How to Purchase Used MRI Securely & Effectively

Buying used medical equipment can be an economic solution to medical facilities, hospitals, or any individual otherwise involved in purchasing used medical equipment. Although the financial benefits to purchasing used medical equipment may be clear-cut, there are plenty of factors that must be taken into consideration before purchasing used medical equipment, especially with expensive devices such as used MRI.

MedWOW.com, an online marketplace for buying and selling used medical equipment has written “A Professional Guide to Purchasing Used Medical Equipment” - a comprehensive eBook containing thousands of buying tips for over 200 of the most popular medical devices, including used MRI’s. This guide ensures that buyers of used medical equipment get the most out of their used medical equipment purchases.

Following is an example from MedWOW’s guide - Tips for purchasing used MRIs:
1.When purchasing an MRI system, facilities should consider these components: the magnet, gradient system & computer.

2.As for the magnet, it should produce a highly homogeneous magnetic field covering as wide a field of view as possible and provide as much patient space as possible.
3. The image resolution is higher when the gradient system is faster, but than the field of view is smaller.

4. Keeping up with the magnet, so that images are instantly available while the scan progresses, is the computer system's task.

5. Facilities should also consider the site requirements, which are specific to each institution. In this area, three issues should be examined: the extent of the magnetic field, the area occupied by the magnet, and the weight of the magnet.

6. When selecting the MRI site, the two most important planning considerations are the fringe field and the need for a site free from ambient RF electrical noise. A permanent magnet has a minimal fringe field, but needs careful preconstruction planning because of its tremendous weight.

7. To contain the magnetic fringe field of resistive and superconducting electromagnet systems, shielding can be used. The fringe field could cause problems at some sites without shielding.

8. To contain the fringe field, two approaches are used: active and passive shielding. Active shielding is a design feature of the magnet, while the passive shielding involves the use of steel around the magnet.

9. Generally, the size of the controlled-access area increases as the operational field strength increases, for the fringe fields created by superconducting and resistive magnets. The recommended general-public access limit is 5 G. The distance to the 5 G line ranges from approximately 9 meters for a 0.5 T magnet to 13 meters for a 1.5 T magnet. For a 3.0 T magnet, the 5 G line is about one meter further from the isocenter than it is for a 1.5 T magnet, and therefore larger safety boundaries are required.

10. With active magnet shielding, the distance to the 5 G line can be drastically reduced to less than 4 meters for a shielded 1.5 T magnet and less than 3 meters for a shielded 0.5 T magnet.
11. Fringe fields are 3-D; so for higher field strengths, areas on the floors above and below the imaging facility may also need controlled access and/or shielding.

12. Careful site selection is required. The operation of gamma cameras, CRT displays, electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram monitors, and image intensifiers - are all affected by the magnetic field; ferromagnetic material in the surrounding area affects the homogeneity of the static magnetic field.

13. Users can partially compensate for the effects of large stationary masses on field uniformity by placing corresponding masses of ferromagnetic material in a symmetric position in the magnet area. A careful site selection can eliminate moving ferromagnetic objects such as elevators, automobiles, or forklifts.

14. To address the problems associated with the fringe field, active shielding can be used, as well as close-fitting steel shields integral to the magnet, or steel shielding in the walls around the magnet. If users wish to install large steel sheets of magnetic shielding, they should keep in mind that these are expensive, and require innovative construction techniques because of the weight involved.

15. Facilities should be sure to include all these extra precautions in early design considerations because they raise the cost of construction. Implementation after installation may be even more costly. Actively shielded magnets have significantly reduced fringe fields and generally do not require steel shielding.

16. External ambient RF signals can degrade image quality below diagnostically acceptable levels; so even in the most complex MRI system, the magnet assembly must have some type of RF shielding. These shield assemblies usually consist of a complete room of copper or aluminum sheets bonded to a composite plywood support. Physical and visual access to the room is provided by special door assemblies and window coverings shielded with copper screening.

17. Specialists should install, fine-tune, and maintain the equipment since MRI technology is especially complex and sensitive. Experts should train physicians and technologists and answer their questions.

18. Facilities should choose a supplier whose local service and training resources are extensive and reliable. The availability of such resources should be guaranteed in writing within any contract between the supplier and the buyer.

19. To facilitate future additions to the network, all newly purchased equipment must be compatible with DICOM 3.0. DICOM conformance statements should be provided by the suppliers and should explain in detail what information objects, service classes, and data encoding are supported by their systems. All statements should share the same format and vocabulary to facilitate comparisons among suppliers.

View Used MRI for sale on MedWOW

How to Effectively Increase Sales of Used Medical Equipment Posted Online

Many professionals in the used medical equipment industry are actively using online marketplaces to expand their sale distribution channels. These marketplaces can be an excellent means of expanding sales; however, in order to successfully sell inventory online, sellers must know the difference between effective and ineffective listings.

If you go onto any online marketplace, you can quickly recognize which listings attract buyers and which don’t - chances are that you will only open up the postings of items which were created effectively and completely overlook all others. The same applies for used medical equipment postings - sellers that want to successfully sell their used medical equipment online, should be familiar with the parameters that set apart an effective listing from an ineffective one, because ultimately effective listings will increase opening rates and sales.

MedWOW.com - a leading global marketplace for buying and selling used medical equipment, is popular amongst medical equipment buyers because of the comprehensive information contained in the listings posted on the site. MedWOW advises sellers with the following posting tips to increase their sale rates on the site:

· Don’t just fill in the mandatory fields

The more information that your posting contains, the greater the chances are that buyers will look at it, and ultimately purchase it. If you have information available to complete the optional fields, it will only be in your best interest to include it when posting. By doing so, you will receive less inquiries requesting additional information about the item and more inquiries from buyers that are actually ready to buy.

· Include prices in your listings

Listings with prices have significantly higher opening rates. Buyers are often deterred from requesting prices from sellers, as it can slow down the process. Additionally, listings without prices can give the impression that the item is overpriced. If you are not sure what the price of your item should be, you may search for similar items posted on MedWOW and see the prices requested for items such as yours.

· Write an item description
Include as many details as possible, such as technical specifications. If possible, write a description in English, as well as in your local language, and include descriptions in any other language that you may know.

· Upload images

Postings with images have a significantly higher opening rate, and therefore have a greater likelihood of being sold on MedWOW. It is recommended that you upload pictures of the actual item and not pictures that you have downloaded from the Internet. Buyers are interested in viewing images that accurately represent the actual item that is being sold rather than a catalog picture.

· Agree to have inspections performed on your item

By agreeing to have inspections performed on your item, you are only increasing your credibility with buyers. Buyers feel more protected knowing that they can have an inspection performed on an item prior to purchasing it.

· Respond promptly to buyers’ requests

By responding promptly to buyers’ requests (e.g. questions, image requests, negotiation requests, quote requests), you will only increase your chances of selling to the buyer. If you put off responding to a buyer’s request, chances are that they will purchase the item from another seller.

· Promote your items

Request a promotion for your item(s) in the locations that you are interested in selling to, and MedWOW will send out a notification about your item(s) to thousands of registered and unregistered potential buyers.

Sell, Donate, Trade Inn or Recycle Your Used Hospital Equipment

Disposing of Your Used Hospital Equipment

There are a variety of options available to dispose of your health facility’s unwanted or surplus medical equipment. Whether you have replaced a device with a newer model or because it is inoperative beyond repair, it is important to find the most practical way to dispose of it while still taking into consideration factors such as local disposal regulations, your facility’s disposal procedures, your time, the financial value of the device, and any other factors that play a role in the device’s disposal.

Choosing the best option to dispose of an item may not always be easy. Therefore, the following can help you determine which route is most effective for your facility to dispose of your used and second hand hospital equipment.

Sell Used Hospital Equipment

• Selling used hospital equipment is an excellent method that saves your facility money while also clearing your used or surplus equipment.
  
  
• There is a huge market for selling pre-owned medical equipment, especially when selling internationally to facilities looking to buy used hospital equipment.
  
  
• Some facilities and countries only buy used hospital equipment, as they simply do not have the budget to purchase new equipment, which can be significantly more expensive.
  
  
• You can arrange to have a buyer uninstall a device the same day that the new device is scheduled to be installed in your facility.
  
  
• MedWOW offers an easy online platform to buy and sell used hospital equipment. One popular way of selling second hand hospital equipment on the site is through its medical equipment auctions.
  
  

Sell your used, surplus, or unwanted hospital equipment on MedWOW

Donate Second Hand Hospital Equipment

• Donating second hand hospital equipment to charitable organizations is another method to dispose of your equipment while improving the level of healthcare for other communities.
  
  
• Only donate equipment that is operational or can be repaired - devices that are inoperative beyond repair will not be of use to the recipient, but rather pose a burden.
  
  
• When donating equipment, ensure that you include all accompanying parts, accessories or manuals. Parts and accessories for incomplete devices can be an extremely costly expense that the receiving charitable organization may not be able to afford.
  
  
• Ensure that the equipment being donated is compliant with the recipient charity’s local regulations, and voltage capabilities.
  
  

Trade-In Second Hand Hospital Equipment

• Many manufacturers offer a discount to facilities when they trade-in their second hand hospital equipment - this is an excellent way to save money on the new device while also having the old device’s de-installation taken care of by the manufacturer.
  
  

Recycle Used Hospital Equipment

• Recycling used hospital equipment is a method that can dispose of materials that cannot be disposed of using the other methods (e.g. a device that is inoperative beyond repair or no long compliant with today’s standards). The sentence doesn’t make sense.
  
  
• Recycling companies find an environmentally friendly way to dispose of equipment.
  
  
• Depending on the devices condition, it can also be refurbished by the original equipment manufacturer or other third party companies.
  
  
• If parts or accessories of an unwanted device are operational and can be used, they can be removed from the old device and be used with another device in the facility - another way of saving the facility money.

New Guidebook Helps Used Medical Equipment Buyers Make Informed Purchases

Are you a hospital administrator, department head, or otherwise involved in the purchasing of medical equipment? Would you like to get the most out of your used medical equipment purchases?

“A Professional Guide to Purchasing Used Medical Equipment” is specifically geared at educating individuals responsible for purchasing used medical equipment with the elements that they need to be aware of, prior to making purchases.

The guide is being distributed by MedWOW.com, a leading online marketplace for buying and selling used medical equipment. The site, which has received acclaim for its innovative tools aimed at facilitating the online trade of used medical equipment, developed this guide in response to the countless requests that they received from buyers seeking their professional buying assistance and advice.

The guide is the result of extensive research and conclusions conducted by MedWOW.com and its affiliated team of medical equipment experts, doctors, technicians, and engineers from around the world.

Written as a guideline, this book provides you with thousands of buying tips for over 200 of the most common medical devices used in clinics, hospitals, labs, rehabilitation centers and other medical facilities. Moreover, the tips include emphasis on the important features, specifications, and capabilities to consider for each medical device.

Examples of tips you can find in this book include tips for buying CT scanners:
“Before buying a CT system, facilities must evaluate patient population, clinical needs, and desired throughput. Low-volume facilities, for example, will not benefit much from the more efficient use of the x-ray tube on a 16-slice scanner to justify its replacement cost.”
To purchase the Professional Guide to Purchasing Used Medical Equipment please follow the link below:

http://www.medwow.com/used_medical_equipment_tips.php

Used Medical Equipment Trade Rises in Middle East

September 2009 - The used medical equipment industry in the Middle East has seen a significant rise over the past few years. Much like in many other markets, Middle Eastern clinics and hospitals have recognized the considerable monetary savings that purchasing used medical equipment offers their budgets.

At the forefront of the used medical equipment industry is MedWOW.com, an online marketplace that facilitates with buying and selling used medical equipment. The site has recognized the Middle Eastern market’s growing demand for used medical equipment, and is currently in the midst of translating their entire website into Arabic in order to accommodate the needs of the Arabic speaking market.

Arabic will be the fifth language added to MedWOW, which currently operates in English, French, Spanish, and Russian. The multilingual site eliminates language barriers that have often restricted industry professionals in different countries from conducting business with one another.

MedWOW’s multilingualism is just one of the many factors that have contributed to its success in expanding the online trade of used medical equipment to a global scale. The site provides innovative tools and services which facilitate users from different regions of the world to communicate and ultimately conduct business with one another.

Thousands of international buyers and sellers of used medical equipment have already recognized the tremendous and potential that MedWOW offers their business, and have utilized the site for both domestic and international trade of used medical equipment.

MedWOW’s addition of the Arabic language is just one of their many efforts to simplify the global trade of used medical equipment. This site has ongoing initiatives that are currently in the works that will continue to reinvent the online trade of used medical equipment as we know it.