Why do you think DaVita is purchasing Fresenius only machines?

I think it may have something to do with Gambro. Plus Fresenius is the only game in town no?

If what you say is true, my guess is that at the very least Fresenius undercut Braun on pricing. Whether it occurred or not I have no idea but Fresenius is very fond of "Purchase Agreements" whereas you buy $XX.XX worth of product (ie dialyzers) and you get a $XX.XX rebate on each of another item (ie machines).

Whatever the reason you can be sure that it was a sweetheart of a deal in order for Davita to financially support Fresenius. Its also a sure thing that it isn't because of the reliability of the machines.

Chuck

Chuck W. My statement is true. I have been told Fresenius is the Machine of choice and we have no options? I really don't understand the reasoning other than what you stated.

Fresenius machines aren't any better or worse than Gambro or Braun. I have used all 3 in my 24 years of doing this. You can find good and bad in all. Bottom line, you take care of them they will take care of you.

True good and bad in all medical devices. But why would a #2 Company have such an agreement with the #1 diaysis provider?

Eventually limits your purchasing power?

Fresenius customer service/tech support is certainly NOT #1.

Yes for the most part machines are about the same and will take take of you if you take care of them. HOWEVER, fresenius finishes dead last when it comes to clinical and technical support. Between excessive wait times for call backs, phone support staff that have no idea what to do except to start throwing expensive parts in until the problem goes away or the famous "Gee I've never heard of that happening before" their customer service is a joke.

Recently Davita has been making some strange purchasing decisions. They are starting to remind me more and more of the old Gambro. Next thing you know they will buy MarCor and have their own water treatment company!

Having dealt with Marcor for years,
the best thing that could happen to
them would be someone buying them out.
In my opinion they have become way to big
for their own good, meaning the once good
neighborly service once provided no longer
exists. As far as tech service, I agree, they are
the worst, but again in my opinion the easiest
to work on so if you cant figure it out you should not be working on it.

My post is being hijacked. I am interested in feedback on the following statement-

"Why do you think DaVita is purchasing Fresenius only machines?"

Not sure why you are surprised? Fresenius makes a quality machine and like one of the posters indicated, Fresenius probably made them a deal they couldn't refuse. FMC tells us that we have to buy from certain companies all the time even if we think they are too expensive we still have to buy from them. Big wigs making deals!!

I know there are some that would disagree on the quality end but Fresenius wouldn't be the biggist out there if they sold crap!

Fresenius machines are the easiest and cheapest machines to maintain of the 6 types I've dealt with. I'd bet on that 1.

quote:

Originally posted by Guest:
Why do you think DaVita is purchasing Fresenius only machines?

You have to go back in time for this one. Davita bought the Gambro clinics maybe 5 years ago. With that deal, came a product deal that stated they would by Gambro products for a specific time frame as long as the clinical people found them to be superior to other options. They did not find Gambro machines to be superior to FMC. Also, as someone stated, FMC does purchase agreements. Gambro and Braun don't sell concentrate in all forms. FMC does. Gambro and Braun do not have a dialyzer that is as good as FMC so another item bundled in to agreements.
Braun does not have the leverage to discount like FMC does. JMO with some facts.

About facts: Gambro or Braun do not have a dialyzer as good as FMC??? Do you have a proof of that? I would love seeing it!

"Good" = CHEAP!

I will say that the Fresenius machine is better than the Gambro but, it has a long way to go before it is anywhere near the Dialog+. The only thing Fresenius did with the K machine over the H was to put perfume on te skunk.

We currently have 74 Dialog+ machines and I just ordered 40 more last week. Of the 74, 27 of them just had their 3rd birthday and have only had a TOTAL of 9 breakdowns since 1/1/09.

Chuck