For a new CT scanner the hospital should have Legal, Radiology, Education, Physician, and Administration evaluate the contract. There should be agreements on Warranty, Service/Maintaince, Software Updates, Price, and Training. I would want specifics addressed to ensure our purchase was protected and in the best interest of the hospital. Would the warranty last the life of the product, would training services and competencies be provided, would software updates be included (even if the Electronic Medical Record software changed), is the pricing comparable to other companies? These are vital, because if a CT scanner becomes ineffective patient lives are placed at risk. For smaller hospitals that only have one, it can be disabling to a community. There has to be planning incorporated in the purchase contract that addresses these issues.
References
Pozgar, G. D., & Santucci, N. M. (2016). Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration 12th edition. Burlington, MA : Jones & Bartlett Learning .
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Pozgar (2016) describes the necessary components of a contract as it relates to goods or services. Contracts must contain an offer that outlines what each party is responsible for. The contract must also contain consideration. Consideration means each party is giving and getting something. Neither is getting something for nothing. Next, the contract must have acceptance, meaning the parties have agreed upon the terms of the contract. The entities entering into the contract must be legally competent to enter into such an agreement. Finally, the reason the parties are entering into the contract cannot be for something illegal.
In applying these elements to a contract with a vendor for a CT scanner, the contract would need to contain a description of the offer. For example, what kind of CT scanner is being purchased and what it will cost. The offer should also outline if and to what extent shipping and handling, installation, training, warranty, and preventive maintenance are included. In addition, the contract should address how long it will take for the CT scanner to be delivered. The contract for a CT scanner would meet the criteria of consideration since one entity is receiving a CT scanner and the other monetary compensation. Each entity is both losing and gaining something in return. Acceptance of the CT scanner contract must happen with signature of the person who has the authority to enter such contracts at the health care facility and the selling company. Aside from the previously mentioned necessary elements, for the contract to be valid, it must not be created for something that is illegal. In this instance purchase of a health care entity purchasing a CT scanner is not illegal.
Pozgar, G. D. (2016). Legal aspects of health care administration (12th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.