Penn Veterinary Supply, Inc. - Since 1981

 

Equipment season has arrived! While this time of year undoubtedly brings excitement and anticipation to your hospital (I mean, who doesn’t like new stuff?), making equipment decisions can be confusing, overwhelming, and downright exhausting.

There’s so much to decide…where should one even begin?

Penn Vet has been helping hospitals through equipment season for over 40 years, so as you can imagine, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to make this process run smoothly. Check out four of our best tips for making equipment season a breeze!

 

 

1. Remember to lean on your reps for support

Before you even start searching, remember that your Penn Vet reps are there for you! Literally – their job is to be there, ready to answer questions and help you make the best decisions for your practice. When in doubt, call them!

Have detailed questions about a potential purchase? Unsure of how to solve your equipment problem? See equipment that almost fits your needs, but isn’t quite right?

Call your rep. They can offer guidance about how to make the equipment in question work for your facility, or help you find even more options to choose from, all suited to your practice’s unique needs.

Don’t have a rep or don’t know who they are? You can always search PennVet.com to find product information or contact us to connect with a representative. If you submit an Equipment Inquiry Form (more details in the next section!), someone can connect with you.

 

 

2. Survey your staff’s equipment needs

To gain solid footing as you start your equipment search, it’s helpful to survey your staff’s equipment needs, wants, and/or complaints. Be sure to include all employees in this process, including front desk and back-office staff, to ensure there are no recurring issues you’re unaware of.

Click the button below to download and print a premade Staff Equipment Survey to assist with this process. (MyPennVet login required.)

 

Once the surveys have been completed, make a list of the top five most serious and/or most recurring suggestions to help you prioritize which equipment upgrades are most important to your practice.

 

>> Tip: Always keep your “top five” list on-hand as you shop to help guide your search.

 

Once you’ve gathered staff intel, we recommend submitting your findings to your Penn Vet team using the Equipment Inquiry Form linked to the button below.

 

The contents of the form go directly to your Penn Vet team so they can start hunting for personalized solutions, taking some of the searching and research pressure off your shoulders. (Remember point number one? Our reps are here to help!)

 

Even if you’re mildly interested or unsure about whether you’re ready to buy, we recommend filling out the form. Our team may be aware of product information or deals that could help you decide.

 

 

3. Now that your facility’s needs are clear, browse our 2022 Equipment Catalog or PennVet.com’s Equipment Page

 

Our 2022 Penn Connection: Equipment Edition is a great place to start browsing. In its pages, you’ll find our featured equipment for the year, as well as a small sampling of top products in every equipment category.

 

Get a physical copy of the Equipment Edition from your Penn Vet representative or browse it online by clicking the button below.

 

   

 

If something piques your interest, search its item number on PennVet.com, or give the item number to your Penn Vet representative for more information.

 

          

 

>> Tip: Most items listed on PennVet.com have detailers or other relevant product information linked at the bottom of the page.

 

If magazines aren’t your style, simply visit PennVet.com’s Equipment Page, which links to our latest featured equipment, great deals, payment options, and more.

 

 

4. Decide how to pay for your equipment

 

Deciding how to pay for equipment can be the most intimidating step in buying.

 

The best method to pay for new equipment is the one that works for you, whatever that may be. If you don’t know which method is best for you, your Penn Vet rep can help discuss some options.

 

Many hospitals opt to finance their equipment through loans or leases. After 41 years of experience serving the veterinary community, we typically recommend seeking financing through loans, not leases. We also recommend getting loans with companies who provide business loans specifically designed for veterinary and/or medical practitioners, due to the unique needs of these businesses.

 

In 2022, we began a partnership with OnePlace Capital, a company that does just that – provides business loans designed specifically for veterinary and medical practices. We partnered with them not only because they offer customers a valuable financing solution, but also because they meet our high standards of quality and service.

 

Compare the difference of loans through OnePlace Capital (OPC) vs. a lease:

Can I pay off my contract early without penalties?

• OPC: Yes, your loan may be paid off at any time with no penalties or future interest.

• Lease: If you pay off early, you must pay all future payments and remaining interest.

Do I own the equipment?

• OPC: Yes, you own the equipment from Day One.

• Lease: No, the leasing company owns the equipment.

Can I make extra payments toward principal?

• OPC: Yes, extra payments can be applied toward principal at any time, shortening your term and lowering your overall interest expense.

• Lease: Any additional funds will be applied to future scheduled payments including interest.

 

Standard bank loan terms often aren’t a great fit for veterinary practices due to the unique way in which these businesses function. Working with a loan company designed with vets in mind can offer more flexibility and payment personalization for the borrower.

 

Compare the difference of loans through OnePlace Capital (OPC) vs. a local bank:

Will this loan appear on my credit report?

• OPC: No, the loan will not appear on your personal credit report as a debt obligation.

• Bank: Yes, your loan will show as a debt obligation on your credit report.

Will there be a lien against me or my practice?

• OPC: No, we only file a security interest in the item financed.

• Bank: Most banks file a blanket lien against you and/or your business.

Can I pay off early with no penalties?

• OPC: Yes, you can make extra principal payments or pay off at any time with no penalties or future interest charges.

• Bank: In most cases, you will incur penalties for early payoff and be liable for all interest charges for the full term of your loan.

How quickly can the loan be processed?

• OPC: Within a few hours.

• Bank: Most request can take several days.

 

Get started with our partners at OnePlace Capital by clicking the button below:

 

Equipment season can be simple with our help! If you have additional questions, contact your Penn Vet representative, or visit us at PennVet.com.

 

 

Helpful Links:

Equipment Inquiry Form

Staff Equipment Survey Handout (My Penn Vet login required)

2022 Penn Connection: Equipment Edition

Penn Vet Equipment Page

Veterinary Business Loans with OnePlace Capital