Purchasing the most appropriate medical equipment solutions for any healthcare facility often presents challenges for administrators. However, when it comes to VA facilities, many purchasing managers are confronted with additional, particularly difficult issues, which require an elevated level of expertise with regard to federal regulations and contracting/procurement processes.
Here are three important factors to keep in mind when choosing a distributor for your VA hospital's medical equipment needs:
1. The Distinct Demands of Government Procurement
You already know when acquiring medical equipment for your VA hospital or clinic there are protocols and requirements involved that relate specifically to working with the federal government.
VA medical equipment acquisitions are subject to a host of special considerations, which can complicate the overall process and slow deliveries if you are not well versed with these types of operations.
Purchasing managers are increasingly turning to special medical equipment distributors who have direct experience in dealing with the often-complicated VA procurement process, which includes:
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obtaining the exact equipment requested by providing detailed, salient characteristics for that product
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a solid understanding of the responsibilities of end users, logistics and contracting in the VA procurement process
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solicitations available through the Federal Business Opportunities publication
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e-Buy
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GSA Advantage procurement portal
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National Acquisition Center (NAC) lookup feature
2. Leveraged Product Knowledge
Medical equipment buyers can more easily assess the advantages of each particular product by tapping into the expertise of special medical equipment distributors who:
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represent multiple manufactures and the thousands of products they offer
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understand detailed product features to assure compatibility
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staff experienced and trained on most up-to-date technology and equipment available
These are product knowledge advantages that are difficult to acquire when your equipment planning committees are dealing with situations that only arise occasionally.
3. Product Support Throughout the Process
When dealing with knowledgeable distributors, product selection assistance is only part of the overall benefit of collaborating with specialty medical equipment experts.
Full service medical equipment distributors, like CME, can also provide the type of logistical support, which enables medical facilities to easily manage the time and space demands required in obtaining new medical devices both large and small. These product support services can include:
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tracking each purchased item from sale to eventual delivery
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warehousing of purchased items until the scheduled delivery date
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inspecting and obtaining replacements for any damaged items
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staging and assembly of all products for direct-to-site delivery to the end use location
Comprehensive after purchase support procedures mean that your organization can essentially designate one staff member to coordinate with the distributor, and still be assured accurate, timely delivery and product placement.
CME has over 30 years of experience in medical equipment distribution with extensive and specific experience in government procurement procedures. We are in the right position to help any VA healthcare facility in navigating federal government procurement processes, product selection, and delivery logistics. Visit our website or call us at 800-338-2372 to see how we can be a valuable resource in your medical equipment procurement needs.
About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers.
With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.
