The types of diagnostic imaging equipment service agreements

• Full-service — Service can be requested 24/7 usually via a toll-free hotline. It
typically includes response priority, corrective and preventative maintenance, parts
and labor, the use of OEM certified parts, and software updates.
• Business hours — Service can be requested during normal business hours, usually
eight hours a day, five days a week.
• Extended business hours — Service can be requested usually 12 hours a day, five days
a week.
• Extended business hours and weekends — Same as above, but set weekend hours are
included.
• Preventive maintenance (PM) only — Service includes a predetermined number of
preventative maintenance service calls during normal business hours.
• Time and materials — Service is paid for on an as-needed basis. The service vendor
charges for parts, labor, and travel.
• Loaner or depot service — The equipment is returned to the vendor and the vendor
provides a loaner piece of equipment until the faulty device has been repaired and
returned.
• Inspection only — Similar to PM only contracts in that it’s a flat fee paid for
only a known service.
• Calibration only — Similar to PM only contracts in that it’s a flat fee paid for
only a known service.
        If the common service agreements mentioned above do not meet the requirements of
radiologists, their practice, or the diagnostic imaging equipment, there are other
alternatives. The most common is equipment maintenance management programs. These
programs toffen offer similar coverage levels characteristic of standard service
agreements, but at a lower cost and increased flexibility. Again, knowledge is power,
so proper investigation is needed before you purchase no matter x ray machines,
clinical lab devices, hematology analyzers.