US hospitals operate in a competitive market, and must be able to offer services using the latest technology and equipment.  Efficient equipment acquisition practices not only lead to savings in procurement costs, they also facilitate processes during the utilization phase, especially in the maintenance of equipment.  Forward-thinking managers are increasingly using a number of creative financing opportunities - including leasing and renting – in the acquisition of equipment in order to reach strategic goals based on the benefit derived from diagnosis/treatment advances, as well as operational/clinical efficiencies.

 

In today’s financial and tax environment, many of the factors that once favored one type of financing over another have disappeared, but what remains are the purchase price and financing terms, whether or not the transaction is called a lease or a purchase.  It’s important to evaluate a potential purchase, with a break-even analysis, a payback analysis, and a net-present-value analysis.  Knowing the short and the long-term financial implications of the investment is critical.  Secondary issues may include tax advantages and other concurrent acquisitions.  This session will explore these and other considerations to take into account when creating your organization’s equipment acquisition strategy.

 

Detailed equipment planning checklists are also vital in the successful completion of a hospital renovation or new construction project.  Comprehensive, integrated, and systematic medical equipment planning and procurement checklists decrease the potential for human error and ensure that architects, contractors, and the client have clear, detailed, and productive communications throughout the construction process.  The presenter will share best practices for creating and utilizing equipment planning checklists in order to keep the project on time and budget.