Purchase Evaluation of a New MRI Machine ✓ Solved

A purchase evaluation process is needed especially when purchasing an important piece of equipment such as the MRI machine. The purpose of this process is to ensure that the equipment bought meets the need, is of good quality and that it will offer value for money. The purchase evaluation process to be applied will be done in 5 steps as will be described below.

Any equipment used in the health care sector is very sensitive since it is used for health purposes of the population served (Johnson et al., 2005). Owing to this factor, there is a need to ensure that the right equipment is procured to meet the specific need and meet it to standards.

Process Steps of Purchase Evaluation

1. Recognition of Need within the Organization: A product cannot be purchased aimlessly; there has to be some need it is set to meet. Identification of the need is critical as it can help guide on the specific characteristics that the machine should have. The first stage is where the problem that warrants the need for the machine is identified. It is important to ensure that the need is accurately and comprehensively identified since this information helps to set the standards which the machine should meet. Accuracy will be emphasized at this stage to ensure that the right machine with the right characteristics based on the need is procured for effectiveness and to avoid wasting resources.

2. Search for Information: Information search is required to know the choices of MRI equipment available for purchase. Information can be acquired from manufacturers, magazines, newspapers, and the internet among many other sources.

3. Evaluation of Choices: With information on the machines available for purchase, this step now involves evaluating each choice. The evaluation will be based on which of the available choices best meets the need identified, within budget and considering the time value of money (Gapenski & Pink, 2007). Evaluation of choices involves narrowing down the alternatives found during the information search. The criteria to be used are how well the machine meets the need based on the characteristics informed by the need stage, the budget set, and the time value of money. Machines that do not meet the criteria will be eliminated, and the best will be picked for purchase (Liedes & Liimatainen, 2010).

4. Purchase: At this stage, information is available on the machine that best matches the criteria established in the evaluation stage. The machine is then procured, and all important documents, such as a valid warranty, must be acquired.

5. Evaluation After Purchase: This stage involves assessing the product procured based on its quality, time value of money, and the extent to which it meets the identified need. The goal is to affirm whether the right decision was made and to ensure the product purchased is the right fit for organizational needs.

This final evaluation stage includes assessing the performance of the machine to ensure it is in good condition and fulfills the expectations set at the outset of the evaluation process.

Conclusion

In summary, the purchase evaluation process for a new MRI machine is a structured approach designed to ensure that healthcare facilities acquire equipment that not only meets their specific needs but also maintains high standards of quality and value for money. The five steps of recognition of need, information search, evaluation of choices, purchase, and evaluation post-purchase collectively facilitate sound decision-making in healthcare procurement.

References

• Gapenski, L. C., & Pink, G. H. (2007). Understanding healthcare financial management. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
• Johnson, T. R., Zhang, J., Patel, V. L., Keselman, A., Tang, X., & Turley, J. P. (2005). The role of patient safety in the device purchasing process. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Rockville.
• Liedes, E., & Liimatainen, L. (2010). Philips Healthcare: The purchasing process and decision-making choice criteria in public healthcare.