There is a reason why hospital stays are fairly expensive, with the average hospital stay costing a little more than $10,700 in the United States according to the HCUP. Part of this obviously has to do with procedures, as well as medications. But there is also medical equipment to consider, and the amount of time that a person may spend in a hospital. The more that hospitals can save on their medical equipment, the greater their budgets for financial assistance and even pro bono procedures will be. This is one reason why a lot of hospitals seek out more affordable hospital beds, for example.
Hospital beds, whether they are Stryker hospital beds or sourced from a less well-known brand, are often bought used and refurbished. But there is a stigma surrounding refurbished hospital beds, as if they are somehow inferior. Today, we’re attempting to dispel some of the notions surrounding refurbished hospital beds, as well as clear up some of the confusion between what makes a bed used and what makes a bed refurbished.
What Is the Difference Between a Used Hospital Bed and a Refurbished Hospital Bed?
You may initially be confused about this question, because it may seem like there isn’t much of a difference between used and refurbished at face value. But in fact, when buying hospital beds and especially Stryker hospital beds, it’s important that you know exactly what you are getting.
Both used and refurbished products will generally be expected to arrive in at least good condition, unless otherwise specified. But refurbished products have specifically been taken apart and reassembled to ensure that any and all defects have been fixed. Therefore, refurbished products are tested and certified to function like new. Used products, on the other hand, have not been tested or certified in any way. They may have received a similar treatment to refurbished products, but this cannot be proven. Therefore, it becomes incredibly difficult for some buyers to trust the authenticity of these products. Hospitals cannot afford to invest in defective used products. Therefore, quite often, they are advised to choose refurbished hospital beds above all else.
How Can Refurbished Hospital Beds Help Hospitals Save Money?
Generally speaking, unless hospitals are investing in Stryker hospital beds that are no longer being made and are highly valued, refurbished beds will cost less than brand new beds. They may even cost significantly less than them. Therefore, buying refurbished beds will allow hospitals to save money in the long term.
Used beds may actually cost less than refurbished beds at face value. However, in contrast to refurbished Stryker hospital beds, used hospital beds may still have some repairs required. Therefore, the long term investment for used hospital beds may be much higher than it initially appears.
What Kinds of Beds Can Be Refurbished?
Actually, a wide variety of different types of hospital beds can potentially be refurbished. For example, birthing beds can be refurbished, and often are. Birthing beds are generally made slightly differently from other hospital beds to accommodate laboring and delivering mothers. Furthermore, these beds are certainly needed for comfort, as mothers generally spend a lot of time sleeping during their hospital stays post-delivery.
The other type of bed that is perhaps most often refurbished is the resolution bed. Resolution beds can be changed to accommodate both bed-like and chair-like structures. They are low to the ground, making them safe for patients, and are easier for caregivers to adjust and upgrade.
Potentially, however, any hospital beds can be refurbished. These are merely the types of beds that are typically most in demand.
With all of this in mind, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for hospitals with restricted budgets. Refurbished medical equipment may allow them to invest in high quality materials without spending more than they should, and taking away from what they can do for patients.
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