September 3, 2004; Issue 3

For more see
www.bal-techmedical.com

FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE LASER TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION MAZE


BAL-TECH MEDICAL'S office and warehouse complex is located in the St. Charles Commons in St. Charles, IL. The facility is about 30 miles west of Chicago's O'Hare Airport, making it convenient for clients to visit for training or to inspect equipment. Clients also visit often for consultations that are part of the company's Cosmetic Center Development Program.

By Rich Balance
President of Bal-Tech Medical

Today's fast-moving technology-driven marketplace gives us many options to choose from in evaluating and acquiring high-tech aesthetic equipment. Sometimes too many options!

The choices increase every day as companies continue to flood the market with their "latest and greatest" must-have equipment. The aging Baby Boomer population segment (an American is turning 60 every 5 seconds) is no doubt driving manufacturers around the globe to focus on developing equipment that can empower physicians to restore the "fountain of youth" to their patients.

How do you decide which technology is appropriate for your practice? How do you determine if it is valid? Which systems will most likely have "staying power" in the American marketplace and not succumb quickly to obsolescence?

It is difficult to receive objective answers to these questions as almost everyone you encounter has some form of bias:

  • The representative from the company who has "tunnel vision" focused on his/her own products (because this is how they earn their living!)
  • The physician who is compensated to lecture for the company and may also be a shareholder.
  • A friend or colleague who may be hesitant to admit they made a purchasing mistake.

How do you work through this maze?

It's difficult, especially when trying to operate an existing practice and care for patients. Your best sources are independent physicians and consultant/brokers whom are not contractually tied to any one manufacturer and can tell you the pros and cons about the various technologies.
Make sure you ask about their experience, how many years they have been in the business and get a list of references to call. You want to make sure they are an ethical organization that actually possess the expertise advertised!

Although few such organizations exist, once you have found one you are comfortable with, they can provide you a great deal of information and research on most of the valid/proven technologies to consider. Futhermore, they should also be able to connect you with physicians and medi-spa businesses utilizing such technologies to help you make an informed, good decision.

(Many of you reading this article may already be existing BAL-TECH customers, and it is my sincere hope that you feel we were able to provide you the information, support and expertise mentioned herewithin.)

A PERFORMANCE WARRANTY THAT WORKS FOR YOU


The two-story (3,600-square-foot capacity) warehouse at BAL-TECH MEDICAL has an array of lasers awaiting shipment or inspection by service technician Lou Sliva. Clients often finalize their laser decisions after visiting the warehouse and the company's laser center, the Ultimate Image Cosmetic Rejuvenation Center.

Bal-Tech Medical clients are offered various service programs to keep their aesthetic medical equipment performing properly. Nothing is more frustrating than enduring lost revenue when a laser is not functioning properly. Bal-Tech Medical has addressed that challenge by including a Bal-Tech 12-month Preventive Maintenance Performance Warranty on all of its preowned equipment sales. Customers may opt for a different plan, or the equipment may have an existing warranty that can be transferred, but most find the preventive maintenance plan to be the perfect mechanism to ease their concerns about potential system problems, while preserving capital!

The preventive maintenance warranty guarantees that all ordered equipment will be delivered to your location performing properly upon installation and includes two preventive maintenance checkups over a 12-month period.

The program also includes Bal-Tech Medical's 1-800-574-2152 (ext. 106) technical hotline service. In addition, Bal-Tech Medical has now contracted with General Electric Medical Systems for service, and warranty support work. Bal-Tech or GEMS will arrange and schedule your specific equipment's required preventive maintenance check-up twice a year.

This preventive maintenance program includes any appropriate preventive maintenance kits, system calibration, water and filter change, optical alignments, cleaning and general diagnostic and trouble-shooting procedures.

Bal-Tech Medical provides preventive maintenance plans and emergency technical support and service at excellent rates. It is the company's philosophy to help its customers avoid the high costs associated with excessive extended warranty or unnecessary service programs.

Bal-Tech still can (and does) provide those extended warranty service plans as well. But as part of our marketing and consultation program, we often are advising clinicians or cosmetic laser center owners that a less expensive preventive maintenance plan is the best option. Our reasoning is that experience has demonstrated that we can repair most problems, even those considered "major," at far less cost than what is normally paid as an annual full-service plan fee.

Bal-Tech customers have enjoyed these savings in the past, while also benefiting from the peace of mind in knowing it is not difficult to contact our service department and receive quick advice, make arrangements for a timely service call, or to send in equipment for an annual diagnostic evaluation and cleaning. The costlier manufacturer-based service plans promise much of the same benefits, but many times can be difficult to contact or to provide quick and economical solutions to resolve problems.

It fits our company model properly to recommend saving money in the service support area as we are routinely saving our customers money with their initial purchase of quality preowned and refurbished units and disposables.

Be sure to talk to us about the best plan for your equipment, budget and business strategy. You can count on us to recommend the most economical option available, allowing you to direct your budget into other facets of your business, or your pocketbook!

  • IPL Systems - Palomar EsteLux/MediLux, ESC/Lumenis Vasculight Plus™ and Epilight™ systems

  • Laser Hair Removal - Coherent/Lumenis Lightsheer™ Diode, Laserscope Lyra, Altus Cool Glide Excel

  • Vascular/Pigmented Lesions - Laserscope Aura, Iridex Diolite

  • Leg Veins - Laserscope Lyra XP, Altus Cool Glide Excel

  • Photofacial - IPL systems -- Palomar EsteLux/MediLux, ESC/Lumenis Vasculight Plus™ and Epilight™ systems

  • Acne - Candela SmoothBeam, Palomar EsteLux/MediLux

  • Microdermabrador - Mattioli UltraPeel Crystal or Pepita

  • CO2 Laser - Luxar LX20SP NovaPulse or NovaScan

  • Ultrasound facial - SmartSound BioBlend System


  • Wavelength a key laser factor
  • A Bal-Tech success story

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How to reach us:

Bal-Tech Medical
3722 Illinois Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174

www.bal-techmedical.com

Rich Balance
President
630-513-0399
ext. 105

rich.b@bal-techmedical.com

Dave Heun
Marketing and sales
630-513-0399
ext. 102

dave.h@bal-techmedical.com

Lou Sliva
Technical support/service
630-513-0399
ext. 106

lou.s@bal-techmedical.com

Kathy Edgar
Customer service/orders
630-513-0399
ext. 100

kathy.e@bal-techmedical.com

Theresa Shoaff
Accounting/billing
630-513-0399
ext. 104

theresa.s@bal-techmedical.com

Bal-Tech Medical
Questions and Orders 800-574-2152
email: bal-tech@bal-techmedical.com

Copyright 2006 Bal-Tech Medical