Hospitals hire (or rent) medical equipment for several reasons, all of which boil down to better patient care, efficient use of resources, and financial benefits.
Here are some key advantages:
1. Cost Effective
Medical equipment, especially multifunctional seating and hospital beds can be expensive to purchase outright. Renting or hiring the equipment allows wards or departments to access this equipment without a huge upfront cost, freeing up capital for other needs.
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Reduced timelines.
It often takes around 5-6 months for a larger scale purchase to go through the many processes and departments of the NHS. For a hire, a ward could rent 2/3 chairs over a period of 6 months and the sign off is less than a day. Or they could hire a chair for a month and just extend the rental when / if needed.
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Flexibility and scalability.
Patient needs on a ward can differ significantly. Renting allows hospitals to adapt to surges in demand for specific equipment without the burden of permanent ownership of under-utilised equipment.
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Access to the latest technology
Medical equipment is constantly evolving and developing. Hiring allows HCP’s to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements without the long-term commitment of buying equipment that might become outdated.
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Reduced maintenance costs.
Here at Caremed we manage maintenance and repairs of equipment, saving you time, EBME resources, and money.
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Short-term needs.
Some patients may only require specific equipment for a short period of time. Renting is a cost-effective solution for these temporary needs.
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Trial period/ try before you buy.
Renting allows wards and departments to "test drive" new equipment before committing to a large purchase.
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Space saving.
If you are struggling to store equipment when it isn’t in use – renting equipment allows you to not worry about space; particularly with larger, bulky equipment.
Overall, hiring medical equipment is a strategic approach that helps hospitals and wards to optimise their resources, deliver the best care to patients with cutting-edge technology and maintain financial stability.