Q: As various healthcare organizations across the United States purchase and upgrade to the latest technologically advanced pieces of electronic medical equipment, what happens to the still functional, yet outdated pieces?

A. Many organizations are now donating the equipment to other healthcare organizations, charities, or even other countries that are in need of refurbished medical equipment to help deliver adequate medical attention and relief to those less fortunate due to poverty, natural disasters, or war-torn countries.

If you or your organization is considering a donation, you may want to consider the following Five Donating Tips:

1. Make sure the electronic medical equipment is in good working condition. The equipment may be outdated for your organization; but as long as it is still functional, the donated pieces will serve a great purpose to another healthcare organization or charity in need. Note: some organizations and charities provide maintenance and repair services depending on the make, model, and manufacturer.

2. Decide what healthcare organization or charity you prefer to donate your electronic medical equipment. To help narrow down your choices, ask yourself a few simple questions: Was there a recent natural disaster in the US or other country where relief victims need serious medical attention?; Do you prefer to stay local to benefit your own community, as well as save on transportation costs?; Is there a specific charity or organization that resonates with you on a profound level?

3. If you still have trouble deciding where to donate the medical equipment in question, there are several charities that will accept the functional equipment and they will decide where to place each piece based on need. The American Medical Resources Foundation (www.amrf.com) charges a small fee to collect, test, refurbish (if needed), store, and ship donated medical equipment. According to the AMRF website, they have donated free medical equipment to 190 hospitals in 90 countries valued at over $200M. PROJECT C.U.R.E. (www.projectcure.org) stands for PROJECT Commission on Urgent Relief & Equipment. According to the PROJECT C.U.R.E. website, they have delivered medical relief by providing medical equipment and supplies that help build sustainable healthcare infrastructures in over 120 countries. MedShare (www.medshare.org) collects surplus medical equipment and supplies then redistributes them to qualified healthcare facilities in 86 different countries. According to the MedShare website, they also outfit medical missions and safety net clinics in the United States and abroad. For more information on the charities listed above, please visit their respective websites. They are just to name a few; more similar charities can be found by doing a simple search on the Internet.

4. Once the recipient is chosen, review their guidelines for making medical equipment donations. Many organizations will provide such information on their website. Call or email them with any questions. They will be more than happy to help you since you are helping them.

5. Be sure to keep all receipts and paperwork for your tax records. Each piece of equipment donated should have its own file and corresponding paperwork. Not only are you helping those in need of medical attention, your donation is a tax write-off. Please consult your tax accountant for specific details.

Have you or your organization recently donated used medical equipment? We would like to hear about where you donated and your experience through the whole process.