If you’re reading this, you probably don’t need to be told how important it is to find the right medical supplier. Whether you need products like catheter plugs and caps, IV bags, or drain tubes, using a medical supplier who is unreliable, has poor quality, or is unstable is a huge problem. It’s not like you can just cancel your need for your medical supplies if your medical supplier messes up. This is why it’s important to find a medical supplier who can be trusted.
To help you with this, we’ve put together a list of things to look for while choosing your medical supplier:
Five Things to Look for in Your Medical Supplier
- Quality
This goes without saying, but we’re saying it anyways. It’s not just a waste of money to use a medical supplier with poor quality products, it’s hazardous to your patients health! You can ensure that the supplier you are entrusting your medical supply needs provides superior quality by:- Ask about certifications from trusted organizations in the industry.
- Read reviews about medical suppliers from other businesses like yours.
- Ask a lot of questions about quality control before hiring a medical supplier.
- Reliability
If we had a nickel for every time we pulled up to a drive-thru window to order some lunch, only to be told the item we’ve ordered is unavailable. While it might be a slight disappointment when it comes to fast food ordering, if your medical supplier runs out of the product they should be supplying you with, the consequences are devastating. Before you choose a supplier, pay careful attention to their reliability. Make sure you:- Ask them historically how often they’ve run out of a part.
- Check with other similar businesses who use them; has anyone ever run out of a supply and been unable to restock?
- Ask what the medical supplier’s process is if they run out of a product. Do they have a contingency plan to make sure you aren’t left high and dry?
- Innovation
The medical world is constantly changing and improving. The medical devices that we depended on just a few years ago are now practically unheard of. You should make sure that the medical supplier you use makes it a priority to offer the most modern supplies available, so that you don’t get painted into a corner with obsolete supplies. Before selecting a medical supplier, make sure you:- Ask how often their inventory is updated with new technology.
- Compare their product offerings with that of other medical suppliers. Do they offer about the same products, or are they behind the curve?
- Look into the supplier’s policy if you need a product they don’t offer. Some medical suppliers network with a variety of manufacturers and can special order something for you.
- Customer Service
Sometimes problems arise, even if you found the best supplier in existence. The important thing is that you have a channel to track down the answers or solutions that you need if something comes up. The last thing you want is an order with 5,000 urinary drain bags when you ordered something entirely different, and no one but an automated message to help you sort it out. Before choosing a medical supplier, make sure to:- Look for a medical supplier who assigns an account representative to you. You need to have a direct line that you can call and get a voice who knows you and cares about your success when an issue arises.
- Call several times and ask the same questions. More than listening to the answers, pay attention to the consistency that you get from the responses. If the person you’re talking to doesn’t have an answer, do they take the time to get it for you? Are you getting accurate answers?
- Once again, pay attention to the reviews you get from other customers who use the medical supplier. If you see the same complaint about poor customer service over and over, you should consider it a red flag.
- Competitive Pricing
Before you select a medical supplier, make sure you understand the total cost you’ll expect on their invoices. Sometimes you’ll get an enticing quote per unit, but with shipping and handling and various admin fees, it will cost a lot more.
Do you have any other questions for choosing a medical supplier? Please share in the comment section below!