TITLE
Title
PURCHASE OF STRYKER CARDIAC MONITORS
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Jim Albright / Fran Cameron
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BACKGROUND
Background
Need for Replacement
Current cardiac monitors were originally purchased in 2012 with an anticipated useful life of seven to ten years. We refreshed a portion of the equipment in FY22 to allow a low-cost option to defer a full replacement of a key piece of advanced life support/paramedic equipment. These cardiac monitors are multi-functional and do the following functions: Monitor cardiac rhythms, provide 12 lead ECG’s, provide defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion, demand and fixed external pacing, pulse oximetry, end tidal CO2, and blood pressure.
Purchase from SourceWell Group Purchasing
Pricing was obtained from the SourceWell buying collaborative, which allowed for discounting of 8-40%.
Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings
For decades, we have relied on Stryker for our cardiac monitoring needs. Their service team has provided exceptional support, offering timely preventative maintenance and quick repairs. This strong relationship ensures minimal downtime for this critical equipment, as well as extended life for the devices that have allowed us to defer replacement until now.
The new Lifepak 35 model offers a user interface that is very similar to our current Lifepak 15 fleet. This familiarity will result in several key advantages:
Minimized Training Costs: A seamless transition will reduce the need for extensive, time-consuming and costly training for our staff.
Reduced Onboarding Expenses: Many of our existing accessories are compatible with the new monitors, which will significantly lower our initial purchasing costs outside of the capital purchase.
Stryker Trade In Allowance: Existing equipment will be traded in for a credit against the purchase (#382,000).
Multi-year Maintenance: The equipment comes with a one-year factory warranty, and Stryker has provided fixed pricing for five-year additional years of annual maintenance, payable in annual installments. This provides six years of coverage on the equipment, and we benefit from the discounting allowed under the capital purchase. 65 devices x 60 months x $7,675.50 = $498,907.50 total OR $99,781.50 per annum beginning in FY27.
LifeNet integration: his allows the existing infrastructure at the local hospitals to receive critical cardiac information to be transmitted using the LifeNet system and integration with the existing EMS patient care reporting system. For the first six years, this connectivity is also fixed and discounted per the capital purchase at 72 months x $6,986.70 = $41,920.20 total or annual installments of $6,986.70 per annum beginning in FY26.
Enhanced Patient and Safety
The most critical reason for staying with Stryker is patient safety. A familiar user interface is essential for our providers, who must be able to operate this equipment with speed and confidence during life-threatening emergencies.
The muscle memory and familiarity with the Stryker interface will save precious seconds when administering lifesaving interventions. This allows our providers to focus on delivering the highest possible level of care without the added stress of learning a new system. Transitioning to a different brand would introduce a steeper learning curve, which could jeopardize a provider's response time and, in turn, patient outcomes.
Choosing the Stryker Lifepak 35 is not just an operational decision; it is a strategic choice that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the citizens and visitors of Guilford County. Funding is included in the FY26 budget for installment financing of the purchase of replacement cardiac monitors.
Equipment Purchase
The purchase will use $676,235 of the $800,000 in the FY26 EMS budget that was originally intended for a debt service payment this year to cover a portion of the equipment purchase and $123,765 for the maintenance and data pieces of the Stryker proposal. The balance of the equipment will be purchased using installment financing through a selected financial institution, with the first debt service payment anticipated for November 2026. The use of existing budget reduces our overall debt requirement for the purchase and the corresponding debt services on the issue.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
General Fund
Authorize transfer of $676,235 in budgeted funds from Emergency Services to the County Building Construction.
County Building Construction Fund
EMS Equipment Replacement (Adopt)
$2,820,272 appropriation to capital project
$2,144,037 in Other Revenue (Installment Financing)
$676,235 in Transfer from Other Funds (General Fund)
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
1. Adopt a capital project ordinance for EMS Equipment Replacement in the amount of $2,820,272 with $2,144,037 in Other Revenue (Installment Financing) and $676,235 in Transfers from Other Funds (General Fund) for the purchase of sixty-five (65) Stryker Medical Lifepak 35 multi-parameter cardiac monitors and accessories purchased and;
2. Authorize a transfer from the General Fund to the County Building Construction Fund in the amount of $676,235.
3. Approve purchase of 65 multi-parameter cardiac monitors plus accessories, as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) from Stryker Sales LLC, through Sourcewell cooperative contract #041823-STY for emergency medical equipment in the not-to-exceed amount of $2,820,272.
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