Flexible Endoscopes

This month, TechNation asks the experts about purchasing and servicing flexible endoscopes. Responders include Amanda Bruemmer, RN, BSN, R&D Project Specialist for Olympus America Medical Systems; Alec Weiss, Service and Repair Product Manager for Olympus; Eric Coolidge, Senior Product Manager for Olympus; Robert Fuller, BMET III and Bill Skelley, President of Skelley Medical, an OEM-alternative provider of flexible endoscopy equipment and service.

TechNation: What are the biggest trends right now in the flexible endoscope market?

Bill Skelley: My opinion is that people are realizing that it’s much better to buy high-quality completely rebuilt refurbished medical equipment than it is to buy new. It’s like the automobile business in America: For every one new car sold, there are typically three used cars sold. If you can buy from a reputable dealer who’s going to stand behind the product, it’s a much better decision. The same thing goes for flexible endoscopy equipment.

The key things are to know you’re buying from a reputable company, that the product is being completely rebuilt, and that you’re getting a good warranty. You can buy from the OEM, which is always the most expensive way to go. Or you can buy from a third party, which usually doesn’t rebuild and refurbish to OEM standards. Or you can buy from what I call an OEM alternative: They have skilled technicians, many have worked at OEMs in the past, and the components are of OEM standards.

Robert Fuller:Our doctors are always concerned with biopsy channel sizes and how new scopes will change the way they presently do their procedures.

Alec Weiss:Prevention and minimizing equipment downtime is critical for a successful GI Suite. Waiting for the return of a repaired scope when you have a full schedule of procedures is often frustrating and may put your entire patient throughput at risk. Understand the options available to you through your equipment manufacturer.

To help expedite the process for extensive repairs, Olympus offers exchange programs for our medical equipment. For the same price as a refurbishment on your own equipment, exchanges allow you to trade in your damaged equipment for a refurbished unit, saving you considerable time. In fact, 96 percent of our customers choose the replacement option rather than waiting for refurbishment repairs on their original equipment. Olympus offers that choice through three exchange programs.

With this program, customers can request a refurbished unit in exchange for their defective one after Olympus has received and evaluated it. There are approximately 400 Olympus models of surgical, ultrasound and flexible scopes, camera heads and electronics that can be serviced under this program. When the customer selects and approves a repair exchange, 98 percent of the time Olympus will ship the replacement unit the same day approval is received.

TechNation. How will the market for flexible endoscopes evolve in the next five years?

How will that affect service of the equipment?

Eric Coolidge: As health care organizations look for ways to gain new efficiencies and reduce costs, they are examining medical services with a critical eye. The GI Suite and ORs typically hold many opportunities where improvements can be made – from scheduling-related issues such as start times and turnover rates to ensuring the right supplies and equipment are readily available – it is clear that a streamlined suite is critical to work flow automation and achieving excellent performance.

Some of the benefits of an efficient workflow include:

- Improved efficiencies and decision making through automated documentation and development of clinical pathways throughout the entire preoperative continuum;

-Enhance nursing satisfaction through elimination of manual processes, thereby freeing up more time for patient care;

-Reduced costs through standardization of products and equipment, and reduced overtime caused through poor scheduling; and

- Increased revenues through optimized throughput and improved charge capture.

Olympus recognizes the multiple challenges our customers face when trying to achieve both GI Suite and operating room efficiency and we are doing our part to help improve and enhanced staff satisfaction through equipment standardization.

Many ASCs and hospitals use various towers that are taking up valuable room space while only being used certain days of the week for a range of specialties.

Olympus' multi-specialty system simplifies and streamlines supply costs and throughput by providing one platform of equipment, which can be utilized enterprise wide, 100 percent of the time. Staff does not need to move equipment in or out the room, which is limited by the nature the ASC (saving space and time); not to mention purchasing fewer towers saves your organization money.

Our single platform can be used for numerous medical specialties, including gastroenterology, pulmonary and thoracic procedures, general surgery, gynecology, urologic and otology, sinus and rhinology, and head and neck surgical products. 

This technology enables ASCs to recruit and perform new and different surgical procedures while adding profitability to your organization and significantly streamlining cost savings and flexibility.

Read full article in October's issue of TechNation Magazine.