The community portal is a valuable resource for our customers to submit service requests and access their work order documents. Instead of having to request service by a phone call or in-person customers are easily able to receive service by a click of their fingertips. We encourage all customers to make a community portal account for the utmost accessibility.
Following the lifestyle of a low-calorie diet and moderate exercise are commonsense. But in 2020, making healthy decisions has never been more confusing with the influx of chemically-processed foods and beverages at our fingertips. Even worse, they are often deceptively marketed as being a healthy solution.
There is something to be said for our nutrition playing a major role in our overall health; “we are what we eat,” as the saying goes. Published studies, including those from Harvard Medical School, have uncovered that chronic inflammation is a leading cause and common denominator for illness — from autoimmune diseases to digestive disorders, to cardiac conditions such as coronary artery disease.
Here are our top 4 health tips to help heal yourself from the inside and out!
To close out
our series of predictions for 2020 in healthcare, today we are synthesizing
what experts believe we can expect to see evolve this year in technology.
In the vast
arena of healthcare technology topics, artificial intelligence has received a lot of recognition
lately. Reportedly, 1 out of every 3
hospitals
are expected to create and implement an AI strategy this year.
Leading
experts in the healthcare space recently shared their views on what is in store
for 2020, as reported by ITProPortal; AI continues to play the super hero in
this developing storyline of digital transformations. Excerpts from their
interviews are highlighted below.
Mark your calendar! This Spring, Auxo Medical will be offering a Steris Sterilizer and Washer/Disinfector service training course!
The course will be offered March 23rd – 27th 2020at Auxo Medical in Richmond, VA.
March 23rd – 24th 2020 – Steris Small Stage 3 Series Sterilizers for 2 days (3013, 3023, & Gravity units) March 25th – 26th 2020 – Steris 444 Washer Disinfectors March 27th– Review/Water Chemistry LLC discussion on importance of water quality for the final half day.
Every year, Forbes.com shares their predictions for the upcoming year in healthcare. There is no crystal ball for these type of forecasts — they compile this information from multiple credible sources.
So, without
further ado, here is a summary of their projections for what we can expect in
the healthcare industry for 2020.
It’s that time time of year of again! We’re excited for summertime here at Auxo Medical because we get to welcome a new group of awesome qualified students to the family. We’re so excited to introduce the newest members of the Auxo team participating in our internship program during the Spring 2020 semester.
These two students are working hard and gaining hands-on experience in various aspects here at Auxo Medical. We’ve asked the interns to answer a few questions in order to get to know them a little more. Without further ado, please welcome the Spring 2020 interns! Learn about them below.
The
evolution of healthcare has unfolded year after year, advancing at what
sometimes feels like warp speed. However in 2019, digital innovations appeared to
be progressing at a gradual rate. Luckily experts are predicting that there
will be a multitude of technological advancements coming in 2020.
Here are the
top 5 most noteworthy predictions that we can expect:
Using
refurbished medical equipment offers countless benefits to both medical
practices and its patients, as we’ve outlined in our blog.
Today we wanted to share an interesting case study that demonstrates exactly why choosing to utilize refurbished medical equipment can add to your company’s bottom line, as well as ensure your patients’ safety is a top priority.
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital —Serving an Increasing Population
The
natural gas industry in Lake Charles, Louisiana is taking credit for causing an
uptick in its local resident population. To meet the healthcare demands of this
growing community, Lake Charles Memorial Health System decided to make a
significant investment in technology, particularly diagnostic imaging
equipment. Their mission was to provide healthcare to more patients with
top-notch, reliable equipment, not break the bank with surging budgets, as well
as be mindful of environmentally-friendly
options.
Scott Daigle, the
administrative director of Radiology at the hospital said, “Our patient load is
growing an average of 26 percent per year. We’re a 24/7 facility, and we’re
just as busy at night as we are during the day. That’s why we have to have
dependable equipment. And the more the population grows, the more equipment
we’ll need.”
The CT supervisor
at Memorial, Tommy Broussard, poignantly described the situation, “Uptime is
everything. If just one of the three CT scanners we have goes down for any
length of time, we’re backed up for at least a day. So we need service and
equipment we can count on.”
And
Richard Martinez, physician and medical director of Radiology added, “We’re
looking for a quality, reliable piece of equipment that meets our needs. It has
to be safe, current, proven, and complete with the essential imaging features
we need, plus the ability to upgrade.”
By going with an eco line of refurbished equipment, Memorial met all of its goals, and even they were surprised by the affordability of their investment.
Deciding on Refurbished Equipment
When the time
came for Memorial to strengthen its radiology capacity, they tackled a
significant amount of research to determine the best choices. After siphoning
through several proposals, they ultimately decided on using a refurbished line
manufactured by Siemens. This decision was not taken lightly; substantial
savings coupled with an environmentally-friendly choice while not compromising on the
latest technology was their driving motivation.
It’s no surprise
that the Radiology team was nervous to procure previously owned medical
equipment. In the past, Memorial used a pre-owned system and experienced
trouble with that equipment; it turns out that it wasn’t actually refurbished.
A vendor needed to replace essential parts, and understandably, the hospital
wanted to avoid unnecessary downtime again.
The decision-makers at Memorial understood that Siemens had an ecoline, which essentially meant they would be receiving a new piece of equipment. Daigle shared, “It’s got the refurbished name on it, but it’s been torn apart and put back together. It’s been serviced, it has the newest software, and it’s upgradable. It has everything that the new machines have. You’re getting it at substantial cost savings, and there is no difference in output quality for patient tests.”
Affordability Without Compromising Quality
Radiology
equipment is expected to produce excellent images, and function consistently.
After experiencing their refurbished equipment, the Memorial physicians and
techs rated its quality as though it is new.
Case in point, the medical director of Radiology says that he can’t tell the difference. “When I’m reading the images, I usually don’t know which machine they were done on unless somebody tells me,” explained Dr. Martinez. “That’s where the rubber meets the road. For our interpretations, when we’re reviewing images on either ecoline or new Siemens equipment, they’re the same.”
In case you
missed it, be sure to check out our guide on how to go about securing refurbished
medical equipment, and what questions to ask the provider.
The benefits of using refurbished medical equipment are extensive. As we’ve outlined in our blog — affordability, reliable/trustworthy products, and eco-friendly are among some of the top perks.
Once you’ve
made the decision to take advantage of leasing or purchasing refurbished
medical equipment for your practice, the next step will be to procure them…
taking into consideration budgets as well as preferences.
The following
are key areas you should evaluate when making those important decisions.
What exactly is considered ‘refurbished’ equipment?
First things first is understanding what exactly refurbishedmeans.
Refurbished
medical equipment is classified as used healthcare devices, restored by the
manufacturer or an expert in repair; the final product is an as-good-as or
sometimes better than the original unit’s condition, per the manufacturer (OEM)
specifications.
The
refurbishment method may be different depending on the type of equipment and
its condition, but invariably it should include:
Thorough
inspections
Replacement
of worn down parts
Recalibration
Cosmetic
preservation
Testing
equipment
How can I guarantee that the equipment was adequately refurbished?
When
investigating a piece of refurbished medical equipment, there are many
questions you should get answered, including whether or not the company has
extensive experience in this industry.
How
long has the business been operating?
What
type of technicians refurbish each unit?
Does
the business have expertise in a certain type of equipment?
Is
there any type of warranty or a company promise in place on the refurbished
equipment?
In other
words, become very familiar with who is behind the equipment before acquiring
it.
How much money do you want to invest in this equipment?
Establish a
budget to spend on the device. The beauty of a refurbished piece of equipment
is that you can enjoy quality, without the hefty price tag. Refurbished equipment is generally marked down anywhere
from 30 to 70 percent less than brand new equipment.
What aspects do I prefer about our current equipment?
If you are replacing an existing piece of equipment within
your business, you’ll want to evaluate characteristics that you enjoy about it.
Do you like the way the equipment functions?
Is the maintenance/upkeep relatively easy?
Is the cleaning process free of headaches?
Or, you can lower the learning curve of new technology, as
well as reduce disrupting workflow processes, by simply choosing to get a more
recent model of the medical equipment you already have, but it has been
refurbished.
Partnering with the pros
Auxo Medical is a small
business that provides personal service, along with several benefits that
larger medical suppliers offer. Our refurbished and reconditioned medical
equipment is second to none, and our service is something we are incredibly
proud of.
We provide medical equipment
and services to ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, laboratories, private
physician practices, and more. We have the expertise to provide the equipment
you need, the reliability to build a lasting relationship, and the
responsiveness and services you need and deserve.
Over the years, we’ve developed our refurbishing processes that address both the cosmetic and functional sides of each unit. We refurbish a wide range of equipment, from patient monitors to infusion pumps, surgical tables, electrosurgical units, and anesthesia machines.
Managing and maintaining a medical practice comes with risks — both financial and legal liabilities. Here are the top 4 reasons why utilizing refurbished medical equipment is a smart strategy to curb expenses while practicing safe medicine.