4 Common Myths about Refurbished Medical Equipment

1. Refurbished Equipment is outdated or Unreliable
2. Lacks Manufacturer’s Warranty
3. Hard to Integrate
4. Shorter Life Cycle and Access to Parts
5. Final Thoughts

One of the biggest misconceptions when discussing anything refurbished is that it’s confused with the term “used.” In reality, refurbished medical equipment undergoes a strict process of inspection, repair, and restoration to meet the standards of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). This is important for hospital administrators who must manage budgets without sacrificing patient safety or performance. At Soma, we’ve seen how these misconceptions can deter facilities from considering refurbished options. This results in missed opportunities for savings and efficiency. In this post, we’ll debunk four common myths to help you make informed decisions about equipping your facility with high-quality, refurbished capital medical equipment.

Myth #1: Refurbished Equipment is outdated or Unreliable

Medical equipment is built to last due to its nature of saving lives. Often, these machines last for decades before needing to be upgraded to their latest iteration. Additionally, it is common for these upgrades to be marginal or beneficial to a specific specialty or procedure. Let’s take, for example, the Steris 3085, basically a 35-year-old surgical table widely used to this day for general surgery. Its successor, the Setris 4085, features a radiolucent top, slide movement, kidney bridge, and ALS system. This would be a choice for a facility that needs access to a C-Arm during procedures primarily. But if a facility only does general surgery, choosing a 4085 would benefit in a quality-of-life scenario.

Manufacturers often use ‘End Of Life’ (EOL) to encourage customers to upgrade to newer models. EOL from the OEM doesn’t mean that third-party support is not available. A company like Soma Tech Intl, that specializes in refurbishing all kinds of medical equipment, gives them a new life. Our refurbishing process is standardized by ISO 13485:2016 and restores the equipment to OEM specifications. The approach is not only internal but also cosmetic, as it complies with reprocessing standards. This provides a restart to the service life of refurbished equipment, while also offering comprehensive support and a warranty.

Myth #2: Lacks Manufacturer’s Warranty

For this statement to be true, it depends on OEM policies and the age of the product. Some OEMs offer refurbished equipment for their current models, which can be accompanied by a limited warranty. In contrast, Soma provides a comprehensive warranty and various service contract options. This offering is not tied to the machine’s age, but rather to the date of purchase. For example, if you purchase a 5- to 10-year-old device from Soma Tech today, it’ll be accompanied by a warranty and service on the same level as if it were new.

Myth #3: Hard to Integrate

One of the most common new features in medical equipment is its ability to be integrated with a facility’s system. It’s often sold as an upgrade for better tracking and care. The reality is that this feature would only work if the equipment is compatible with the facility’s already installed Health Information System (HIS). However, it can also mean that installations need to invest time and money in training with these new units or even upgrade all of the units for compatibility reasons.

In contrast, if a clinic already uses a specific unit. Buying that same refurbished unit would save even more money than just the upfront cost. It means that personnel won’t need additional training, fewer research hours to determine HIS and current equipment compatibility, and zero integration time. This will help any hospital to maintain the standard of care without interruptions.

Myth #4: Shorter Life Cycle and Access to Parts

One would be surprised by how well medical equipment ages in terms of usability. Their service life is not short; many of these tools are 10 years or older. Many feel pressure to upgrade once they hear EOL announcements from the OEM. However, thanks to third parties and movements like the Right to Repair Act, these units get an extension on their life. This is the primary reason why equipment such as the InfuseOR, Lifepak 20e, Steris 3085, Stryker 1188 camera heads, and many others continue to be used and sold internationally, decades after their release.

Soma not only offers warranties and service for their sold equipment. It also carries or sources replacement parts and consumables for them. Even after the OEM no longer supports their old products, Soma will.

Final Thoughts

Buying refurbished equipment shouldn’t be avoided because of misconceptions like these. It should be a viable and safe option for most scenarios. Having all the options available doesn’t only lower the sticker price, but it can also help reduce other hidden costs that new equipment may incur.