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must regulate and approve all digital mammography equipment in the United States. For this reason, insurers like the federal government are aware of the cost differences and will reimburse digital costs at a slightly higher allowance.

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Radiologists are ecstatic to finally an option to have a cost-effective and reliable x-ray technology that does not utilize harsh chemicals, traditional radiography films, and heavy imaging plates. By using digital x-ray sensors, instead of photographic films, many top-rated companies that produce radiology imaging medical equipment have created and introduced a smaller, light-weight, flat-panel detector that converts digital signals into pictures and offers multiple benefits.

Flat-panel digital x-ray medical equipment resembles the newer flat screen televisions. Using a similar integrated circuit (IC) technology that is used in digital video and photography, it is able to absorb light and create an electrical pattern that produces up to sixty quality digital images per second on the screen.

These newer digital x-ray machines provide both patients medical practitioners with several advantages. The digital images can be manipulated by professionals in real-time by using a variety of interactive functions. Furthermore, the technology provides patients with a lower dosage of radiation and better quality clinical x-rays than traditional analog films. Medical record archiving is simplified since digital image storing is easily available at all times. The digital images that are provided can easily be shared simultaneously at various locations which also enable them to be easily converted to a patient’s electronic medical records (EMR).

Digital imaging is achieved in four basic steps:
1) Generation
2) Processing
3) Archiving
4) Image presentation

Flat Panel X-ray Detector (FPXD) machines are small and portable. This newer medical equipment technology provides better imaging quality that is clear and sharp, with little to no distortion at the edges, which is commonplace with traditional fluoroscopy and radiography. The exceptional quality of digital x-ray imaging is capable of showing fine details such as hairline fractures. Digital images are produced quickly and efficiently and provide EMR and trauma staffs with an invaluable resource.

Technorati Tags: Medical Equipment, Medical Supplies, Used Medical Equipment, used medical supplies

There are many organizations in the United States that routinely collect surplus supplies and equipment from local hospitals and ship them to hospitals that desperately need them in poorer countries. It is important to consider a variety of factors before shipping medical supplies to developing countries.

While the intentions of these charitable organizations are always good, they need to acknowledge that there are other items that are required to operate and use these donated items effectively. For example, an x-ray machine is not useful to a medical facility without x-ray film. It was eventually discovered that that used medical equipment was often being donated to countries without the electricity necessary to operate the equipment. Another significant problem was that the technology and funding was not present in poorer countries to upkeep the maintenance of the equipment. Subsequently, medical personnel working in these countries discovered an enormous amount of discarded medical equipment and supplies.

To make donations that can make a difference, these charitable organizations are offering sound advice to those who are interested in donating. Here is what they suggest:

1. Be informed. Collect as much information about the location that you plan to donate to. Sometimes it is common practice to send a questionnaire as a formality to ensure that equipment is not being donated that cannot be used. Typical questions that are asked are as follows:

• Is the electricity reliable?
• How is the water supply?
• Is anyone trained to use this equipment?
• Is anyone trained to maintain and repair the equipment?

2.       Educate donators about what not to give. Those who are donating should only send usable used medical equipment. The equipment should have all parts and be in good working condition and a user manual should be provided along with the donation.

3.       Send only what is needed. Only ship what is needed and requested. Do not use the opportunity to “dump” equipment where it is not needed.

4.       Provide ongoing support. Have a biomedical engineer inspect all equipment before it ships. Some organizations send an engineer out to visit recipient hospitals to train them how to use and maintain the equipment several times a year.

Hospitals that donate their used medical equipment are contributing to an excellent cause and sustainability is always a concern. Medical professionals are more likely to stay in depressed areas if they can successfully practice medicine. Rural health care is in a devastated state mainly because their governments have stopped financing it. Government support is the key to sustaining healthcare in these countries and donating medical supplies may be effective in bringing those changes about more quickly.

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Medical facility waste is becoming a vast problem in the United States. Each year, the medical industry is responsible for contributing to the overflowing landfills nationwide. Today, more environmental movements are forming and actively advocating for the medical industry to implement more environmentally friendly practices on a daily basis.

Implementing proper safety procedures could reduce waste and wasteful spending and save the healthcare industry hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

A huge factor contributing to the problem is that newer technology is swiftly replacing the old. The expense of purchasing new medical equipment is a financial burden and frequently unnecessary. By purchasing used medical equipment, medical facilities can cut both costs and waste on a large scale. Most individuals are convinced that it is easier and safer to dispose items rather than recycle them; however, recycling medical supplies is not difficult, it just needs to become a routine practice. The fact is that recycling medical equipment and supplies reduces medical costs, and the long-term impact of that benefits patients as well as the medical community.

When it comes to recycling within the medical industry, the primary concern is usually safety. There is a widespread fear of diseases spreading amongst patients. In hospitals and most often in operating rooms, many tools are used only once and then disposed of. Studies have shown that many of these items could be easily reused multiple times if they are properly sterilized with no risk to the patient. There are also concerns of older medical equipment malfunctioning due to frequent use. However, this is an unrealistic concern, since regular testing of the machines can ensure that they are operating safely and effectively.

Changing current healthcare policies is a process that would take time, and unfortunately not enough medical facilities are currently willing to put the time and effort into making the much needed and necessary changes. However, there are some hospitals that are making a conscious effort to recycle and reuse materials. Fortunately, the U.S. government is supporting recycling in the medical industry and has issued a statement claiming that used medical equipment does not compromise the safety of patients. Hopefully the government’s endorsement will encourage more health professionals to consider their options.

Technorati Tags: Medical Equipment, Medical Supplies, Used Medical Equipment, used medical supplies

The practice of recycling medical equipment and medical supplies is rapidly becoming more acceptable in the United States. The medical industry is responsible for an incredibly large amount of waste. While the food industry still occupies the top ranked spot for waste production, the medical profession is the second largest producer of waste in the country.

Academic Journal reported that a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital have concluded that reusing medical equipments and supplies is safe, when proper sterilization, testing and recalibration are implemented. By recycling some medical supplies that are often disposed of after one use can save hospitals millions of dollars annually. Hospitals staff, like most people opt for convenient solutions to everyday problems. However, with a little planning and some effort, hospitals can find many ways to cuts cost and decrease waste.

When studying healthcare practices for insurance purposes, researchers noted that expensive items such as ultrasonic cutting tools and laparoscopic ports are disposed of after one use. In addition, single use medical supplies that are opened and not used are thrown away because they “may” have been contaminated. The study also determined that gently used materials, such as towels and surgical gowns are also disposed after one use unnecessarily. Proper cleansing of these items would be more cost effective and would not jeopardize the health or safety of the patients.

The researchers concluded that hospitals, mainly because they are large in size and produce incredible amounts of waste should lead the effort and set an example for other medical facilities to investigate and relentlessly procure more reusable tools. According to Dr. Martin Makary, an associate professor and surgeon at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, hospitals can implement many strategies that will indefinitely save money and decrease waste.

Technorati Tags: Medical Equipment, Medical Supplies, Used Medical Equipment, used medical supplies