Critical Care Solutions: Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Facility

01-13-2026

Blog Innovation Card Component PC 894 x 566 - 01-critical-care-solutions-894x566

Choosing healthcare equipment for critical care settings like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Operating Room (OR), and Emergency Department (ED) is an important decision. Your selection can have a significant impact on patient outcomes and clinical workflows. For example, choosing appropriate patient monitors can help clinicians detect deterioration early and initiate timely interventions.

With over 6,500 medical technology companies in the United States, quickly finding and selecting a suitable vendor can be challenging. Narrowing your equipment options from thousands of available devices is yet another challenge. We'll help you determine essential criteria to select new equipment efficiently. The following steps show you how to choose critical care equipment for your hospital's needs.

1. Conduct a Needs Assessment

Equipment procurement begins with a needs assessment. In general, this process involves asking questions such as:

What solutions do your critical care units already have, and what condition are they in?
What additional solutions are needed?
What purpose and patient population must this solution serve?
What are current and projected patient volumes?
How many healthcare providers will use the equipment?
What user preferences do clinicians have for specific critical care solutions?
What goals do you hope to achieve regarding patient outcomes or workflows with the new equipment?
What parameters need to be monitored for effective monitoring and timely interventions?

Consult a multidisciplinary team of nurses, physicians, IT specialists, and other stakeholders to ensure you've considered all the essential aspects of equipment needs and use.

2. Evaluate and Compare Devices

Once you've defined what is required, research equipment options from different vendors. Create a list of product criteria so you can compare different devices. Depending on your facility's needs, you may want to analyze the following factors when comparing devices:

Built-in safety features
Performance capabilities and requirements
Usability and ergonomic features
Interoperability
Technical specifications, including components, parameters, and user interfaces
AI integrations and algorithms
Training and service requirements
Disinfection and maintenance needs
Customization settings
Portability, if needed
Component configurations, dimensions, and complexity
Accessories, modules, or consumables required for full functioning
Installation requirements

Product Teaser B Swiper Component 1290x725 - 02-leverage-the-expertise-of-your-hospitals-it-1290x725

Leverage the expertise of your hospital's IT and biomedical engineering teams to assist with assessing and comparing different devices.

3. Analyze the Total Cost of Ownership

A significant financial investment upfront can translate to cost savings over time if the solution is high-quality, user-friendly, and paired with ongoing support. That's why it's important to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) before making a purchase.

Determining a device's TCO will help you understand the cost of purchasing, using, and maintaining the solution throughout its lifespan. TCO takes many factors into account, including:

The product purchase price and all costs directly related to equipment operation and maintenance, like installation, training, software upgrades, and service contracts
Maintenance costs, such as those related to managing equipment inventory and consumables
Productivity-related costs, like time and resources saved from automated workflows

The equipment supplier should provide adequate information to enable a comprehensive TCO analysis.

4. Evaluate the Vendor and After-Sales Support

Selecting a reliable vendor is crucial in equipment procurement to ensure timely delivery of critical care solutions. You also want to partner with a company that offers responsive and ongoing support so your team can operate the equipment effectively.

Ask the following questions when evaluating a vendor:

What is their response time?
Do they provide 24/7 technical support?
Do they offer equipment-related training and educational resources?
What does the product's warranty cover?
What is the cost of a service contract, and what does it include?
What is their approach to data security and privacy?
How do they manage software upgrades?
Can they provide proof of compliance with key standards and regulations?
Can they provide conformance statements to verify the device's interoperability?

You'll also want to review the supplier's reputation, history, case studies, and customer testimonials to get a more complete picture of what your partnership may look like.

5. Ask for an Equipment Demo and Trial

Before finalizing an equipment purchase, it's important to experience the device firsthand. While a product demo is often the first step to understanding a device's features and functionality, you likely want to see how the equipment works in real-world scenarios.

Ask the supplier about options for interacting with the equipment hands-on. If you can test the equipment in simulated critical care experiences, you can assess how clinicians will perform under pressure using the device. When testing the equipment, consider its ability to transmit data to your EMR. Be sure to ask clinicians for their feedback on its ergonomics, workflow features, and alarm management capabilities, if applicable.

Mindray North America's Critical Care Equipment

At Mindray, we understand the many challenges associated with equipment procurement. As a medical technology company with a partnership-focused approach, we'll take time to understand your clinical and operational needs, helping make procurement a seamless process.

Our innovative solutions for critical care settings include the following:

High Acuity Patient Monitors

Equip your clinicians with the tools to detect patient deterioration early. BeneVision N-Series Patient Monitors enable continuous monitoring of vital signs and advanced parameters in critically ill patients. Featuring intuitive interfaces, versatile viewing angles, and configurable quick keys, our high acuity patient monitors simplify clinical workflows and facilitate quick access to patient data.

Centralized Monitoring Solutions

Gain a comprehensive, centralized view of patient data across your critical care units with the BeneVision Distributed Monitoring System (DMS). BeneVision DMS integrates data from networked devices, including bedside monitors, transport monitors, and anesthesia workstations, and displays information in a customizable view. With BeneVision DMS, clinicians can stay informed of patient conditions from a single source in real-time.

Anesthesia Workstations

Our advanced anesthesia workstations were developed to support clinical workflows in complex cases. For example, the A9 Anesthesia Workstation features an innovative volume exchanger (VE) system, which delivers precise ventilation to help protect patient safety.

An integrated high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) allows clinicians to efficiently intubate critically ill patients and maintain oxygen saturation levels. A capacitive touchscreen monitor and automatic system checks enhance usability and workflow speed.

Point of Care Ultrasound Systems

Reduce the need for multiple intrahospital transports and perform scans right at the bedside with Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) solutions. Our comprehensive portfolio of leading-edge POCUS solutions supports rapid diagnoses and streamlined workflows.

The TE Air Wireless Handheld Ultrasound, for example, can fit into a scrub pocket and be used with a mobile app — ideal for on-the-go applications in fast-paced environments.

Why Trust Mindray for Your Hospital's Critical Care Technology?

For more than 30 years, Mindray has been committed to our mission: advance medical technologies to make healthcare more accessible. As a vertically integrated company, we control product development, manufacturing, sales, and after-sale support, allowing us to ensure consistent quality. With 24/7 technical support and a focus on building lasting, collaborative relationships, we're committed to being your partner in delivering quality patient care.

Begin Your Search for Critical Care Equipment With Mindray

Selecting medical equipment for your hospital's critical care units must be a careful decision-making process — especially with patient outcomes and operational efficiency on the line. Mindray is your partner for quality critical care solutions and dedicated support.

Let our team help you find solutions that are optimized for your clinical and operational needs. Contact us today to start the conversation.