Searching for specialty surgical instruments used to be difficult, time consuming, and costly. In many ways, it still is. The rise of GPOs has made the search somewhat easier for larger hospital systems but it hasn't necessarily reduced cost. In fact, the ease and accessibility of cost specialty instrument found on many GPOs has decreased the likelihood that those responsible for instrument procurement often fail to compare cost. And that can be a costly mistake.
#1: What's important, the brand or the pattern?
When a surgeon places a request for an instrument, (s)he often references the instrument by the brand name simply out of habit. Quickly ask the surgeon to verify if the brand is important. In most cases, the surgeon is only interested in the pattern.
#2: Kick the GPO Habit.
Many specialty surgical instruments aren't listed on the GPO. And the ones that are, quite often, aren't discounted at all. They are simply there for your convenience. By blindly assuming that these instruments are presented at a discount, you could be wasting tens of thousands of dollars a year.
#3: Don't Set Your Mind on Sets.
What your surgeon considers an instrument set is not necessarily what the manufacturer considers a set. Instrument companies often build and market sets that contain unnecessary parts so they can charge you more. If you build your own set, focusing your attention on only the instruments you need, you can save thousands of dollars.
#4: Shop before You Drop Your Money.
Most instrument companies do not make the instruments they sell. This means that you can get the identical instrument from more than one instrument company. That's a good thing because it means you can save money by shopping around. But it also means that there can be many manufacturers for the same instrument pattern. Choose to work with an instrument company that offers you a satisfaction guarantee.
#5: Continue the Discontinued Search!
When a surgeon asks for an instrument and the manufacturer tells you that it's been discontinued, the path of least resistance is often to take them up on their offer to have one custom made for you - at a very steep price. Other vendors, however, may carry that instrument - or be able to have it made - at a much lower cost than the original manufacturer.
Put simply, you can save a lot of money simply by asking for a quote for the specialty instruments you require. You can email us or call us at 1-800-600-0428 for a hassle-free quote.
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