Executive Summary

Total cost of ownership (TCO) remains a leading concern for healthcare practices investing in diagnostic ultrasound equipment. The hidden costs of ownership are rarely found in the ultrasounds themselves; it’s found in their variability in service spend, unexpected downtime for repairs, and shorter-than-planned asset lifecycles that undermine return on investment. A structured warranty program reduces variability and long-term ownership costs by coupling preventive maintenance (PM) with pay-as-you-go coverage, improving uptime and forecasting accuracy while aligning with capital and operating budgets.

Evidence on Preventive Maintenance and Uptime

• A 2025 hospital study using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) found that targeted interventions and PM planning reduced ultrasound downtime by up to 40% in the first six months, boosting availability and service quality. [ijahst.org]
• Health-technology assessments consistently tie downtime to material revenue and care-delivery impact. Most major losses come from outages, reinforcing the value of risk-mitigating service plans. While ultrasound types differ, the directionality is clear: fewer failures mean fewer costly disruptions. [CDA AMC]
• Evidence shows PM reduces downtime materially, while even modest outages can carry significant opportunity costs for imaging departments. [ijahst.org]

The Leadership Problem: Variability, Not Just Cost

• Service cost variability: Traditional multi-year agreements often escalate or reset at renewal, while unexpected repairs produce budget volatility. When purchasing equipment, service, PM, and lifecycle risk should be accounted for, not just taken at the base value of the purchase price. [The World Bank Docs]
• Downtime risk: Imaging departments absorb the operational shock of outages, including schedule disruptions, backlogs, and leakage of referrals. Substantial financial impacts typically come from critical imaging downtime, underscoring the value of proactive maintenance and reliable coverage. [CDA AMC]
• Useful life vs. replacement: Manufacturer and industry sources suggest replacement horizons between 5–7 years for new ultrasounds, while equipment older than ~10 years is often considered operationally outdated, with rising maintenance risk. Strategic warranty coverage helps bridge this curve cost-effectively. [Mindray]

Why a 10-Year Warranty Construct Improves TCO Planning

Committing to a long-term, all-inclusive warranty shields healthcare practices from major, unpredictable expenses. Without such protection, repairs and replacement parts over time frequently outpace the one-time investment required for long-term coverage. More importantly, having a fixed, transparent cost structure enables better long-term financial planning for practices of any size.

For executives and clinicians, a long-term warranty is not just a cost-saving measure; it’s principles that include:

• Front-loaded coverage that mirrors OEM best practice: It’s become common to include multi-year standard coverage on new systems, anchoring the first half of the lifecycle. [Sonosite]
• Years 6–10 tied to PM, billed after service is performed: A pay-as-you-go design (coverage contingent on annual PM, invoiced post-PM) aligns expense with delivered risk-reduction, improving cash flow and accountability while preserving coverage continuity. (Model consistent with procurement/TCO best-practice emphasis on lifecycle performance and contract clarity.) [The World Bank Docs]
• OEM-agnostic support to simplify mixed fleets: Multi-brand coverage (such as GE, Philips, Siemens, Mindray, Samsung) reduces administrative friction and variance across departments and sites, especially in IDNs or multi-hospital systems. [GE HealthCare]

Save Thousands With A Long-Term Warranty Plan

Probo Medical has the industry’s first and only 10-Year Warranty. A Probo Medical 10-Year Warranty is structured to provide long-term savings for healthcare practices by providing comprehensive coverage for repairs, replacement parts, and service calls to minimize unexpected expenses and operational downtime. Probo’s warranty program utilizes two pathways based on ultrasound type, new or refurbished, throughout the ultrasound's lifespan. Both are designed to provide maximum value and control the high costs of unexpected repairs and standard service contracts.

For new ultrasounds from Probo Medical, the system price automatically includes a comprehensive 5-year warranty. For years 6 to 10, ongoing coverage costs only $1,000 per year, which covers a required annual onsite preventive maintenance (PM) visit. Payment for each additional year’s coverage is billed only after the PM visit is completed. Designed with financial flexibility in mind, the $1,000 is billed only after the PM is completed each year. Over a full decade, the total cost for a 10-year warranty on a new system is just $5,000 beyond the system purchase price. This is a small fraction of what you might pay for service on an out-of-warranty system, giving you a clear and manageable cost structure.

For refurbished ultrasound systems, the warranty pricing includes the equivalent of an average 5-year service contract, which is approximately $28,000, depending on what system type is purchased. For years 6 to 10, the cost mirrors our new system warranty: $1,000 per year, billed after each PM visit. This brings the total Probo Medical 10-year warranty cost to roughly $33,000. While this may seem like a significant upfront investment, the long-term savings are substantial. Without a Probo Medical warranty to protect you and your system, total industry-standard costs for a 10-year service contract on refurbished equipment could reach $56,000, meaning a direct savings of $23,000 by choosing a 10-year warranty.

Why Choose A Long-Term Warranty?

A long-term warranty program is a strategic investment for those looking to minimize total ownership cost for large medical equipment. A comprehensive coverage plan results in substantial long-term savings, risk reduction, and improved operational reliability. Extensive, predictable coverage is instrumental for healthcare providers aiming to optimize asset management and maintain strong patient care outcomes.

Probo Medical’s 10-Year Warranty was designed to empower medical practices to control capital expenditures, extend the service life of ultrasound equipment, and maintain exceptional standards in patient care by avoiding costly disruptions and out-of-budget repairs. Learn more about Probo Medical’s warranty options here: http://4912647321.nxcli.io/10-year-warranty/