that could throw the surgeon off in certain procedures, so investigate
related specs like refresh rate and frame rate if this is a concern. Do
you want to mount the monitor to a wall, ceiling or C-arm? Make sure
the monitor is VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) com-
pliant, and that the mount you use can handle the monitor's weight. If
you want to minimize clutter, cable management lets you route all of
the video and power cables behind an easy-to-clean cover. And don't
forget ease of use: How easy is it for your staff to make video
adjustments on the monitor, like brightness, color saturation and so
forth?
• Try before you buy. Have prospective vendors bring in the moni-
tors you're considering and let your surgeons put them through their
paces for a week or 2. After all, they're the ones who are going to use
them. Get their feedback and opinions, and purchase accordingly.
• Use your leverage. If you have many ORs and thus need many
monitors, throw your weight around a little. If there are 2 or 3 vendors
you like, play them off one another — and not just in terms of price.
Also negotiate things like warranty lengths and service contracts. You
want the best overall package with the best value for your organiza-
tion. Keep this in mind, however: try not to put all your eggs in one
basket. If you're buying, say, laparoscopic equipment and OR integra-
tion and monitors from one vendor, you're locked in to that vendor,
and now you're kind of stuck with that relationship (although it may
very well turn out to be a great one). You want to keep your vendor
honest, to create a situation where they feel the need to work with
you to earn and keep your business.
• Keep your options open. With surgical monitors, I always tell my
clients to be vendor-agnostic. That gives you the flexibility to change
vendors if you or your surgeons aren't happy, or if you're trying to
recruit new surgeons to your facility who might have different prefer-
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Thinking of Buying…
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