If you are working in the medical profession, you are more than likely aware of the issues with getting medical supplies – particularly if you are running out and desperately need these supplies within a short space of time. Luckily, in the age of the internet, it is now very easy to get medical stock at short notice.
There are various suppliers to choose from. Plus, the abundance of suppliers in the market also means that even if you have a regular supplier for your medical needs, there are still other options for you to check out if your usual supplier is unable to fulfill your needs in the timeframe needed.
So, how exactly can you acquire your medical supplies when you need them and from a reputable, reliable seller? Consider this quick guide, and you’ll get to know the top tips for doing just that.
Reliability and Reviews
No matter how many online medical supply stores there are and how legit they look, you must check the reliability of a supplier because it is all too easy for anyone to set up a website and claim they can fulfill your needs in a short space of time, only for it to turn out to be a scam or a subpar supplier with shoddy customer service and low-quality items.
Since there are a wide variety of online websites where you can order your medical supplies, it’s important to check how reliable a medical supplier is – not just by looking for key clues on their website but also by looking up any online reviews. It’s incredibly easy to write a review anywhere online now – whether that’s on a trusted review site or on social media, and you as a medical professional can take advantage of that public transparency when doing a background check on your shortlisted suppliers.
However, it is still worth asking people you know for their opinion as companies can still pay for false reviews to be placed online to make it look like they are trustworthy and reliable, even though the reality is they are a scam in one way or another.
Luckily, if you have been working in the healthcare sector for a while, you should have plenty of contacts you can call – either to ask about suppliers’ reputations, to check if your contact has the supplies you need and can deliver in a short space of time, or to check with other professionals within the industry to see if they know of any suppliers who will be able to fulfill your needs.
Delivery Timeframes
It is also worth noting that even if you manage to find a trusted supplier, they all more than likely have their own cut-off points when placing an order of medical supplies – especially if you want next-day delivery. So, make sure to check this out first before placing an order, as you may end up ordering supplies that you automatically assume are going to arrive the next day, only for them to not appear.
Check Supplier Stock and Type
Of course, if there are multiple different products you need to order all in one go, this can also prove tricky as there are many medical supply websites that may only offer stock types of products or only stock a certain number of any particular product, whereas there are others that provide a whole range of supplies and are constantly in stock.
For this reason, try and purchase from a company that offers a wide range of supplies that are always in stock, as this way, you will be able to order everything in one go, which means the supplies you have ordered are more likely to all turn up at the same time.
Remember, when you work within healthcare, you have a duty of care towards your patients, even if you are not the one working directly with them. Therefore, it is important you ensure the medical supplies you order are of the highest standard and that you always have plenty on hand to treat patients with.