When considering partnering with a mobile medical imaging provider, there are some key questions that you should consider.
1. What type of mobile service do I need?
What logistical option will best meet my needs?
There are a range of options that may work best for you depending on your patient volumes, the length of time you will need mobile service, and your facility’s physical configuration. It will be helpful for you to know if the provider you are considering has the following options and will help you determine the best fit for your needs.
- Routed: You are included on mobile route.
- Parked: A mobile coach is permanently parked at your facility.
- Modular: A coach or modular building is directly connected to your facility to allow consistent access.
Does the company provide a staffed option?
If you have the right number of properly trained and certified radiology technologists and other employees to staff the mobile coach, that’s great! If not, you will need to know if the mobile provider has staffing services, what training and certifications those staff members have, and what staffing will cost. Technologists should be certified in the equipment they operate and knowledgeable about safety and privacy protocols.
Insight Imaging has routed, parked and modular service options, and can train your staff to work on the mobile unit or provide certified, experienced staff as needed.
2. Do you offer site planning services?
How important is site planning?
Each medical coach manufacturer has site requirements to ensure proper set-up, equipment performance and safety for patients and staff on the coach. In addition, if you have not had a large, heavy mobile coach on site in the past, you may not understand the impact on your property. Site planning ensures the coach is properly set up upon delivery, and that it can safely enter and exit the site. Thorough site planning takes into consideration the characteristics of the site, as well as the electrical and communication requirements for the coach. Site planning is critical to ensure proper operation and to maintain consistent image quality.
Is there an extra cost for site planning?
The answer to this question varies among mobile imaging providers. Make sure to inquire about the cost and what is included in the site planning.
Because site planning is the key to quick and efficient coach set-up and reliable performance, Insight Imaging provides it to all customers as part of our standard service.
3. What is the delivery/set-up process?
How is the coach delivered? Does a company representative come to the site to manage the set-up?
It is important to know what is included in delivery and set-up service for the coach, especially if your staff is unfamiliar with the equipment. One of the most helpful services your mobile imaging partner can provide is an on-site expert who can make sure set-up goes quickly and can troubleshoot any problems and answer all your questions.
Insight Imaging coaches are dropped off by an experienced fleet of drivers. Our OEM equipment engineers do a thorough diagnostic check of the equipment prior to delivery. After the unit is up and running, we do frequent inspections, safety audits, recalibrations and work with the customer’s IT team on connectivity between their network and our imaging equipment. This ensures uptime and top performance of the equipment.
4. Is your equipment certified and serviced by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)?
When a company utilizes the OEM to build, inspect, certify and service the equipment, you can rest assured the equipment is consistently safe for patients and staff and will deliver high quality images.
Do you have OEM service contracts, or do you use third-party services?
You’ll find wide variation in answers to this question. With OEM service, all repairs are handled by OEM-trained technicians from the company that designed and built the system.
A growing number of mobile service providers utilize non-OEM service companies for maintenance. With third-party service, after-market or third party component(s) ranging from complex electronics to a simple cable may be installed. This alteration may void any FDA approval the system originally had. Continuous use of OEM parts and components ensures that the mobile unit remains FDA approved.
Insight Imaging uses only OEM-certified, FDA-approved equipment and all service is performed by the OEM, using full-service contracts – not time and material agreements.
5. What services do you provide after the mobile unit is up and running?
How is the mobile coach monitored? What type of support service is provided?
Important information to ask about include details about service and whether the company provides remote monitoring. Some providers are able to monitor mobile units remotely 24/7 in order to immediately detect temperature changes that can indicate a service call is needed. In the event that there is an identified problem, it is important to note the provider’s service hours and who will be doing the service. For companies that offer exclusive OEM service, repairs typically can be made quickly. The technicians come straight from the company that designed the equipment. This helps optimizes the time the equipment is up and running to serve patients.
In addition to OEM service, Insight Imaging provides remote monitoring, service hours that extend into the evening, a 24x7x365—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year—service hotline.
These are five great questions to ask as you start your search for a mobile imaging partner. At Insight Imaging, we take pride in ensuring our partners have the best and safest service to offer their communities. If you would like more information on our services give us a call at 888-973-8262 or fill out the form below.
