Choosing the Right Type of Ultrasound Machine for Your Clinical Setting

by William Woods Blogger

Ultrasound machines are an essential part of most clinics. But many clinics use different software and equipment. One practice will serve clients who have different ultrasound imaging needs to another client in yet another clinic. Some larger clinics, specialize in several specialties, and so need to use different types of ultrasound equipment—from abdominal to cardiac ultrasound machines—under one roof.

So how do you buy the best ultrasound machine for your clinic?

The experienced ultrasound imaging technologists at USC shared the five most important considerations to make before buying an ultrasound. USC has partnerships with big names in ultrasound equipment such as Mindray/Zonare, Supersonic Imagine, and Esaote North America.

Here’s what you need to know to find the right ultrasound machine for your practice.

Consider your clinic’s specialty and workflow

An ultrasound machine should be easy to use for yourself and staff.

It should also offer a probe that’s specialized for your area of specialization. For example, when examining soft tissue, you’ll need an ultrasound system with lower power productivity. That way you won’t cause tissue burns on your clients.

Depending on your specialty, you can decide if you need a machine that supports the latest ultrasound machine applications and capabilities such as 3D imaging and Speckle Reduction Imaging.

Perhaps you need color Doppler capabilities. Maybe black and white imaging are all good for you.

Keep your clinic’s layout and space in mind, too

You want it to fit into your designated imaging room/space without exposure to hits or, if it's a static machine, the constant movement that could expose components to damages, including unnecessary wear and tear.

To buy a static or portable ultrasound system?

 

Do you need to make house calls or use the machine on different floors of the clinic? You'll do best to buy a portable ultrasound system.

Or do you foresee your clinic offering ultrasound imaging services in-room at your clinic? A static system will serve you just fine.

Identify compatible software and transducer

Let’s use examples.

Convex transducers are generally best at the abdominal organ examinations.

On the flipside, phased array probes (combined with Doppler capabilities and high frame rates) are excellent additions to cardiac ultrasound machines for cardiologists that need to get between squeezed intercostal spaces to accurately image heartbeats.

Consider the budget you are able and willing to invest

When considering your ultrasound machine budget, don’t stop at how much it costs to buy new or refurbished alone from an OEM, partner distributor, or a third-party vendor. 

Also, consider:

1.    To lease or buy; which option works for your clinic situation?

2.    To buy cash or sign a contract: which route will offer you the best value for money, convenience, save you money, or offer timely acquisition?

3.    Are spare parts, ultrasound machine repair experts easily available for the particular machine type

You don’t want to be stuck with a machine that’s too costly to service for your clinic’s kitty. And neither do you want to increase downtime waiting for the particular model’s specialist to arrive from another state and repair it when it breaks down.

4.    Will afford the specific machine’s mandatory preventive maintenance

There are three types of preventive maintenance or ultrasound repair service areas to keep in mind:

·         Probe repair—preventing or repairing transducer issues so you can ensure accurate imaging hence diagnosis

·         Preventive maintenance—includes thorough cleaning, as well as image and diagnostics accuracy analysis

·         Corrective repair—includes same-day repairs and over-the-phone technical support or training to ensure uninterrupted service

How much each will cost will depend on the sophistication of the ultrasound system components, including software and probe capabilities.  

Get a free consultation

Reach out to an expert ultrasound equipment service to help you make an informed decision on which ultrasound systems can serve your precise needs. 

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Created on Aug 20th 2020 00:31. Viewed 233 times.

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