Talking About Warranty and Medical Equipment Services
Purchasing medical equipment is a complex process that requires both specialised healthcare knowledge and an understanding of basic legal concepts. One of these concepts is warranty.
Equipment providers usually provide some form of warranty as part of their broader offering of medical equipment services. The warranty is designed to protect both the buyer and the seller, as the manufacturer is making a promise that the equipment will continue to function for a certain period of time (if used as advertised).
Warranty offerings are an important consideration when it comes to purchasing medical equipment. Read on to discover a little more about what to expect when discussing matters regarding medical equipment warranty.
What is Warranty?
A warranty is a written guarantee provided by a manufacturer or seller that dictates the condition and functionality of a product. It offers valuable legal information regarding repairs and returns as well as how long (and under what conditions) you can expect the product to continue operating at maximum capacity.
Often, a warranty will dictate that the item can be replaced within a set period of time if it ceases to function as advertised. However, this is usually only the case if the fault is due to a manufacturing error, not as a result of user mistake.
The more complex a product is, the more likely that the warranty will come with a vast number of terms and conditions that can take an advanced legal mind to decipher.
The Importance of Medical Equipment Warranty
Medical equipment is a significant investment, particularly capital devices. While consumable products — such as syringes and bandages — usually come at a very low price, technological diagnostic and operative equipment can cost millions of dollars.
Consequently, medical equipment warranty is a very important aspect of medical equipment services. Warranty is your first line of defence in protecting your investment and the financial security of your healthcare facility.
Even more important is securing the quality of patient care that you are able to provide. When purchasing expensive medical equipment, you want to have complete confidence that it functions as advertised. Diagnostic equipment needs to provide accurate results and operative devices must work efficiently and with precision.
What to Look for When Comparing Warranty Policies
When it comes time to purchase new medical equipment, one of your biggest concerns should therefore be the type of warranty that is offered by the supplier.
Generally speaking, there are three different types of warranty:
- Manufacturer’s warranty
- Seller’s warranty
- Extended warranty
Before purchasing equipment, check what warranty conditions the manufacturer and seller offer. Inquire as to whether there is the option to extend the warranty and whether repairs and replacements conducted under warranty conditions meet Original Equipment Manufacturer standards.
If you have limited experience dealing with warranties, you may want to seek legal assistance when navigating this aspect of the equipment purchasing process — particularly if you are dealing with medical devices that costs upwards of millions of dollars.
