These 6 tips to help you buy the right machine will help you when it comes time to make the decision!
Prioritise Accuracy and Precision
The results obtained using the X-ray machine is the most important factor when choosing which machine to buy. They should be both accurate and precise, which means they should be close to the true value and able to be repeated under unchanged conditions.
The industry standard for X-ray machines is ±5% across the whole specification for all tests at any time. For this reason, it is important that you check the potential machine meets these requirements before making a purchase.
Don't Compromise on Safety
The safety of your patients and staff is of utmost importance when buying an X-ray machine for your facility. Different models have various levels of exposure to take an accurate image.
With recent technological advances, all machines are increasing their standards in this regard, however it remains a chief concern.
Choose a Trusted Brand
The manufacturing company is a significant factor when buying the right X-ray machine. A reputable brand has a stronger team backing the laboratory calibration process and customer service support.
It is essential that you know you have a reliable team to help you if things go wrong with the machine in the future.
Get Trusted Advice
Reliable advice is invaluable when making a decision about which equipment to purchase. Ideally, the advice should be accurate, impartial and tailored to your situation.
For example, getting unbiased advice about the image quality and how specific machines suit your needs can be very useful. A portable device with lower image quality may suffice for simple images of extremities but a stationary machine with higher image quality is required for images of the chest or abdomen.
Optimise Time
System uptime can make a dramatic difference in the quality of care you are able to provide to your patients, in addition to the efficiency and profitability of your practice.
For this reason, the ability to calculate all results with one exposure is invaluable. Recent technological advances allow for all measurements – including HVL – to be calculated with a single exposure.
Look to the Long-Term
The durability of the X-ray machine is an important consideration, particularly if you expect to use the machine frequently in your practice. High quality assurance of the system recommends its use over the long-term and the design of the machine makes a tangible difference to this.
Simplicity is key and choosing a machine with less moving parts that have the potential to malfunction is ideal. This will help to extend the life of the product and increase your return on investment.
