Buying Equipment for a Medical Office

This is going to be a short post as I really only want to make one main point. When you’re getting started resist the urge to buy any piece of equipment new. You need to manage your available cash and not max out your credit getting set up. There are only two possible exceptions to this recommendation, and even these two exceptions may not be necessary. The first exception is your computer system, or at least the first few computers you buy for your new practice. You might prefer to buy new computer hardware since computer prices have dropped dramatically and you won’t have to worry so much about having outdated systems. Be sure to only install licensed original software. When I first set up my practice, when I was naive or ignorant or just very trusting, I hired a computer person to set up my network securely.

Seeing that I was starting out, he offered to also set up my scanner, printer server, and install some software at a reasonable “bundled” price. He explained deceptively that he received discounts from software manufacturers because he ran a computer business and could pass those discounts on to me. I was under the belief that I was paying for my own full version of original software. To make a long story longer, when I needed to upgrade my software I discovered that he installed limited or upgraded versions (he had the original software discs) that I was unable to upgrade. I had to buy the original software “again” to upgrade. Needless to say I never utilized that computer vendor again. But I digress.

The only other exception to my advice to buy only used/refurbished equipment when starting out is your waiting room furniture. You want that to be new, clean, and up to date as it is the first impression of you to your patients arriving at your office. But even furniture can be rented for cheaper than buying when starting out. The goal is to minimize money out until you have sufficient cashflow coming into your practice each month. Only then should you buy new waiting room furniture and other equipment for your office. Take it from someone who learned the hard way.