Medical device distribution companies provide distributors that deliver medical products and supplies to hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare facilities. As a medical equipment distributor you may be responsible for providing specialty rehabilitation equipment to physical therapy centers or medical supplies and equipment to oncology centers.

Medical distributors need to be specially trained in the handling of medical equipment and supplies and well-versed in the proper methods of medical supply distribution. It's also important to be knowledgeable about state and federal regulations regarding medical distribution. When getting your medical distributors education and training to work as a medical product distributor, you should:

1. Be trained as a medical equipment supplier.

2. Learn about services offered by US medical distributors.

3. Understand guidelines for medical supply distributors.

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Get certified training in medical distribution

Certain training is required to become skilled in medical distribution. This training should include safe handling of medical supplies and equipment, safe transport methods for medical supplies, privacy policies and regulations and customer service. Get training in all these areas to excel in the industry of medical specialties distributors.

I recommend: HIDA provides courses to train you in medical distribution and allows you to earn Accredited Medical Sales certification. Precise Selling specializes in training seminars to teach medical supplies distributors the necessary skills to work in medical distribution.

Learn about all the aspects of medical supply distribution

Medical distribution encompasses many services and supplies, and trained medical distributors need to learn about all of them. Learn about services offered by specialty and general medical device wholesalers in order to provide your clients a full range of services. It's important to attend training sessions that will allow you to increase your knowledge of medical distribution and leadership in your field.

I recommend: Attend training sessions with the Healthcare Sales and Marketing Network to learn valuable medical distribution skills. The company specializes in teaching distribution and management skills to health care salespeople and distributors. IBS US offers training courses online to learn more about medical distribution in the health care industry.

Attend seminars to supplement your medical distribution education

Medical supply distributors are subject to certain regulations and requirements because of their involvement in the health care industry. Ongoing training and education is vital to stay informed about medical supplies and services distribution and to work lucratively in the growing field of health care distribution.

I recommend: Attend the annual training conference offered by the Independent Medical Distributors Association, aimed at educating and training medical distributors. Go to the BioMed Trade Show to learn about some of the newest products available to medical distributors and get training in how to handle them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Attend seminars to learn regulations for medical distributors in other countries so your skills aren't limited to the United States.

Medical distributors are important to the medical industry as they keep medical offices, clinics and hospitals running smoothly by helping administrators keep medical supplies in stock. Medical device distribution companies are located all over the world. US medical distributors offer a vast assortment of medical supplies and devices for quick shipping and the lowest possible prices.

To save money and wait time, consolidate your medical equipment distributor and medical supply distributors. Save even more by ordering bulk supplies from medical wholesale distributors and rest easy over specialty items by ordering from medical specialties distributors. For all your medical distribution needs, you should:

1. Find medical equipment suppliers and medical device distributors to cover your medical equipment, device and supply needs.

2. Find medical specialties distributors to handle your specialty equipment needs.

3. Shop for a medical wholesale distributor to find the best deals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find medical equipment suppliers

Medical equipment is necessary for the safety, security and health of your patients, so it's vital to find medial equipment suppliers and distributors who sell quality medical equipment with solid warranties, good return policies and excellent customer service.

I recommend: Carlson Medical Equipment designs, builds and supplies life-saving and safety medical equipment including emergency call equipment, door monitoring and patient lifts. Henry Schein is a leading distributor of medical, dental and veterinary equipment and supplies, found in six different categories of medical equipment for maximum one-stop shopping.

Find medical specialties distributors

Medical specialty equipment is important to meet the specialized needs for your patients or medical business. Find a distributor and form a positive, solid relationship with the company for the best service and deals.

I recommend: Composite Medical Distributors is a company specializing in the manufacturing and distributing of composite material medical supplies, like transfer boards, head supports and lap boards. Aus Systems Medical Manufacturers and Distributors offers biopsy and other system supplies for your specialized medical practice.

Shop for a medical wholesale distributor

Shopping wholesale can save you not only in costs, but also in the number of orders you need to place to continue operating smoothly. When you order in bulk, you can always have the equipment and supplies on hand. It makes the most business sense to buy certain supplies you need to keep in stock in mass quantities, those items that practically every patient will need. Items such as bandages, cotton swabs, hypodermic needles, medical tape and other such bulk purchases should come from a wholesale supplier.

I recommend: Southern Medical Distributors in Arizona offers a large selection of wholesale medical supplies and equipment. They even have a clearance section, offering you the best deals possible. They accept orders online with multiple forms of payment available. AmeriMed Corporation is a minority-owned company offering wholesale, high-quality medical products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure the medical supply distributors you work with are aligned with the laws and ethical issues surrounding the medical industry for the best health practices for your patients.

Medical distributors deliver medical supplies and products to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The products and supplies can be highly sophisticated as well as quite simple. There are a myriad of state and federal regulations for this type of distribution that companies that do this kind of work must understand and adhere to. Employees of medical distribution companies need to be specially trained in the use and handling of this type of equipment as well as knowledgeable of the proper methods for doing medical supply distribution. There is a great deal of terms and jargon associated with this field that you will find when exploring this discipline.

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Dialysis

Dialysis refers to the process of providing an artificial replacement for lost kidney function. It is used for patients who have temporarily lost their kidney function as well as those who have permanently lost kidney function. The treatments patients undergo removes wastes and fluids that are harmful from the kidneys. Some medical distributors provide dialysis equipment to hospitals.

I recommend: For a more complete explanation of this treatment go to National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Defibrillation

Defibrillation is the most common form of treatment for problems with the heart such as arrhythmias (abnormal electrical activity) and tachycardia (heart rates that exceed normal rates). When a patient is defibrillated a therapeutic dose of electrical energy is delivered to the heart. Hospitals acquire defibrillators from medical distributors.

I recommend: The American Heart Association has an in-depth definition of defibrillation.

Computer tomography

Computer tomography (CT) is a medical device that generates a three dimensional image of the inside of the human body. Medical distributor employees should be familiar with this type of equipment.

I recommend: For a much more detailed description of what computer tomography is, go to MedicineNet.

Fetal monitor

A fetal monitor is an electronic device that is used during labor to monitor the heartbeat of a fetus and the contractions in the uterus. This is a common medical device that medical distributors supply to healthcare organizations.

I recommend: Medline Plus does a good job of discussing this in detail.

Pulse oximeter

A pulse oximeter is a medical device the measures the oxygen saturation of a patient's blood indirectly. It also measures blood volume changes in the skin. In this way medical staff are able to see a patient's oxygenation at all times. Some medical distributors can supply this piece of equipment to hospitals.

I recommend: The Encyclopedia of Surgery offers a good detailed description and purpose for this device.

Radiation dosimeter

A radiation dosimeter is a medical device that measures an individual's exposure to radiation usually when the hazard is cumulative over a period of time. This type of equipment supplied by medical distributors can be marketed to other organizations besides hospitals,

I recommend: The University of Utah has a description of the various types of dosimeters and their limitations.

Medical device distribution companies sell a variety of medical equipment from clinic supplies to durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs or hospital beds. When you are planning your budget for your medical business, it is important to find out the range of prices and costs for your medical supplies. Medical supply distributors or a medical equipment distributor can help you find the medical supplies and equipment you may need for your business.

Medical device wholesalers sell equipment in large quantities, which can help with the pricing of your equipment. Basic medical supplies such as IV poles can start in price at $15, while medical devices such as portable oxygen concentrators can range in price from $3,500 to $4,000. When you are looking at medical distributors pricing and costs, consider:

1. rental options for medical equipment;

2. refurbished medical equipment through US medical distributors;

3. medical wholesale distributor for items of large quantities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a medical equipment distributor who offers rental options

Occasionally, you may find that your clinic only needs large medical devices on a temporary, as needed basis. In these cases, renting equipment may be a more cost effective option than purchasing the equipment. Also, you may find that some medical device distributors offer a rent to own option that can also be an affordable alternative to purchasing equipment upfront.

I recommend: The rental rate for hospital beds at Belmont Medical Supply is between $225 per month for a semi-electric bed and $250 per month for a fully electric bed. At Southern Medical Distributors, hospital beds can be rented for $200 to $225 for a two-week period, with the option to own it. If you do the rent to own option, there is a 15% discount on the price of the hospital bed for purchase.

Consider medical distributors who sell refurbished medical equipment

Some medical specialties distributors can also offer better pricing for specialized medical equipment that has been refurbished. Refurbished equipment is used equipment that has been inspected and given new batteries or parts to allow it to function as new.

I recommend: Defibrillators at Venture Medical ReQuip range in price from $1,200 to $1,500 for refurbished items, compared to a new one that will cost $1,400 to $1,500. Medical Machines Online also offer refurbished defibrillators from $1,000 to $1,500.

Check out medical device wholesalers for medical supplies in large quantities

A medical wholesale distributor allows you to purchase medical supplies for your clinic in large quantities. They may also offer discounts to businesses or health-care providers.

I recommend: As an example of medical devices sold by wholesalers, IV poles range in price from $50 to $300 at Medex Supply, while at Med Plus USA Supplies, they start between $15 to $20 and go up to $450 to $500.