Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Facts About Renting Medical Equipment


By Lila Bryant


Medical facilities are faced with one of the most expensive and somehow sophisticated equipment investments. In order to have a significant impact on their clients, individuals and institutions that are engaged in practicing medical services are faced with the need of procuring the latest and state of the art equipment. However, with all this investment, the very tools are quickly rendered obsolete by the passage of time and the ever changing technology. It is therefore important and necessary to thoroughly analyze each and every investment decision in order to realize the most economical use of the scarce financial resources. This particularly entails a close comparison between making a purchase and renting medical equipment.

One can rent a wide variety of these instruments. Some of the tools you can rent include surgical implements, MRI machines, EMR software, computers, X-ray and ultrasound machines, imaging and diagnostic instruments, surgery tables among others. However, before embarking on this agreement, it is important to consider some vital factors, as illustrated below.

To begin with, it is important to first of all carry out a lease vs. Buy analysis. The analysis enables you to be sure that you are engaging in the best financial decision. The process entails comparing the item prices across different major manufacturers, against lease quotes obtained from numerous medical tools leasing companies.

In order to undertake a complete financial analysis, ensure to gather all your pertinent financial information into one place. The data is then used to analyze the viability and feasibility of a particular investment. Gathering the data is particularly important as it enables you to identify and estimate the incremental cash flows associated with the investment. Incremental cash flows simply mean the additional expenses and revenues as a result of the investment. This indicates how a single investment will improve the overall performance of your business, as opposed to a mere analysis of whether a particular investment is profitable on its own.

The comparison should however not stop here. Further analyze the data with a break even analysis, a net present value analysis and a payback value analysis. With these analyses, you are furnished with both the short and long term financial implications of the particular investment. It also denotes the duration of time it will take to recoup the initial investment.

While comparing a buy versus rent decision, you should put in mind that the rate of the lease, is determined by some other factors, some within while others beyond your control. An example of a controllable factor is the rental period. Consider the duration of rent and the financial implication associated.

Before renting, one should also consider the frequency of service (repair) and the type of the lease (capital or operating lease). For maintenance, consider the service schedule; the number of times and how convenient it is. Does it allow on-site servicing or must it be taken in for repair? Capital leases (with capital allowances and residual ownership) are more expensive compared to operating leases (are pure rental agreements).

The decision to buy or rent a medical appliance depends on determining which of the two choices is more beneficial especially for your practice. The best investment is one that fits well with your overall business plan and is quite promising compared to other investment opportunities, both on the short run and the long run.




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