It's   but you already knew that!                            

THIS WEEK'S HOT TOPIC

FINANCING A C-ARM
The financial markets remain strict and getting money for lease on used equipment is still difficult - BUT - not impossible. Think of credit as categories.

I:  If you've been in business less than a year, you will be facing very high rates even with good personal credit.

II: If you've been in business more than one year and less than three, the prospects for getting financing are good but you may still be looking at high interest rates.

III. If you've made it past the three year mark, you're likely to get reasonably good rates.

IV:  More than five years in business and you are very likely gold. Not that you can name your rate, but you'll be at the lower end of the spectrum for sure.  

So how do these categories translate into money per month. Here's an example:

You buy a $40,000 C-Arm with 10% Down Payment; financing $36,000 for 60 Months. You would pay:

I.    $1056.65 p/m
II.   $ 914.16 p/m
III.  $  800.80 p/m
IV.  $  756.07 p/m

These are just examples and individual credit is subject to a variety of factors.

Q: Is is hard to get parts for used systems?

A: Not typically. If you purchase a vendor-supported model such as the OEC 9800, BV Pulsera etc., parts are readily available through the OEM.  For older models declared end-of-life by the OEM, there are several very large parts houses across the USA that support field service organizations. These are companies with revenues in excess of $70 million so they are substantial and ensure you of availability.

sQ:  Will I need to register the C-Arm for use in my state?

A:  Yes. Every state in the USA has guidelines for the use of radiation-emitting devices. Generally, you must have your C-Arm inspected by a State-licensed Physicist prior to first-patient use to ensure it complies with the guidelines. NOTE: C-ArmsUSA guarantees every C-Arm we sell will pass the Physicist certification or any cost necessary to bring it up to compliance level will be paid by us.

Q: I'm setting up a pain practice in my office and will be using a C-Arm. Will I need to lead line the walls?

A: No, but we recommend that you check with your state just to be certain. C-Arms utilize beam-limiting technology and the radiation scatter is limited to 39 inches of the beam. Some states nevertheless may require shielding of a room if he adjoins rooms used to examine pregnant women or nursery for example. It's always best to check.

Q: Is a used system going to last very long?

A: Yes, if properly refurbished and cared for with a good maintenance program that includes preventative maintenance measures, the refurbished C-Arm you purchase from C-ArmsUSA should give you five to seven solid years of performance as a minimum. That's a general rule for older systems. Newer units such as OEC 9600s and up should be viable for 10 - 15 years or more.

Q: What exactly is remanufactured versus refurbished and what some call patient-ready?

A: Good question and we wish we knew. Remanufactured sounds good but it implies a complete re-build of the unit. Since it's impossible to get brand new parts for most older systems, we doubt that it's possible to truly remanufacture. Refurbishment to us here at C-ArmsUSA means we replace the items that most directly affect the imaging capabilities. These include batteries in OEC units as they give the unit the power boost required for penetration. Other units do not have batteries. We replace CRT screens as the burn-in from previous users affects the image quality.  We replace the high-voltage cables to ensure safety and performance. Other boards, if faulty, are replaced but since these boards are used, tested but still used, it's unfair to say they add qualitatively to the unit's performance other than to enable the system to operate.

Regarding patient-ready, this is another term some coin - our best guess is that nothing was really done to the system except to ensure it works properly.  If it worked elsewhere, it should work for you is the prevailing logic.


Q: How soon can I get the C-Arm after I sign a contract?

A: We strive for delivery within 20 days of order confirmation. It's not always possible, but if we think it could be longer we will let you know that before you sign. We hate surprises and most of the people we talk to are not fond of them either.


Q: Do you offer financing?

A: We do not finance purchases directly, we simply don't have the wherewithal for that. We do work with several leasing companies that offer excellent rates, have very creative programs with deferred payments, and market rates. We're happy to provide you with a lease-purchase quote so be sure to inquire of your C-ArmsUSA sales representative.


Q: Do you buy systems as well?

A: Yes. Just let us know when you plan to sell and we can provide an Offer to Purchase.


Q: Can I trade-in the C-Arm I am using now?

A: Yes.


Q: Do you offer training on the C-Arms you sell?

A: This is an area where we really stand-out. We have a former Ziehm Training Master on staff that arrives at the time of delivery to show you all the features and functions of your C-Arm. He can't perform procedures obviously, but you'll be up to speed in no time and ready to schedule patients as soon as he leaves. We're not aware of any other company in our industry, except the manufacturers that can offer this level of service.  (Don't forget about the certification!)

Q: Do you offer a Warranty and how long is it?

A: Our standard warranty is six-months from the date of delivery. You receive a Warranty Certificate with the shipment that shows the date of delivery, date of inception and expiration, contact numbers for service and the system serial number. Everything in one place to make it easy when you call. 


Q: Does the Warranty cover glassware?

A: Yes. It's what we refer to as our ALL-IN Warranty. Parts and labor on a next day basis no matter what happens during the six months.   


Q: Can we get a service contract after the Warranty expires?

A: Yes, in most cases you can. It's best to discuss this with your C-ArmsUSA sales representative.


Q: Do you always have systems in stock?

A: We do but not every model.  The most actively traded systems are OEC 9400, OEC 9600 and OEC 9800 and BV Pulsera standard models in addition to OEC 6600 and Fluoroscan Premier Mini C-Arms. We try to keep a rolling inventory of those systems.  There are certainly others, but we don't see them available with great frequency.


Q: Do you offer short-term rentals of C-Arms?

A: No. We simply don't have the ability to provide them as rentals on a cost-effective basis at this time. We are looking into it and our business plan addresses the need to provide a solution in the future.

Q: Do you have a DEMO program so I can try a C-Arm before I buy it?

A: No. The financial requirement of such a program is out of our province at the present time. We hope to one day convince our bank to provide a "floor-plan" program but it's very difficult to convince them to do so with used equipment, especially in today's economy.

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