Virtually any medically oriented business or institution will have a strong need for equipment, including anesthesia and respiratory devices. Acquiring respiratory ventilators and similar equipment for anesthesia is often something that medically-oriented business owners can find to be somewhat of a financial headache. You can avoid this sort of stress by maintaining an informed position about the medical supply industry.

Purchasing new medical anesthesia equipment and respiratory supplies can be difficult for some new or smaller businesses, therefore the option to buy used or refurbished equipment may be the most cost effective. Medical supply wholesalers are typically the best bet when it comes to safe and quality equipment.

With so much to consider about medical anesthesia and respiratory devices, it is crucial that you stay ahead of the game when securing equipment for your office. There are four basic steps to finding and purchasing the right equipment.

1. Stay updated on government-recalled medical ventilation and anesthesia equipment.

2. Gain inside access to the right anesthesia products for your business.

3. Search for respirator equipment value and competitive pricing from new and used wholesalers.

4. Ensure the quality and history of used respirator and anesthesia equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stay updated with the latest medical ventilator and anesthesia equipment

Take some time to do a thorough assessment of your business's medical ventilator and anesthesia device needs. This is especially true of those medical establishments that will be treating patients in house for various illnesses or performing procedures that require anesthesia monitoring. Stay updated on the newest ventilators and anesthesia equipment available, as new technological advances are constantly being made.

I recommend: The Food and Drug Administration is a great resource to check for possible recalls on any medical ventilators or anesthesia equipment. Make a list and keep it near when searching for new medical ventilation equipment. Hospital Buyer is another great resource for checking recalls and malfunctions.

Find the best value from your anesthesia medical device

As any smart business owner knows, the goal of acquiring any new equipment is to get the best product for the most reasonable price. Medical anesthesia equipment and anesthesiology devices are never cheap but it's vital to get the most progressive product for your business to protect against liability concerns and to provide the best service to the consumer.

I recommend: Drager Medical Shop offers great values on quality merchandise such as the Fabius GS, and Narkomed 6400 gas machines which have consistently been used by hospitals country wide. Vital Signs is also a great resource for acquiring anesthesia equipment. Find everything from bacteria filters to laryngoscope systems available for sale on their online store.

Secure top notch respiratory equipment

Seek out respiratory equipment of the highest quality for your business to ensure the most support for your clientèle. It's important to be mindful of your clients' respiratory needs before purchasing equipment. Some businesses may benefit from home respiratory systems while others might utilize industrial anesthesia and respiratory devices.

I recommend: ResMed provides good quality home respiratory equipment and medical ventilators as they have competitive pricing that when bought in bulk can be great for resale to clients for easy home usage. IDS Healthcare's site contains exemplary resources for industrial medical respiratory systems, respiratory barrier devices and respiratory supplies as it provides information on medical ventilator manufacturers for easy browsing.

Get the best in used medical respiratory and anesthesia equipment

Be aware of the used market in medical respiratory and anesthesia equipment. While it may be less costly to purchase refurbished or used equipment, quality should be of utmost importance to the savvy business owner. Know that many anesthesia medical device companies will wholesale equipment for more reasonable rates. Always inquire about the history of your anesthesia device before purchasing.

I recommend: MEFX (Medical Equipment Finders) is a great resource to help you to secure good quality respiratory ventilator brands and a good concentration of quality merchandise from trusted medical ventilator manufacturers and anesthesia medical device companies. In addition to MEFX, PEMED sells industrial strength anesthesia and respiratory equipment anywhere from 20%-40% off of standard manufacturer prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When shopping for a medical ventilator, it's important to stay abreast of the latest products. Check in regularly with manufacturers and vendors, and collect product literature at professional meetings.