The ASCA annual conference is nearly upon us! This year it is being held in Boston from April 17-20, and we at Bluestone Diagnostics could not be happier to be exhibiting our diagnostic imaging equipment products and services! Find us at booth #2323 where we will be raffling off an iPad with Retina display to those who visit us and submit their details.
The ASCA Conference is held every year and offers many informative workshops and seminars, as well as hundreds of exhibitors, to help you learn about the latest and greatest news, products and innovations for your ASC. Continue reading →
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, “what is the best used c-arm on the market?” It’s important to note here that in order to properly answer this question, prospective buyers need to know what their goals are for the system. For example, for facilities providing pain management services, the OEC 9600 is a reliable, affordable option to meet budget needs and quality standards. If your facility is looking for a more robust system with superior image quality and greater functionality, you may want to look into purchasing an OEC 9800.
The OEC 9800 is one of GE’s most popular models. It was superseded by the OEC 9900 and is now only available on the used market; however, the price for this system remains competitive. In fact, the OEC 9800 remains one of the most sought-after used c-arms for a number of reasons: Continue reading →
What’s the number one factor slowing down the growth of medical practices today? It’s no mystery: starting or expanding a medical practice can cost a ton of money. The amount of capital you need to outfit a practice properly can be tremendous – unless you know the cost containment strategies used by today’s budget conscious health care systems.
A fundamental principal of cost containment is examining every purchase to make sure you’re getting maximum value for the dollar. Acquiring medical equipment is one significant cost. Here’s one way you can bring those costs down: choose used diagnostic imaging equipment rather than new. Continue reading →
Last year, we shared some information on the Section 179 Tax Deduction and how it applies to your diagnostic imaging equipment purchases. Well, 2013 is a new year and there are some important changes to this deduction that you need to know about.
Before we get into the specifics of what has changed, we should begin with an overview of the Section 179 Deduction. The deduction is, quite simply, a tax code put in place from the IRS allowing businesses to deduct the full purchase price of equipment purchased within the tax year for which they’re filing. The deduction is valid for new or used equipment, and can be applied to equipment that was purchased or leased (as long as the Lessee retains ownership of the equipment at the end of the lease). The idea behind this deduction is that instead of writing off a piece of equipment that you purchased for your business over time (as in depreciation), businesses are able to write off the full purchase price of that piece of equipment. What this means for your practice is that it allows you to acquire additional pieces of diagnostic imaging equipment sooner than you would be able to if you could only write off a small amount at a time. Continue reading →
Recently, I came across a blog post from IAMERS on some of the most important things you need to know when buying or selling pre-owned diagnostic imaging equipment. The post was incredibly well done – helpful, informative & detailed – it reminded me, once again, why I’m proud to be an IAMERS member!
The article touched on several important points, a few of which I think are so vital that I want to expand on them.
First, IAMERS recommends that when buying pre-owned medical equipment, it’s essential to verify that the individual in charge of the inspection is well qualified to do so. This individual must be completely familiar with the specific piece of equipment as well as how it works and all the parts that come with it. Continue reading →
January brings us the beginning of a new year. For many practice managers, this is the time to set goals and objectives for the year to come. As your facility moves forward into 2013, what steps can you take to help your team provide better patient care, contain costs, and increase overall practice profitability?
Let’s answer that question in terms of equipment acquisition. Choosing the right diagnostic imaging equipment for your practice can help your clinical staff assess patient conditions more quickly and accurately. This contributes directly to better patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction scores – important considerations when reimbursement rates are being increasingly tied to how pleased your patients are with their treatment! Continue reading →
As the calendar year comes to an end, practice managers and department heads find themselves looking at their annual equipment budget. Careful shepherding of resources throughout the year may leave you with a surplus that must be spent or otherwise will be lost to the budgetary process. What’s the best way to make the most of that money? Continue reading →
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One of the most profound advances in diagnostic imaging technology over the years is the development of mobile units. The use of portable x-ray systems, mobile ultrasounds, c-arms and mini c-arms has revolutionized the way we provide patient care.
Here are the benefits of choosing mobile diagnostic imaging equipment:
Versatility Creates Freedom
When you have portable diagnostic imaging equipment, you can position that equipment throughout your facility in the fashion that best suits your needs. This flexibility allows you to maximize your space. You don’t have to commit a room exclusively to a single function. Rather than have a designated ultrasound space, for example, practices that use mobile ultrasound units can perform testing in any appropriate space within the facility. This is an important consideration for the practice with limited space! Continue reading →
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There may be a change in the way clinicians use diagnostic imaging equipment to search for signs of breast cancer in younger women. Breast ultrasound is superior to mammography for initial evaluation in women aged 30 to 39 and should be the primary imaging modality, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
The use of breast ultrasound as the primary diagnostic imaging tool for this patient population has long been the norm in Europe. However, in America, breast ultrasound has only been recommended as a primary imaging modality for patients under the age of 30. It is uncertain how quickly we’ll see the American guidelines changing, but given the strength of the clinical research, the cost savings inherent in a shift to ultrasound detection rather than traditional mammography, and patient preference for the less invasive testing procedure, it may not be long until we see the relevant recommendations change. Continue reading →
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As health care providers and practice managers, you have a unique perspective on the toll illness and injury takes on our society. New research confirms what the health care world has long suspected. The costs of chronic pain treatment are stratospherically high – and they’re expected to go even higher. According to a recent study John Hopkins University researchers published in The Journal of Pain, the cost of chronic pain is higher than the cost for diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Chronic Pain: What’s Your Cost Containment Strategy?
Obviously, cost containment needs to be a top priority. As practice managers and administrators, there is a continual pressure to provide a high level of service to guarantee patient satisfaction while simultaneously adhering to tight budgets. There are a limited number of ways we can contain the costs associated with chronic pain treatment. One cost containment strategy is to purchase or lease used diagnostic imaging equipment, rather than choosing new. Continue reading →
