The real cost of patient-handling equipment

Price is not the same as cost

Patient-handling products are often compared using their purchase price.

While acquisition cost matters, it represents only one part of the overall financial and operational impact. A lower-cost product may become more expensive if it requires frequent replacement, creates workflow delays or cannot be reliably accessed when needed.

Consider total cost of ownership

A broader evaluation should include:

• initial purchase price
• expected service life
• maintenance and repair
• consumables and accessories
• cleaning or laundering
• staff time
• storage and internal transport
• product loss
• downtime
• training
• disposal
• replacement frequency

For single-patient-use products, the relevant measure may be cost per patient episode. For reusable products, utilisation and processing efficiency will strongly influence cost per use.

Operational cost is often distributed

Patient-handling costs may appear across several budgets.

For example:

• procurement pays for the equipment
• clinical departments absorb staff time
• infection prevention oversees processing requirements
• facilities manage maintenance and storage
• WHS manages injury risk
• operations manage delays and equipment availability

This can make it difficult to see the total impact of a product decision.

Compare the complete workflow

When evaluating alternatives, ask:

• How many staff are normally involved?
• How long does setup take?
• Is the equipment available when required?
• What processing is needed between patients?
• What happens if the product is lost or unavailable?
• Can it support more than one appropriate workflow?
• What supporting equipment is required?

The strongest value proposition is not always the lowest unit price. It is the solution that delivers reliable clinical performance while supporting efficient use of staff, equipment and operational resources.