Five Things You Can Do With Outdated Medical Equipment

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Medical equipment, with the exception of items that have been used to puncture the skin and surgical instruments that have not been sterilized, can always be reused. Of course, larger pieces of medical equipment become outdated as technology advances. Other items, such as hospital exam tables and uncomfortable hospital beds, are cast aside for new ones. If you are in the upper crust of hospital management, and you see a lot of unused and outdated medical equipment laying around, here are a few suggestions about what you can do with it.

Medical Supply Auctions

Yes, there are medical supply auctions. All items submitted to an auction have to be completely sterilized and ready for use, since the understanding of most buyers is that they will be able to use it in their clinics, hospitals, and practices. In this way, you can recoup some money that would otherwise be lost on unused equipment in storage or equipment that was given away for free. In order to create an account, you must also present your medical license or certification and hospital or clinic information with which you are employed and from which the equipment will be shipped.

Donate a Piece or Two for Local Haunted House Use

In the fall, every city across America tries to outdo itself by creating one of the scariest and most realistic haunted houses anywhere. With the hospital board's permission, you could donate an operating room table or an exam table to local charities that are creating haunted houses. The value of what you donate counts as a charitable tax fund write-off, and the group gets some equipment they can turn into a very scary scene in their haunted house.

Recycle the Metal Stuff for Salvage Cash

Coroner's dissection tables and other purely metal objects can be recycled as scrap metal if you have no takers on the these items. Metal prices vary, and you would have to send several all-metal items to a salvage yard to gain a decent amount of cash. If you only have a few items, consider holding onto them in storage as back-up and extra items.

Consult with Small Community and Regional Hospitals to See If They Could Use Machines

Smaller community hospitals in more rural areas, as well as regional hospitals in need of equipment, are good places to unload old equipment. Some of these hospitals do not have x-ray machines, MRI machines, cardiology equipment, etc., and could really benefit from your extra stuff. Do make sure that everything you give away or sell to these hospitals is in excellent working condition.

Sell to Refurbishing and Used Medical Equipment Companies

Companies that refurbish used medical equipment and companies that sell used medical equipment are willing to buy what your hospital has. Make contact with these sources to see if they are interested in the inventory your hospital currently has. You may just sell off a lot of things and the money can go toward the newer equipment your hospital needs and wants.

Lots of Resources

For some used items, the resale options are limited. In the case of medical equipment, that is not the case. There are several resources you can reach out to and consult in order to remove extra and outdated equipment from hospital storage.

You did not get to the position you hold by not being resourceful. That means that if none of the above situations work for you and your hospital, you will have to hunt down some more resources. As you go, be sure to create a list of takers for equipment so that you know exactly who to call or email in the future. For more information, contact companies like Medi-Rents & Sales Inc.


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