Hospitals, GPOs look to cut costs with refurbished beds

• Published in: Hospital material$ management 1992-06, Vol.17 (6), p.1, 10-10
• Main Author: Diekman, J M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beds; Beds - economics; Competition; Cost control; Cost Savings - methods; Cost Savings - statistics & numerical data; Equipment acquisition planning; Equipment purchasing; Health administration; Health care industry; Hospital costs; Hospital Shared Services - economics; Hospitals; Industry - economics; Long term health care; Managers; Manycompanies; Materials management; Medical supplies; Nursing homes; Purchasing; Purchasing, Hospital - methods; Sleep; United States
• ISSN: 0888-3068; 1937-7622

Rather than buying new medical-surgical beds, many hospitals and group purchasing organizations (GPO) are considering refurbishing existing ones. AmeriNet Inc. recently became one of the first groups to promote refurbished beds to hospitals as a less expensive alternative to buying new beds. According to Jane Friesz, contract manager for AmeriNet's ValuQuip division, refurbished beds may save AmeriNet members up to 66% off the cost of a new bed without compromising quality of care. AmeriNet has signed a refurbishing agreement with Medical Retro Design Inc. (MRD), a renovator of patient beds and other patient room furniture. Some hospitals are already using MRD's refurbished beds. Kelly McDaniel, materials manager at St. Mary of the Plains Hospital (Lubbock, Texas), says the facility has saved about $75,000 to $100,000 so far by using refurbished beds. Meanwhile, Hill-Rom Co. Inc. also offers refurbishing services, including through its Walnut Street Co. subsidiary and Kinetic Concepts Inc. also is entering the refurbishing arena.