An ultrasound machine inspection is always a good idea

Whether you just bought your very first refurbished ultrasound machine or have been through the process dozens of times, it’s a good idea to get your new purchase inspected by a qualified ultrasound repair company. Even if you bought your ultrasound system from a reputable dealer who completely reconditioned, tested and inspected the machine, it’s always possible that the equipment was damaged during shipment, delivery or installation. That’s why it’s such a good idea to have an ultrasound service company at least give your machine a quick look.

Of course one of the first things you are going to do with a new machine is power it up and run it through a few tests, but even if it passes with flying colors that doesn’t mean there isn’t something you overlooked. Even a machine that appears to be working perfectly can sometimes have a minor problem that only a qualified ultrasound repair technician can spot. And more often than not, a simple problem that can be easily fixed will prevent a major problem from occurring down the road and costing you lots of money.

Anytime you buy an ultrasound machine is a good time to think about an ultrasound service contract. If you already have an existing service agreement, then make sure you notify the repair company to add the new machine and delete the old machine if you were making a replacement. And if you don’t have a service contract, then at least get a price quote and you might be surprised how inexpensive they can be, especially when compared to the cost of a major repair bill.

If you are in the market for a used car, then you are probably going to ask the seller about a CarFax report or repair receipts so that you can find out a little more about the history of that vehicle. That’s a good idea when buying a car, and it can also be applied to buying a refurbished ultrasound machine. First off, make sure you are buying from a reputable ultrasound machine dealer who thoroughly reconditions, inspects and tests the machines they sell. It’s also important to ask about ultrasound repairs. While it might not be possible to always see receipts for any repairs made to a machine, it’s still a good idea to ask.

If you do get to view the repair receipts, make sure you note which company performed those repairs and if they are a respected ultrasound repair company. If the same guy in town who fixes TVs also fixed the ultrasound machine, then you might want to think twice about that purchase. Once you do go ahead and purchase an ultrasound system, make sure you look into the availability of an ultrasound repair service contract, which can help you save money in the case of unexpected breakdowns. Many ultrasound service contracts also provide for expedited service calls so that your downtime will be minimized.

It’s also a good idea to get any potential ultrasound machine purchase inspected by a qualified ultrasound repair technician. Even if you’ve been given a complete demonstration of the machine and everything appears to be in working order, oftentimes a technician can spot problems that you might have overlooked. A good technician can also double check any repairs that have been made to ensure that they were done correctly and won’t cause any problems down the road.

No matter how much time and effort you spend on preparing a budget for your company or business, there are going to be things that you simply cannot predict. But there are steps you can take to reduce, or possibly even eliminate, the chances of an unexpected repair bill for your ultrasound machine. Even a brand new ultrasound system can breakdown and need repair, and depending on the problem, those repairs can sometimes be expensive. That’s why so many ultrasound owners are purchasing ultrasound repair service contracts. Similar to an extended warranty that you might get for a car, an ultrasound service contract can save you money in the long run.

So what exactly is an ultrasound repair contract? Of course the exact terms can vary, and many repair companies offers a variety of options, but basically a service contract will help you better maintain your ultrasound equipment and ensure that any repairs are made quickly so that you don’t lose revenue because a machine is down. Many service contracts include preventative maintenance services that will keep your system running smoothly and often find small problems before they become big ones. You can also get a service contract that guarantees quick response time and will often have a technician working on your machine in less than 24 hours from the first service call.

You can also get a repair contract that covers unexpected breakdowns, which means you are paying a little bit of money up front instead of a lot of money later on in the case of a significant repair. So an ultrasound service contract can be a great way to insulate your budget from an unexpected repair bill down the road. There are many different options available, so take the time to sit down with a professional repair company and find the right plan for you.

Ultrasound machines are remarkable pieces of technology and require surprisingly few repairs considering how complex and dynamic these machines really are. But just as with any type of medical equipment, there will come a time when you will need an ultrasound repair company. That is perhaps a little more likely when you are talking about repairing portable ultrasound machines. However, that’s not because portable ultrasound are any less reliable than full-size console machines. Rather it’s just the simple fact that a portable ultrasound system is likely to be used in extreme conditions, even outside in the snow, rain and dust. Plus, because they are moved around so much it’s easy for a portable machine to be damaged because of being bumped, dropped or even worse.

So the repairs needed for portable ultrasound machines are often different in that the problem relates to a foreign substance getting into the machine, or interior damage caused by a drop. But no matter what the actual damage is, in most cases it can be fixed by a qualified ultrasound repair technician. Many companies with portable or hand-held ultrasound machines opt to purchase an ultrasound repair service contract. Of course the best way to save money on portable ultrasound repair services is to not need to make a service call in the first place. That means it’s a good idea to take a few extra steps to protect your portable machine. Many models have protective carrying cases available, and some offer waterproof components. And it makes sense to remind the ultrasound operators that even though portable ultrasounds are exceedingly tough and can handle some pretty severe bumping, that they are still delicate machines and need to be cared for as such.

Whether your business is small or large, it’s of critical importance that your ultrasound machines are performing at full capacity. And if you are a small business with just one ultrasound system, then of course that becomes even more important because any downtime with hurt your bottom line. When it comes to ultrasound machine repairs, of course it’s important to deal with a company that will fix the problem right the first time, but the speed of that repair is sometimes overlooked by ultrasound machine owners. When your machine goes down, you want service, and you want it fast. So what’s the best way to get it? Many businesses have found that having an ultrasound repair service contract is the way to go.

Like any other business, an ultrasound repair company has limitations in how many customers it can service. If they get more service calls on a particular day then they have repair technicians, then someone is going to have to wait. And of course you don’t want that to be you. So that’s why having an ultrasound service contract with that company can help. If they receive service calls from you and from someone who just called them out of the Yellow Pages, you can be sure that your problem will take priority and that an qualified ultrasound service technician will be dispatched shortly.

Think about how much even just a single day of downtime could hurt your business – your customers or patients are going to be inconvenienced and maybe even annoyed if you have to tell them to reschedule because your ultrasound equipment is not working. You work hard every day to ensure the success of your business, so it makes sense to have the insurance of an ultrasound repair service contract so that you can know that you’ll be at the top of the list when you need service.

If you’ve done any research into buying an ultrasound machine, then you know that purchasing a pre-owned or used ultrasound system can be significantly cheaper than buying a new one. Another option, which can save you even more money, is to buy a used ultrasound machine that is not currently working and then get a qualified ultrasound repair company to fix it for you. When an ultrasound machine is not working, the seller will often just be looking to unload it and sometimes those machines can be had for incredibly low prices. If you find a potential deal like that, then call up an ultrasound repair company and ask about having a repair technician check out the machine with you. You might find that the cost of the machine plus the cost of the repairs is much less than buying a comparable used ultrasound machine.

Of course there is some risk to buying a machine like this, because the seller is not likely to let your repair technician completely disassemble the machine in order to diagnose the exact problem. But a good ultrasound repair service company can often determine the potential problem without doing an intrusive inspection on the machine. If it turns out the problem is relatively simple and easy to fix, or maybe it just needs a part replaced, then you might just get a great ultrasound system at an incredible price.

And if you have more than one ultrasound machine in your business, then it can also make sense to buy the same model in non-working condition so that you can use it for parts and supplies if you ever need them. There are lots of ways to save money when purchasing ultrasound machines, and working together with your ultrasound service company can help make that happen.

If you need someone to fix a broken fence in your backyard, you might be ok with hiring the first handyman you can find. While it takes a certain amount of skill, planning and design to install a fence, it’s not terribly difficult to fix one broken part. When it comes to repairing and maintaining ultrasound machines however, it’s a totally different story. Ultrasound systems are among the most complicated medical devices, so you don’t want just anyone working on your valuable equipment. That’s why it makes sense to do a little research before just calling the first ultrasound repair company that you can find.

When you have an unexpected ultrasound repair issue, of course you want to get it fixed as fast as possible. But even before you have a problem, you should talk to a few ultrasound repair services and find the best one for you. That way when you do need ultrasound service, you will know exactly who to call. When you are trying to find the best ultrasound repair services, make sure you ask them about the qualifications of their technicians and how much experience they have with the particular brand and model of your ultrasound system.

It’s also a good idea to ask for references, and then to follow up by calling or emailing those references and getting some feedback from them. Ask how quickly the repair service calls are answered, and if the repairs are generally done right the first time. You might also want to ask about the availability of ultrasound repair service contracts, which can provide you the peace of mind against unexpected repair bills.

Just as ultrasound machines can be an expensive investment, the repair of ultrasound machines can also be expensive. But you can do some things to keep those costs under control, and one of the easiest ways to do that is with preventative maintenance that can eliminate the need for many repairs altogether. By working with a qualified ultrasound repair service company, you can develop a maintenance plan for your ultrasound equipment and a regular inspection schedule to look for little problems before they turn into big problems.

The first thing to do when you purchase a used or pre-owned ultrasound machine is to have a qualified technician give it a quick look and answer any questions you might have about the system. Sometimes a simple adjustment or minor part replacement can save you from a much more expensive problem down the line.

Once you put an ultrasound machine into use, make sure your operators know how important it is to note any abnormal results or special problems. Even if they notice something that seems like no big deal, they should let that be known so that a decision can be made as to whether a service call is needed. Some problems will grow into bigger problems if they are ignored.

It can also save you money by looking into an ultrasound system service agreement, which can insure you against major and unexpected ultrasound machine repairs. A service agreement or contract is also beneficial because you will know that help is only a phone call away.

GE Voluson 730 Ultrasound Machine

When Tom Unowsky bought his first ultrasound machine, a top of the line pre-owned GE Voluson 730 Expert, he thought he was ready to go into the growing business of fetal ultrasound photos. After all, he had a machine capable of producing high quality 4D images and he had a great business and marketing plan. The one thing he was missing was an ultrasound repair service contract. That oversight cost him a pretty penny when his ultrasound system started to produce garbled images, costing him time, money and clients. So Tom had to call an ultrasound repair technician out of the Yellow Pages, and it took three tries and some expensive bills to get his machine fixed. Shortly after that debacle, Tom signed up for an ultrasound system repair service contract that covers routine maintenance and repairs to his system, including unexpected problems.

Ultrasound repairs and maintenance might be one of the last things you think about when it comes time to make a business plan, but because of the cost involved and the huge investment you have in your ultrasound equipment, it really should be at the top of your list. You never know when a small problem is going to turn into a major one, so it pays to get your ultrasound machine, transducers, probes, printers and other accessories looked at when you first notice any kind of problem at all. That will help you save money in the long run with less down time for your machines, and increased resale value by keeping your equipment in top-notch condition. So make sure you take some time to think about ultrasound system repairs when you are putting together your budget and business plan.

Let’s face it – even if you got a great deal on a pre-owned ultrasound system, it’s still not a cheap investment. But it is an investment, and it makes sense to protect that investment for the long term. That’s why it’s a smart move to come up with a game plan for your ultrasound machine repair needs. Even the best ultrasound systems breakdown once in a while and need routine maintenance, so when that time comes it can be reassuring to know that you have a qualified, professional ultrasound repair technician on your team. Whether you are talking about a complete ultrasound system repair, or if you just need ultrasound probe repairs, transducer repairs or printer repairs, then it’s nice to know that help is just a phone call away. If you don’t have an ultrasound repair service contract, you can easily spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on an unexpected repair bill. Think of a repair contract as insurance for your ultrasound system, and it’s also like insurance for your own peace of mind and your budget, because you can sleep better at night knowing that you won’t have any surprise charges when it comes to ultrasound repairs.

Sometimes it tempting to be short-sighted and say “well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While there is some truth to that old saying, it doesn’t always apply to ultrasound machines. If you don’t maintain and repair your system properly, then you are only going to hurt yourself in the long run with more down time and ultimately a machine that won’t be worth as much when it comes time to sell your pre-owned ultrasound system. If you have documentation that your system has been well maintained, then that’s a valuable tool you can use when you are negotiating a price to sell it.