When looking for second hand medical equipment online, it’s easy to be flooded with too much information. Literally thousands of websites claim to be the best and have the largest variety.

When searching through the pile, first narrow it down by adding the name of the local area to the search term. That way a search through all the wrong site entries won’t have to be looked through. Then, look for sites that have good photos, a large inventory, and their physical address is in the “About Us” or “Contact Us” section. If they don’t have it listed, then look for a phone number and call it to see if it’s a real business or if someone answers and there’s a blasting TV in the background. If there’s no way to reach them except purchasing, move on.

Used Medical Equipment is the Way to Go

Ask if they service and refurbish the items on site or if they send them away. The advantage to asking this: If something malfunctions and you send it back, there’s the time it will take to ship back after it‘s fixed. And shipping prices can be a killer! After waiting for shipping twice, the repair shop will take however long their usual turn-around time is, and the whole thing turns out to be expensive and takes weeks. Most people need their equipment and can’t wait that long.

If the item isn’t fixed upon return a phone call can solve the issue. Also, if they fix and refurbish the items on site, a phone call is more likely to get someone who can answer questions. Another reason to know where they are, is so shipping fees can be more accurately estimated. Some things aren’t worth shipping overseas, or are heavy.

Always, always pack well and insure items when shipping them in for repairs, even if they are broken.

Use common sense and trust your gut.

Looking through websites for second hand medical equipment can be a grueling, monotonous search. Who to choose? Here’s a few web sites that might be able to help.

HealthInForum.org – A place for patients and healers to find each other. Sites are listed in categories and there are thousands of entries. Unfortunately, their search function only allows a few blanket-categories, like Dentists In the USA. So when that page is clicked, there are over 2300 entries all mixed together. Not sure if the companies pay more to be closer to the front page, but it’s like any other site in that taking the time to search through the thousands of pages is the only way to find the good deals – but – the good deals are there.

MedWow.com – this site both buys and sells new and used medical equipment via auction format. Things seem to go fast there, and they also offer a service that will find medical equipment by putting an ad for it in front of thousands of medical equipment companies for anyone who can’t find an item. Then they send an email with quotes and contact information. It’s worth a look.

Pemed.com – used medical equipment at 20%-40% off list prices – and they have huge inventory lists! Based in Denver, CO the site is bare bones with photos and information; no messing around with decoration or artwork. They boast of buying over 80 truckloads of used medical equipment each year, then they refurbish and sell it.

Medical-Supplies-Equipment-Company.com – Sells aids for daily living for professionals and patients. Huge selection and they offer financing.

HotFrog.com – Your Used Medical Supply Directory. If they don’t have it, someone they know does. This one provides maps to locations in major cities and has good testimonials.

There’s just so much out there and many of them are honest, reputable businesses, but be careful, too. Unfortunately, some people make their living by stealing your money online.

Every once in a while a website comes to attention and it’s a plethora of good information, and it makes one wonder how they’ve never seen it before. DotMeds.com is like that.

This place isn’t just an online auction house; it’s got over 80,000 participating registered users, and 29,000 are hospital dealers of medical equipment, new and used. If anyone knows of a component of medical equipment’s availability, it’ll be this place.

If selling gently used medical equipment, it can be posted on the forum-like message boards and literally thousands of people who deal in medical equipment will see it. Interested parties will then send the seller an email with an offer. And the reverse, if looking for good second-hand medical equipment, the need can be posted in the forums and people who are selling whatever it is will contact the poster via email.

A Reputable Second-Hand Medical Equipment Source

DotMeds.com boasts that they are Internet’s leading marketplace for new and used medical equipment, and they are members of the certified parts vendor program. Their shippers are people who ship medical equipment professionally, so there’s never a damage-in-the-mail situation.

They have a Services Directory where people can offer services or need services can post. The site also has a forum where the sellers and buyers can post what kind of experience they had with other companies (like ones that don‘t pay back or give service after getting your money). Like a tattle-list that should be read by anyone looking for service.

They have a page where one can post a job opening, or post a need for a job opening, and there’s a list giving all the training classes for academic and technical degrees.

Spend a little time on the site, it’s interesting enough to keep an interested reader busy for a bit. If you know of a good site, leave it in the comments below!

Things wear out, and like everything else, the time comes when a new wheelchair is needed. The old one just can’t be fixed, this time, but only a used one can be afforded. Do you know what to look for in a used wheelchair?

A quick look-over the potential new chair is necessary. Is it ugly? Is it worn too much for consideration? Does it look abused? The first general impression can tell one whether to bother looking closer or not.

Next, notice if it’s clean. Is there gunk in the joints/seams of parts on the arms, wheels, seat connections and everywhere else? This can give an idea of the kind of care that particular chair has had, so if it isn’t clean, more careful observations are needed. See if parts are wearing out and what will have to be replaced.

Refurbish; Make an old Wheelchair new Again

Don’t be surprised if the seating isn’t exactly what is wanted, and don’t despair. There are lots of companies that offer chair replacements that are complete chairs, or chair materials, depending on what type the chair is. Measure how wide the chair is and see if it will fit until a new one can be ordered. Look for that online.

Move all the movable parts. Do they operate easily? Do they look in good condition? Do the locking parts lock and unlock? What about the brakes, are they in good condition? Test them out. How about the wheels? It’s good to have the knowledge of a price-range for replaceable items, so a total estimate of the refurbishment can be drawn.

It can be good to take someone along when going to see the wheelchair for the first time. It’s not as easy for someone to talk a customer into buying if there’s another person listening intently. And, we can’t think of everything ourselves.

Use common sense and look for deals.

Looking for a new-used wheelchair accessible van? Here’s a few tips that can help toward a more informed purchase.

Minivans seem to be very popular, but, they just don’t last when used with a wheelchair lift. Patti from Vermont says, We bought a minivan for my elderly parents, and we had to keep taking it back to the shop all the time. The wheelchair lift was too heavy for it and it was ruining the tie rods, too. We bought them a full-size Ford F250 with a hydraulic lift and it’s worked perfect since the day we brought it home. And what about the lift?

Joyce C. in Montana says she’s been using her hydraulic lift for fifteen years without a single problem. Thomas in California adds that he went through three electric lift motors before he finally went hydraulic. Now, he never has to worry about it. The bigger lift is loud, but they run for decades, and nobody can be found that will defend electronic ramps.

2nd-Hand Hydraulic Lifts are Good

People with small electric motors on their lifts report constant problems and say the motor cannot do the job, motor after motor. It’s common to find someone who’s had this happen.

There are the ‘under the vehicle’ lifts, which are nice because they don’t take up precious space inside the vehicle. However, it does affect ground clearance, which is likely to present a problem in the future because they collect dirt and debris. Curb-side parking is a problem because when deployed the lift comes straight off the side, hitting the curb.

Interior lifts – the newer ones are better at taking up as little interior room as possible. Be sure to select the ‘dual-post’ model; dual post, meaning there are two support brackets inside the vehicle. Over time the one-post lift will begin to lean toward the side that doesn’t have a support post.

Shop around and ask questions.

As with anything else, used medical equipment must be washed every day to ensure the best chance of complete recovery without spreading a secondary infection of any kind. An Aircast is a brand name for a boot-like instrument of healing by holding the foot in place. An Aircast placed on a foot by a doctor is a necessary part of treatment and should be worn as directed and without long breaks.

To care for both the Aircast and the foot, remove the Aircast for a short period at least once a day to let the skin breathe (and let the boot air out). During this time, the foot should be washed and towel-dried, allowing it to completely air dry. A clean inner sock should replace the worn one each day, as well.

As With any Medical Equipment, Care for Your Aircast

Sometimes medical equipment comes with its own instructions on cleaning the apparatus. If so, follow them. If not, then here’s what to do.

First, a warning: Do not walk around without the Aircast while cleaning it. Further injury can occur, and a clean Aircast isn’t worth that; get everything needed before sitting down to do this.

1.) Get a bowl of hot, soapy water and a sponge.
2.) Remove the Aircast and the inner sock.
3.) With the sponge, wash down the inside and outside of the boot. Pay special attention to the joints of parts and use a fingernail, if necessary.
4.) Rinse the sponge until it’s thoroughly clear of any soap residue, squeeze it out and use it to wipe down the inside and outside of the boot, again, rinsing sponge frequently.
5.) Repeat one more time to ensure removal of all soap residue.
6.) Allow to completely air dry.

The inner sock should be washed with normal laundry detergent and with other laundry, or, hand wash it in the sink, making sure to rinse very well. Have a clean one for at least every other day.