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How to Choose the Best Treatment Table: Five Key Considerations

Physical therapy, chiropractic, sports medicine, massage—each of these practice types can benefit from a treatment table. Unsurprisingly, the number of available options and price ranges are as different as the types of practices served by Great Lakes Imaging. But if you’re in the process of outfitting a new practice, replacing old equipment, or growing your business, the checklist for finding the best treatment tables in the Detroit area is surprisingly consistent.

1. Shop for Durability

We understand. Price matters. With that being said, your first consideration should be the treatment table’s durability rather than its price tag. For many practices, this is the single most-used piece of equipment you own. Trying to find something that’s cheap and adequate for now isn’t exactly a formula for long-term success—or savings—since corners cut for cost often lead to substandard equipment that is more prone to break down, wiping out the money you may have saved upfront.

2. Ensure it Serves Your Patients

No matter what form your treatment table ultimately takes, it should be the right size to accommodate patients, with generous padding and easy-clean upholstery that ensures comfort. Its height should allow for easy access, especially for those with mobility issues. And your comfort matters too; an articulating treatment table allows for a wider range of adjustments, avoids injuring the practitioner, and improves patient outcomes.

3. Choose the Functions that Matter Most

Whether you’re shopping to outfit a chiropractor’s office or a physical therapy practice, you’ll find a wide range of treatment tables at your disposal. Their sizes, shapes, and functions will vary widely, and it’s important to get the right fit from day one. Ask yourself:

  • Do I have enough storage, or should I be looking for a treatment table with storage space?
  • Do I need a portable treatment table or traction table?
  • Would I be better off with a motorized table, or would one that adjusts manually suffice?
  • Do I already have any of the traction accessories that go with this table, or should I buy them as well?
  • Have I fully considered my other options? Sometimes an office has sufficient table space and might benefit from the addition of OptiFlex Ankle CPM, or an OptiFlex-K1 to deliver continuous passive motion therapy, for instance.

4. Take Maintenance Into Account

Most of the equipment we sell—from ultrasound equipment to mobile imaging solutions and, yes, exam tables—requires occasional maintenance and calibration, and may also need repair from time to time. Great Lakes Imaging doesn’t just sell equipment; we offer medical equipment maintenance and repair too, with as much of our work as possible performed onsite to minimize disruption, and more complex repairs handled in our facility for a fast turnaround time. Ensure that your vendor backs what they sell!

5. Now, Consider Cost

When we started this checklist, we mentioned that price shouldn’t be your primary consideration when buying medical equipment. That doesn’t mean that price doesn’t matter. If you’ve found a table that perfectly fits the needs of your practice and the patients you serve, we encourage you to browse our selection of reconditioned used treatment tables if you find your needs temporarily exceed your finances.

Consult with Great Lakes Imaging

Sourcing the right medical equipment for your practice is only one of the many challenges you face on a day-to-day basis. Medical equipment installation, design services, maintenance… with all you deal with, it’s a wonder there’s time left in the day to see patients. You aren’t alone. Great Lakes Imaging can help with more than you think, so reach out to us today!

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How to Maximize the Lifespan of Your X-Ray Equipment

Lifespan of Your X-Ray Equipment

Let’s address the elephant in the room: x-ray equipment is a major investment. With that borne in mind, your practice will want to do all it can to see the most return on its investment, from putting that equipment to proper and frequent use, to ensure it lasts for the long haul. The steps you can take to do just that are a lot simpler than you might realize—especially with a trusted partner like Great Lakes Imaging.

Know The Purpose of Your Equipment—And Your Practice

One of the many reasons that medical practices throughout the Midwest turn to Great Lakes Imaging is that they know we’re a trusted source of used medical imaging equipment. Where that equipment comes from can tell you a bit about how to get more from yours.

Some equipment is effectively traded in to trade up; it’s a good way to finance newer, and more advanced, x-ray machines. But there’s another reason that practices sell us their older x-ray equipment: they weren’t very careful about what they chose in the first place. Think before you purchase. Know the needs of your practice now, to be sure; but also spare a minute to think about where your practice is headed, and where your medical equipment fits in that longer-term planning. Part of ensuring your x-ray machine lasts is ensuring it can grow with your practice.

Proper Installation Matters

Unsure about the type of equipment, or how it might fit your workflow? Don’t guess. Ask. We custom-design medical equipment solutions that encompass not only x-ray equipment but also full exam suites, x-ray shielding, and more. It’s a great way to ensure you maximize space and revenue alike.

Understand the Nature of Your X-Ray Equipment

If you’re a chiropractor, podiatrist, or vet, your office likely has a support staff, in which your radiologist is a key player. But ensuring longevity also means an understanding of the equipment in use in your office. To begin with, x-ray equipment comes in many forms, with film machines providing a bit less by way of upkeep than their digital counterparts.

There’s also the question of the other types of equipment you’ll need, since x-rays, as good as they are, won’t be the right diagnostic tool for every job. So ask yourself whether it’s worthwhile obtaining ultrasound equipment or other types of diagnostic and treatment tools to round out your practice. And of course, you’ll want to make sure you know what to look out for in terms of trouble signs, so your equipment isn’t misused and does not fall into disrepair.

Don’t Neglect Your Equipment

That last point deserves to be underscored. Nearly any x-ray machine from a reputable manufacturer is designed to last for a long time under the proper use conditions, and with the right imaging equipment maintenance. But it’s not something that can be simply installed, then forgotten. It requires calibration, periodic adjustment, and cleaning. When it’s neglected—and sometimes even when it’s not—repairs will be needed, too.

For the sake of your and your patient’s safety, be diligent about repairs and maintenance. And don’t forget that Great Lakes Imaging provides x-ray equipment service in the Midwest, servicing onsite when possible and at our facility for larger repairs to minimize disruption and downtime.

Updates Matter

While the right hardware matters, it’s important to make sure you’re considering the big picture. The rise of digital imaging has opened up new possibilities for diagnostics, making your software as important—sometimes even more important than—the hardware on or with which it runs. Make sure that software is always up-to-date since updates will include functional fixes, security patches, and other things meant to optimize performance.

X-Ray Equipment in the Midwest: Comprehensive Solutions from Great Lakes Imaging

Making sure your x-ray equipment is in it for the long haul is easier with the advice and service from a trusted provider like Great Lakes Imaging. No matter where you are in the process—procuring new equipment, getting design and installation assistance, or ensuring your equipment is always ready to give its best—we’re here to help, so reach out today.

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How to Find X-Ray Equipment in the Midwest

X-Ray Equipment in the Midwest

There’s no question that x-ray equipment has benefits for practices and their patients alike. Few of us would willingly go back to a time before the faster and more accurate diagnostics provided by x-ray machines. But how and where those images are captured matters, and an increasing number of practices are integrating x-ray machines to improve workflow and patient outcomes. If you’re one of them, Great Lakes Imaging can help you make better-informed choices.

What to Consider When Sourcing X-Ray Equipment

A wide variety of practices use medical imaging, and there’s an imaging solution for each use case. To ensure you’re making the right choice, your first step is to ensure that an x-ray machine is a right tool for the job. Once you’ve made that determination, what comes next?

X-Ray Machines by Practice Type

Just as there are many types of medical imaging, from ultrasound to magnetic resonance imaging, so do x-ray machines differ by the type of practice for which they’re designed. Durations, intensities, capture media, and even the degree of portability may vary based on your practice’s needs and the available models. Broadly speaking, however, Great Lakes Imaging provides solutions for:

X-Ray Equipment Brands

Some companies have a long history and provide a broad spectrum of x-ray solutions. But even newer companies are worth your while since they’ve often staked their claim on a higher degree of specialization—not just in terms of hardware, but also in the accompanying imaging software that helps diagnosticians and practitioners get the most from the equipment at hand. If you’re unsure of a company because they’re hitherto unknown to you, read the reviews of their equipment; it’s also worthwhile getting in touch with a medical imaging supplier who can present you with several different options, and the pros and cons associated with each.

X-Ray Equipment Condition

New x-ray equipment is, of course, always a welcome addition to practice. However, when you’re buying from a reputable supplier, using x-ray equipment in good operating order is a viable way to save money on advanced equipment. Reconditioned and serviced before resale, it can provide years of reliable service with proper imaging equipment maintenance.

How to Establish the Credibility of a Medical Equipment Supplier

When you’re shopping for x-ray equipment, you don’t expect your search to raise more questions than answers. And for all the things riding on your imaging equipment—health, safety, and even the survival of your practice—an equipment supplier you can trust is just as important as choosing the right type and brand of equipment. So be sure to consider the following:

  • Your prospective supplier’s online reviews
  • Your, or your colleagues’, past experiences
  • Their reputation for customer service
  • Their ability to back what they sell

Our suggestion? Put your supplier to the test. If you’ve been searching for any amount of time, you likely have questions. How easily and quickly you can get answers is often a good indicator of how quickly and easily you can get support later when you need it. It’s just one reason we encourage even moderately curious medical practices to get in touch with us.

Why Great Lakes Imaging is the Best X-Ray Equipment Partner

When you evaluate Great Lakes Imaging by the above criteria, it’s easy to see why we’ve been such a success story over the last quarter of a century; in short, it’s because we understand our success is inseparable from our clients’. We back what we sell with custom x-ray equipment installation, maintenance, repair, and even the complimentary supplies that keep your practice running on an even keel. To find out more, or for help meeting your most urgent medical imaging challenges, get in touch today!

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Why do Chiropractors Use Drop Tables?

The drop table technique is often called Thompson Technique, after its inventor, Dr. J. Clay Thompson. Drop tables are a common sight in chiropractic offices. While they won’t be a component of every adjustment, many chiropractors understand the value of offering this method, and wouldn’t dream of not having at least one chiropractic adjusting table that wasn’t equipped with a drop function.

What Are Drop Tables?

Drop tables have a section that is capable of a short but rapid drop. The combination of the force of gravity and the speed of the drop is often enough to gently but effectively realign the spine. Though the sound can be startling the first time or two, the feeling is barely perceptible (this isn’t a roller coaster drop), and the pain relief is tangible.

Of course, a drop function is just one of the many chiropractic table features worth exploring in more depth.

Do Chiropractic Drop Tables Work?

In a word? Yes. As its practitioners know, and its patients quickly come to realize, chiropractic isn’t “a treatment.” It is, instead, a range of treatment modalities, with methods and equipment carefully chosen depending on the patient’s current condition and treatment goals. As treatment progresses, the methods and tools used to change to best meet new challenges. Drop tables are just one of the many effective tools at a chiropractor’s disposal.

Drop Table Benefits

What do drop tables offer, and how do chiropractors and patients alike benefit?

  • Targeted adjustments: Drop tables offer a precision adjustment for the lumbosacral spine and the pelvis
  • Gentle approach: Brute force isn’t a great solution for a pinched nerve, tight muscles, or the treatment of a pregnant patient; a drop table can help to gradually and gently loosen and realign
  • Less pain: Anyone who’s ever suffered from sciatica knows that the slightest wrong move or touch can be excruciating; drop tables help to alleviate pain and pave the way for a more aggressive approach as pain clears

Browse Our Selection of Drop Tables

Great Lakes Imaging carries a broad selection of adjusting tables, many with a drop table function. We also offer portable models, and tables that incorporate HYLO, tilt, and traction functions. If you have a specific model in mind, we likely have it; if you’re unsure of the best fit, simply get in touch and we’ll help to match you to the perfect fit for your practice.

Used Chiropractic Equipment

We understand that times are tight, and even a practice that runs like a well-oiled machine likes to save money. To that end, we also offer a range of used chiropractic tables that’s perfect for those just starting, and practices seeking a cost-effective way to fill gaps in their offices. These pieces offer the same quality, are cleaned, lubed, and adjusted, and have been reconditioned where needed. That lets you buy—and use—our equipment with confidence, regardless of whether or not you’re the first owner.

Chiropractic Solutions in the Detroit Area

Besides drop tables and HYLO tables, we also offer a full range of chiropractic imaging products, installation, design, and consultation services. Furthermore, we back what we sell with on-site and off-site chiropractic equipment maintenance and repair. With so much to offer, Great Lakes Imaging is the obvious choice for your Michigan chiropractic office!

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Everything You Need to Know About Treatment Tables

It’s safe to say that treatment tables have quietly revolutionized a wide range of medical practices. They make a wide range of treatments more practical, more precise, and even safer. And if you’re searching for treatment tables in the Detroit metro area and throughout southeast Michigan, Great Lakes Imaging is here to help.

What are Treatment Tables, and Who Uses Them?

Exam tables and ADA-accessible exam chairs usually have a degree of height and angle adjustment for patient comfort and practitioner access. They also typically come with extensive storage for tools and instruments, cleaning supplies, and other things that may be necessary for the course of an examination. Their versatility means they’re used in a wide number of settings, and they’re especially useful in multidisciplinary practices.

A treatment table is a simplified form of an exam table. Most often used by masseurs, or alongside physical therapy equipment, and in fields like chiropractic and sports medicine, they feature some of the same features as exam tables (upholstery that is easily cleaned, a degree of adjustability), but their purpose allows for a degree of simplicity.

Treatment Table Features

No matter the professional or the setting in which they are used, treatment tables share several standard and optional features in common. Carefully consider the needs of your practice, and if you need assistance finding the best solutions, contact Great Lakes Imaging to take advantage of our custom medical equipment services.

  • Padding for comfort
  • Height adjustability for optimal treatment, safe ingress and egress, and even patient transfer
  • Locking mechanisms that ensure the table’s sections remain in place
  • Adjustable sections for precise patient positioning
  • A contoured opening for the face and nose that allows for comfort and easy breathing
  • Customization choices, ranging from upholstery types and colors to electric or manual mechanisms, to different storage and portability solutions

Treatment Table Types

Your patients come to you with a variety of needs, and in all shapes and sizes. Shouldn’t your treatment table?

Basic Treatment Tables

Light, durable, and cost-effective, basic treatment tables are a key player in many practices. From our Classic Wood Treatment Table, with its range of customization options, to our metal-framed Aluma Elite treatment table, it’s easy to find the perfect fit.

Elevating Treatment Tables

Elevating treatment tables like the ME-2002 Elevating Table have their own built-in advantage. Because they are height-adjustable, they reduce strain on the practitioner. They’re also far more accessible for patients who may be disabled or suffering limited mobility due to pain and stiffness.

Wall Mount Treatment Tables

When space is at a premium, you may not always have the space for a dedicated treatment area. You may also wish to have a spare table located near your imaging suite or in another part of your practice when it makes sense to do so. A wall-mounted treatment table gives you an on-demand treatment space but stays tucked away when not in use so it’s not in the way.

Bariatric Treatment Tables

Our bariatric treatment tables are specifically designed for heavier patients. Wider, with a reinforced structure and thicker padding, provides better weight and pressure distribution. As a result, these are safer and more comfortable for heavier patients, as they are capable of accommodating weights of 500 to 1,000 pounds.

Chiropractic Equipment

While some treatment tables can be used successfully in chiropractic offices, it’s worth mentioning that the standard treatment table will not incorporate many of the features—traction, tilt, and drop functions among them—that are part of the chiropractor’s stock in trade. Fear not; we have an equally diverse selection of chiropractic tables and equipment available.

Treatment Tables and Therapy Solutions in the Detroit Area

Beyond medical imaging solutions and medical equipment installation, Great Lakes Imaging is trusted because we offer a range of support services, from design services to treatment table repair and maintenance, that keep your practice firing on all cylinders. Contact us today for more information or a consultation.

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What is VitalStim Therapy?

vitastim equipment

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, affects more people than you may realize. The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders estimates that one in 25 people of all ages will experience some form of swallowing disorder in their lifetimes, a number that rises to 22% in adults over age 50*. With a greater understanding of the causes of swallowing disorders has come advances in treatment. One of the most promising is VitalStim therapy. Available from Great Lakes Imaging, VitalStim is, to date, the only FDA-cleared medical device for dysphagia treatment.

How VitalStim Therapy Works

VitalStim belongs to a class of physical therapy equipment that relies on neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The same benefits make NMES useful in sports medicine, physical therapy, and even alongside chiropractic equipment. The ability to help regenerate and maintain muscle tissue, and a precise degree of targeted electrical stimulus, makes VitalStim a particularly effective dysphagia treatment.

The central nervous system already uses electrical impulses to initiate voluntary and involuntary muscle activity. In all its forms, NMES can either mimic, supplement, or even take the place of those signals. In VitalStim, those impulses help to build strength, allowing in turn for the kinds of muscle training and restoration of muscle memory that can improve or restore function for those suffering from dysphagia. With the ability to deliver electrical stimulation on as many as four channels simultaneously, and available settings for sequencing, duration, and frequency (helped along by sEMG biofeedback), VitalStim treatment is easy to customize. And with BlueTooth connectivity, custom software, and an extensive knowledge base, it’s even easier for treatment to evolve with the patient’s condition.

Causes of Dysphagia

Swallowing is a three-part process. In the first (oral) phase, chewing manipulates food. In the second (pharyngeal) phase, muscles divert the swallowed liquid or semi-solid toward the esophagus and away from the trachea. In the final, or esophageal, phase, what is swallowed is guided along the esophagus to the stomach.

Dysphagia is an interruption, via partial or full paralysis, of one or more parts of that process. Symptoms may range from mild discomfort when swallowing to a full paralysis wherein swallowing is impossible. Underlying causes are equally varied, with some dysphagia being temporary (as is common after the use of a breathing tube) or having varying degrees of severity due to surgical side effects, stroke and traumatic brain injury, or degenerative disorders like ALS or Parkinson’s.

VitalStim Compared to Other Dysphagia Treatments

VitalStim treatment is generally a complement to other dysphagia treatments rather than a replacement. The restoration of muscle tone and function is a gradual process, with treatment determined in no small part by goals, treatment outcomes, and individual patients’ underlying pathologies. For this reason, NMES is best viewed in the context of a broader treatment plan drawn up by an SLP and implemented by the patient’s general practitioner, and specialists like a neurologist and the physical therapist who is responsible for administering VitalStim therapy.

VitalStim NMES Equipment in the Detroit Area

As with any treatment, the more tools a practice has at its disposal, the more treatment options it can offer its patients — and the better its chances of improving treatment outcomes. For more information on VitalStim, get in touch with Great Lakes Imaging for help tailoring this and other medical equipment to your practice.

*National Foundation for Swallowing Disorders, Deciphering Dysphagia

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How to Start a Podiatry Practice in the Detroit Area

Podiatry Equipment Supplier

Whether you’re just out of medical school, chafing at the prospect of more time in a physicians’ group, or considering stepping out from your mentor’s shadow, the idea of starting a podiatry practice is enticing. But it also comes with several questions: how much does it cost to buy a podiatry practice? Or should you start from scratch instead? And in either case, what comes next? Since we’d like to see you succeed, Great Lakes Imaging has some simple pointers so you start on the right foot, from planning to sourcing the best podiatry equipment in Southeast Michigan.

Cost to Start a Podiatry Practice

Two caveats should be established upfront: first, the expenses listed below will, in many cases, apply to both new and legacy podiatry offices. Second, because costs can vary even within different neighborhoods in a city, to say nothing of variations between counties and states, what follows will be more of a checklist than a detailed by-the-numbers breakdown.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s dive in.

Podiatry Practice Startup Costs

Your first question is your location, from which will stem the decision to rent, lease, or purchase a space for your new podiatry office. This can be as simple as sharing space within a physicians’ group, or the decision to find a space that is solely your own. In the latter case, you will need to account for demolition and construction if space requires customization. In either case, you will need to account for your costs for new podiatry equipment (which can be offset by purchasing used podiatry equipment instead) and for medical equipment installation.

Podiatry Practice Ongoing Expenses

Since most operating expenses are recurring instead of one-time, here’s where our list gets much longer. Your monthly revenue must account for each of the following:

  • Student loans
  • Payroll for yourself and your support staff, including assistants, a receptionist/office manager, and a biller
  • Ongoing costs related to real estate, including rent, property taxes, and property maintenance
  • Utilities, including electric, internet, and phone or VoIP
  • Podiatry supplies
  • Podiatry equipment maintenance
  • Office and janitorial equipment and supplies
  • Software (diagnostics, billing, and EMR)
  • Insurance, including malpractice, liability, group health and life, workers compensation, and overhead insurance
  • Marketing
  • Collections and billing
  • Professional dues
  • Fees for licensing and hospital privileges
  • Continuing education
  • Phone and utilities
  • Travel and transportation
  • Legal and accounting
  • Lab fees

Cost to Buy a Podiatry Practice

On paper, this will seem like the more expensive option, since the cost to buy an existing podiatry practice runs between six and seven digits in many areas, with established practices in desirable areas commanding high premiums. If you started in a partnership, you may well balk at the cost of a prospective buy-out.

But it’s important to consider the perks against those costs. After all, an established practice comes with several benefits attached. There’s an established clientele, which means your marketing spend is likely to be lower, and your trust in the community higher. The infrastructure and medical equipment you need is already in place, and while pieces may need maintenance, or may be replaced as they either age out or are supplanted by more advanced technology, there are significant savings here as well. And it’s worth remembering that market forces aren’t what they were a decade or two ago; “brand” loyalty counts for less since more and more patients are simply going where their insurance leads (or permits) them to go.

Podiatry Equipment and Supplies Near Detroit

There is, obviously, no one-size-fits-all answer; each individual’s needs, goals, finances, and risk tolerance will be different. There is, however, one constant: if your journey starts with Great Lakes Imaging, we’ll be alongside you each step of the way with podiatry equipment and supplies, maintenance and repairs, and valuable advice. Get in touch today!

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Three Methods Chiropractors Use to Treat Back Pain

Stiff necks, sciatica, slipped and herniated discs, whiplash… chiropractors have seen and treated it all, giving their patients much-needed and very welcome pain relief and a return to normal life in the process. But not every condition will respond to the same types of treatment, which is why a good chiropractor evaluates the patient and their needs, and only then moves on to choosing the type of adjustment and chiropractic equipment near Detroit that they will use.

Chiropractic Treatment Methods

There are multiple adjustment styles within chiropractic but boiled down to their essentials each chiropractor’s approach addresses three key areas regardless of the techniques used.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is what the layperson most often associates with chiropractic care. Here, the patient’s joints are manually manipulated, either on an adjusting table or a traction table. In this way, the patient’s joints can be stretched and mobilized, easing pain and also alleviating stress on surrounding musculature.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Having mentioned muscle pain and stress, we would be remiss if we didn’t also discuss how chiropractic adjustment addresses it. The application of heat (to promote flexibility and relieve pain), cold (to prevent swelling and inflammation), and even cutting-edge treatments like cold lasers is often undertaken in tandem with a regimen of stretches, trigger point therapy, and even multiple forms of instrument-assisted therapy. Some chiropractors’ offices will make use of what’s generally considered equipment for physical therapy alongside traditional chiropractic equipment.

Exercise Therapy and Self-Management

In some ways, the chiropractor’s craft overlaps with physical and occupational therapy. After all, s/he is often attempting to help patients restore range of motion, as well as strength lost to atrophy, or imbalances that occur when pain or misalignment cause patients to favor one side of the body, or one muscle group, over another. So from tips for good posture to exercises a patient can do between visits, a good chiropractor gives the patient tools to aid in their recovery and continued well-being.

Chiropractic Diagnostic Equipment

Of course, a personalized treatment plan relies on a full understanding of the patient’s condition. This cannot always be ascertained through palpation or range of motion exercises. Therefore, chiropractic diagnostic equipment is a necessity for the modern chiropractor’s office to ensure the right methods are being applied.

Treating Chiropractic Practices’ Pain Points

Just as maintenance is necessary for patients to remain pain-free*, chiropractic equipment maintenance will save your practice no small number of headaches. That’s why Great Lakes Imaging offers on-site and off-site repairs and maintenance to minimize downtime. That ensures you’re always ready to give your patients your best, so they can return to their best. For help with all of your chiropractic equipment needs, we invite you to get in touch for individual assistance.

*Senna, MK, Machaly SA, “Does maintained spinal manipulation therapy for chronic nonspecific low back pain result in better long-term outcome?” Spine 36(18):1427-1437 (2011).

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What Equipment Does a Chiropractor Use?

chiropractic table

Chiropractic medicine has relied on many of the same principles since it first emerged a little more than a century ago. But changing times have brought new equipment to the chiropractic arsenal, giving even more options to relieve patients’ discomfort, pain, and loss of mobility. And many chiropractors turn to Great Lakes Imaging when it’s time for new chiropractic equipment in the Detroit area and beyond.

Key Chiropractic Equipment

Your office may take advantage of any number of devices, from the simple (like a hydro collator) to the complex (cold lasers, electrical muscular stimulation, and a variety of activator adjusting tools). For all the variables, three essentials should be found in nearly every chiropractor’s office.

Chiropractic Imaging Equipment

Chiropractic treatment is most effective when it’s tailored to the patient. To that end, medical imaging equipment has a key part to play in your practice. From digital chiropractic imaging equipment backed by cutting-edge software to chiropractic x-ray systems that can provide full spinal imaging or more targeted views, we carry solutions that help you customize care.

Chiropractic Adjusting Tables

A chiropractic adjusting table is the backbone of most chiropractic offices. With the ability to articulate, and offer either manual or mechanical adjustment settings, no chiropractic practice can go without this vital piece of equipment. We offer stationary, portable, and HYLO models that fit any adjustment method.

Decompression and Traction Tables

A spinal disc that is deteriorating, bulging, or herniated can cause excruciating pain, and may not respond well initially to traditional types of adjustment. That’s why, like many of our clients, we offer a range of decompression and traction tables, including models available with advanced accessory packages for precise, mechanically-applied, traction.

Going Beyond Chiropractic Equipment Sales

Of course, purchasing chiropractic equipment and supplies is just the first step to outfitting your office. With real estate at a premium, many of our clients are trying to make the most of small spaces. That’s why we offer custom medical equipment solutions, as well as professional chiropractic equipment installation in the Detroit area.

But there’s something else that’s just as important as purchasing and properly installing the right equipment. Here’s a hint: it’s something you probably suggest to each of your patients. That, of course, would be maintained so that painful breakdowns don’t come as often. We offer on-site chiropractic equipment maintenance and repairs wherever possible to minimize disruptions, as well as an in-house repair facility that fixes and reconditions equipment to like-new condition.

Other Equipment and Supplies

There are, of course, other tools in your kit, including things you may suggest to your patients so they can care for themselves between visits. TENS units, resistance bands, cervical pillows, Biofreeze… the possibilities are as varied as the practices we’ve helped over the years, and some can even represent supplemental revenue streams for your practice.

Chiropractic Equipment You Need, From a Company You Can Trust

Great Lakes Imaging backs each product we sell with our decades of experience, expert service, and personalized care. Get in touch today for questions, consultations, and orders.

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Tips for Purchasing Medical Equipment

For three decades, Great Lakes Imaging has catered to the diagnostic and medical equipment sales needs of a wide range of medical practices, including veterinary medicine, podiatrists, chiropractors, and more. Based on that experience, here are some particularly useful tips for purchasing medical equipment in Michigan.

Purchasing Tips for Doctor’s Offices

Small offices pose a few unique challenges of their own. Because you may be the sole doctor on-site, you may have a smaller office with fewer treatment rooms; that, in turn, creates space constraints that make careful design and implementation especially important. After all, your chiropractic adjusting tables, a gynecological practice’s ultrasound machines, or imaging equipment for podiatry is vital to your practice, but square footage is at a premium. Great Lakes Imaging provides custom medical equipment solutions for precisely this reason.

Purchasing Tips for Clinics

Clinics take many forms, from fixed operations that are pillars of their communities to pop-up clinics that are highly mobile to provide coverage to underserved communities. Because more functions are typically handled in-house (including diagnostics, some degree of testing, and treatment from specialists), a more diverse range of equipment is often required that may not find use in a GP’s office; what’s more, popup and mobile clinics may require mobile x-ray equipment and diagnostics.

Purchasing Tips for Hospitals

Hospitals, especially those operating as nonprofits, have complex procurement processes that can be further complicated by grant requirements and other forms of outside funding that come with strings attached. As with any other purchase, ensure that all relevant stakeholders are looped in and that any bidding processes are followed to the letter.

General Advice for Purchasing Medical Equipment

Now that we’ve gotten the specifics out of the way, let’s look at general advice that can apply to nearly any medical practice.

  • Understand your patients and their needs before you do anything else; ask yourself what the equipment you’re buying will do for your practice and those you serve.
  • Budget carefully, considering your finance options and alternatives like used medical equipment to protect your working capital.
  • Plan your workflow, since new equipment brings with it changes that ripple into other parts of your practice (often for the better)!
  • If you’re adding equipment that you didn’t have before, plan your space, too. Don’t forget that diagnostic equipment requires x-ray shielding, peripherals, and other ancillary equipment that takes up space of its own.
  • Ensure that you comply with local building codes and health department regulations.
  • Plan the delivery process, from shipping to medical equipment installation; this is especially important when you’re replacing existing equipment, or seeking to minimize patient discomfort and disruption to your practice.
  • Inspect and test the equipment to be sure it’s working properly.
  • Maintain your equipment to ensure accurate and reliable performance; Great Lakes Imaging performs most services on-site to minimize downtime and is capable of handling major medical equipment repairs off-site in our facility.

Medical Equipment in Southeast Michigan

One last tip: get help with each step in the process. That’s especially important for newer practices, or for those just beginning to get a handle on purchasing and procurement, where getting new medical equipment can be intimidating. The help you need is as close as your next call or email to Great Lakes Imaging. We’re happy to consult on your needs and provide you with solutions that fit your practice to a “T.”