Why do they say “it costs the hospital to use the machine” when the hospital owns the machine?

Question

It always confused me. A hospital has an MRI or some other machine, and you hear they try to use it as little as possible to cut costs, because it costs them this or that amount per usage. But why would that be if they own it?

In: 379

Answer 1

Perhaps it’s still being paid for, operation costs include things like capable staff, repairs, electricity etc. then there is a return on investment equation in there somewhere I’m sure that dictates what is a good use of the machines time and what isn’t.