The device placement model, common in the medical sector, involves the company retaining ownership of the device while the hospital or clinic uses it in exchange for purchasing consumables. Dialysis machines, laboratory analyzers, imaging systems, endoscopy equipment, and surgical instruments all operate under this model — used by over 25 medical companies in Turkey.
The returns are significant, but so is the operational complexity. Which device is at which hospital? When does the rental period expire? Is consumable sales volume covering device costs? When is maintenance due? If the answers to these questions are buried in paper records or Excel spreadsheets, the company faces serious profitability risk.
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Operational Challenges of the Placement Model
### 1. Device Inventory and Location Tracking
For medical companies working with dozens of hospitals and clinics, the most fundamental challenge is knowing where each device is.
Serial number, model, placement date, warranty status, and full service history must all be visible from a single point. When a device is transferred from one hospital to another, the move is immediately recorded and location data stays current.
In FieldCo, a digital ID card is created for each device:
- Serial number and model information
- Placed institution and location
- Placement date and contract period
- Last maintenance date and next scheduled service
- Consumable consumption history
- Total revenue / cost summary
### 2. Rental and Contract Period Tracking
In the placement model, the device's stay at the hospital is typically tied to a specific contract. When contract expiry dates are missed, the company either cannot retrieve its device on time or renewal negotiations are delayed.
FieldCo's automated alert system:
- Sends notifications to the relevant sales or field team 60, 30, and 7 days before contract expiry
- When renewed, the new end date is updated with a single click
- Expired contracts are immediately reported
### 3. Consumable Consumption and Profitability
The essence of the placement model: the device is placed, revenue comes from consumables. This means the balance between consumable consumption and device cost determines whether the company profits from that device.
If a dialysis machine's monthly maintenance cost is ₺8,000 and monthly consumable sales from that hospital total ₺15,000, the device is profitable. But if sales drop to ₺5,000, keeping the device at that location becomes a cost center.
Tracking this balance manually is impossible. FieldCo automates this calculation:
| Device | Location | Monthly Cost | Monthly Consumable Revenue | Profitability |
|--------|----------|-------------|---------------------------|---------------|
| Analyzer A | Hospital X | ₺12,000 | ₺28,500 | ✅ +₺16,500 |
| Analyzer B | Clinic Y | ₺12,000 | ₺9,200 | ❌ -₺2,800 |
| Dialysis C | Hospital Z | ₺8,500 | ₺22,000 | ✅ +₺13,500 |
This table is automatically generated weekly or monthly. Management sees which devices should be retrieved and which should be transferred to higher-performing locations — all backed by data.
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## Maintenance and Calibration Tracking
Medical devices require regular maintenance and calibration in accordance with national regulations, manufacturer standards, and patient safety requirements. Missing these schedules creates both legal risk and shortens device lifespan.
FieldCo's periodic maintenance module:
- Different maintenance intervals per device (3 months, 6 months, annually)
- Automated notifications to field teams and management as maintenance approaches
- Technicians complete service forms via mobile app on-site
- Parts and consumables used are entered and deducted from stock automatically
- Hospital technical staff provides digital approval after service
- Full maintenance history stored in the device ID card
Calibration certificates are uploaded and digitally archived. During audits, all documentation can be presented from a single screen.
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## Key Reports for Management Decision-Making
Device Profitability Report
Total costs (maintenance, technician, parts, transport) vs. total consumable revenue since placement. Lifetime profitability per device.
Location Performance Report
Which hospital or clinic generates the highest consumable consumption? Which locations fall below target?
Maintenance Compliance Report
What percentage of scheduled maintenance was completed on time? Where are delays concentrated?
Technician Performance Report
Average response time, first-visit resolution rate, cost per service call.
Contract Status Report
Active contracts, expiry dates, renewal rates, and expired agreements.
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## Conclusion
The medical device placement model, when managed correctly, is a high-margin and sustainable business model. But maintaining profitability requires knowing where every device is, monitoring consumable consumption in real time, identifying underperforming locations early, and coordinating field teams efficiently.
FieldCo enables 25+ medical companies in Turkey to manage this operation digitally.
[Explore FieldCo's medical sector solutions →](/en/sektorler/medikal)