In this article, we combine our 50 years of combined experience as mobile imaging engineers with the feedback of thirteen radiology managers to provide you with the most thorough article available on renting a mobile CT scanner.
See what the inside of a trailer looks like with this video:
Renting, leasing, or purchasing a mobile CT scanner can be an excellent interim solution for a variety of circumstances.
The most common call we receive is from the radiology department of a hospital or clinic whose CT machine has gone down. The following are additional situations where an interim solution is beneficial:
Please email info@catalinaimaging or give us a call for a Mobile CT Quote
Prices will vary depending on the quality of the unit, the make and model of the CT scanner, and whether you’ll be taken care of by an OEM service provider.
The quality of the unit includes:
The most common equipment manufacturers are Toshiba, GE, and Siemens. All offer different makes and models of mobile CT units.
Additionally, the unit in the trailer could have been acquired new or refurbished.
Above: Toshiba Aquilion 16 MultiSlice CT Scanner in a Mobile Trailer
A major deciding factor for the radiology managers we interviewed was the brand of the equipment. A hospital or clinic needs the interim CT scanner to tie into its existing technology.
Aligning technologies also makes training staff much easier since they will already be accustomed to the user interface and user experience the brand provides.
The third major component is who will be providing your ongoing service.
As one of our study’s more experienced participants put it, “It’s expected that problems will arise when leasing a unit.” This does not mean issues are common. He acknowledges the intricacy of each project.
While third-party service providers can cost as much as 30% lower, more experienced radiology managers know that this can come at a cost.
No matter how you slice it, going with a third-party service provider raises the risk of receiving lower-quality service.
Downtime is very costly and can be a huge headache. The number one and number two priorities of our radiology managers when evaluating what mobile CT service provider to use were directly related to resolving downtime issues. These included customer service and service availability.
If the engineer sent to your site is undertrained or inexperienced this could end up costing thousands more than it needed to, not to mention the stress that comes with dealing with upset patients or higher-ups.
Another consideration; some companies offer 24/7 service with their rental and leasings. Be sure to find out if the companies you’re looking at do.
Each mobile imaging company will have its way of handling these extra costs, so it’s important to set clear expectations of what you are responsible for.
Some costs to consider include:
Because a mobile CT unit is such a specialized piece of equipment the logistics involved in planning and preparing the site are extensive. If you’re working with a company that knows what they’re doing and you make yourself available to work with them then the process can be smooth. The further in advance you plan though, the better.
Above: A trailer that holds the mobile CT scanner.
Some logistics to consider include the ability of the truck to maneuver the trailer in place, citing issues such as the levelness and condition of the ground, weather conditions, and electrical requirements.
The pad the unit will be set on needs to be able to support 30 or more tons of weight. It also needs enough space for both the mobile CT trailer and the transportation of patients in and out of the trailer. Both the size of the area needed and the dimensions of the trailer will vary depending on the company.
Above: An overhead view of a mobile CT trailer and the area required for it.
As we mentioned earlier, this is a big deal for the radiology managers we spoke with. You’ll want to make sure there are multiple points of contact for situations involving both the trailer holding the CT equipment and the CT equipment itself. If your company is an OEM service provider then your point of contact for the mobile imaging equipment will likely be the OEM.
Once you’ve scheduled a time for the service engineer to come out and unplug everything you’ll want to make sure you remove all patient data. You’ll also need to remove all items you brought into the trailer and you may be responsible for final cleaning.
When searching for a mobile imaging service provider the top three priorities of the radiology managers were customer service, availability, and price, in that order.
When looking for your own company try to run through the checklist of questions provided in this article to make sure they’re up to providing the highest quality service. Renting a mobile CT scanner can be a smooth experience if done with the right company. We hope this article brought some clarity about what that company should look like.
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