Tips to Picking a Medical Supply Company

Good medical care often requires medical supplies, even if the product used is as simple as cotton swabs. These supplies come from medical supply companies, of which there are dozens. A person who needs supplies for hospital, clinic or home use can make a better decision about what company to use by looking at several factors first.

Service

• Look at the range and amount of services the company provides. If you know you need only certain equipment, then it might be better to find a company that specializes, since they'll probably be able to provide you with a wider range of equipment in your specific area of need. If you need supplies for a lot of different conditions or procedures, however, then you may want to go with a company that can provide everything so that you don't end up dealing with many companies to get what you need.

  As you examine the services provided, look at how much business the company does. If the company is very large, then you may have to balance a wide range of supplies with dealing with customer service or slower order filling. A smaller company probably will have a more personalized feel, but may not be equipped to handle large amounts of orders.

Technology

• Technology is interrelated with medical supplies, both in manufacturing of the supply and in the design of the equipment itself. Stay away from companies that aren't utilizing many technologies in their product lines or production, since a lack of technology indicates being behind medical practices and techniques. A company that uses technology is much more likely to have better staying power, meaning that you'll be able to get supplies from them for a long time into the future.

Equipment Ratings

• See what ratings the equipment provided by the company has received in the past. Just because the company has a wide range of supplies doesn't mean the supplies are safer than other models, and even if the supplies are safe, you don't want equipment that has been rated as less durable or which is harder to use.

Customer Relations and Delivery

• Check what the standard delivery times are like for the company. Ideally, you want a company that can get your supplies to you overnight if necessary. Stay away from companies that have a history of being back-ordered or that take several weeks to fill your order. Since getting the right supplies on time is so important in getting a patient well, also check what the customer service is like. For example, are you put through a lengthy automated system when you call or can you speak to a representative right away? What is the rate of complaint resolution? Is there a way to contact the company online to ask questions? Do you have to process the order with a ton of forms that need to be faxed, or can you go to a website and put in an order with a few mouse clicks?