The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a nationwide public outreach campaign – including a letter to doctors and a new public service announcement – to raise awareness about the preventive benefits now covered at no charge to Medicare beneficiaries as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The campaign will run throughout the summer, with online ads and community events all over the country starting in July. As part of the Share the News, Share the Health campaign, CMS recently upgraded its dedicated caregivers’ website Ask Medicare, including a link to prevention information for caregivers’ reference.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/cms/49739/
Roche announced today the U.S. introduction of the cobas b 123 POC system, a mobile blood gas analyzer designed for hospital point of care settings. The system’s next-generation technology helps ensure reliable performance by virtually eliminating the introduction of blood clots that can contribute to analyzer downtime and negatively impact patient care.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to https://www.multivu.com/mnr/57116-roche-cobas-b-123-poc-system-mobile-blood-gas-analyzer-hospital-technology
New research has revealed that the use of Antimicrobial Copper surfaces in hospital rooms can reduce the number of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) by 58% as compared to patients treated in Intensive Care Units with non-copper touch surfaces. In the United States, 1 out of every 20 hospital patients develops an HAI, resulting in an estimated 100,000 deaths per year. Although numerous strategies have been developed to decrease these infections, Antimicrobial Copper is the only strategy that works continuously, has been scientifically proven to be effective and doesn’t depend on human behavior, according to a recently published study in the SHEA Journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61120-antimicrobial-copper-surfaces-reduce-healthcare-acquired-infections
Each year, 40 percent of all injury-related emergency room visits and 42 percent of all injury-related deaths happen between May and August.* Additionally, one in four children ages 14 and younger will sustain an injury that requires medical attention. The good news is that most of these injuries are preventable with education and simple precautions.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7141051-shriners-hospital-for-children-nascar-david-ragan-summer-safety
A level IV trauma center in Washington State has installed copper components throughout its facility as another way of reducing hospital-acquired infections and keeping their patients safe.
Pullman Regional Hospital has become an early adopter of antimicrobial copper after studies found that the age-old metal could continuously kill deadly bacteria.
Each year, 2 million people in the United States are diagnosed with a hospital-acquired infection and nearly 100,000 people die. These infections are caused by common bacteria such as E. coli, MRSA, C. diff, CRE and VRE.
“It is a very serious problem,” said Ed Harrich, the director of surgical services for Pullman Regional Hospital. “I think every hospital across the nation is doing everything they can to try to deal with it the best that they can. But there’s bioburden on everything and people aren’t good at hand washing and there’s cross-contamination everywhere you go.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7378651-copper-development-association-cda-pullman-regional-hospital-keep-patients-safe-antimicrobial-copper/
After a successful pilot program in October 2009, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is introducing an innovative approach to cancer treatment this July at each of its four hospitals in suburban Chicago, Philadelphia, Tulsa and suburban Phoenix. Called “Patient Empowered CareSM,” this advancement in the patient treatment delivery process offers patients an average of between two and three hours with a dedicated team of specialized oncology physicians and clinicians.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/cancercenter/44523/
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTR) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s antibacterial drug DIFICID™ (fidaxomicin) tablets for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults 18 years of age and older. CDAD is a significant medical problem in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and is beginning to emerge in the community among people previously at low risk for the disease. In the largest Phase 3 clinical studies ever conducted in CDAD, DIFICID had clinical response rates at the end of treatment that were non-inferior to oral vancomycin. DIFICID was superior to vancomycin in sustaining clinical response through 25 days beyond the end of treatment. DIFICID is the only FDA-approved antibacterial drug proven to be superior to vancomycin in sustained clinical response for CDAD.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/optimerpharma/50177/
As part of its continued dedication to lead the hospitality industry in customer care, Best Western International is rolling out its “I Care Clean” program throughout 2012 that will bring advanced cleaning technologies used in hospitals, such as UV wands and black lights, to the more than 2,100 Best Western hotels in North America.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56474-best-western-hotels-i-care-clean-advanced-cleaning-technology
What started as an invention to control humidity in a New York printing plant in 1902 has forever changed the way people around the world live, work and play. July 17th marks the 110th anniversary of the invention of modern air conditioning by Dr. Willis H. Carrier, inventor and founder of Carrier, the world’s leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions and a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)
On July 17, 1902, Carrier, a young research engineer just a year out of Cornell University, finalized the design to stabilize the humidity in the air so the dimensions of the paper at the Sackett & Wilhelms Lithography and Printing Company in Brooklyn, N.Y., would remain constant throughout the printing process. Since then this innovation has been applied to everything from malls to manufacturing facilities, buses to businesses and houses to hospitals – all looking to establish a comfortable environment.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54996-carrier-modern-air-conditioning-110-years-of-making-the-world-a-cool-place
Corindus Vascular Robotics, a leading developer of precision vascular robotics, today announced FDA 510(k) clearance has been granted for the CorPath 200 System to be used in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The technology is now approved in the United States to assist interventional cardiologists in performing PCI, a procedure to restore blood flow to blocked arteries in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
“We are pleased to have received clearance from the FDA for the world’s first system designed for robotic-assisted PCI procedures,” said David M. Handler, President and CEO of Corindus Vascular Robotics. “This is an important milestone for interventional cardiology as we take the next step in transforming the way these procedures are performed in the future. The CorPath System offers hospitals the opportunity to bring robotic-assisted technology benefits to their coronary patients and their physicians.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57343-corindus-vascular-robotics-wins-fda-510k-clearance-for-corpath-200-system
Emdeon Inc., a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions, today announced the expansion of Emdeon Clinical Exchange™, its technology-enabled solution designed to improve business and clinical outcomes and care continuity.
Emdeon Clinical Exchange encompasses products and services that are designed to unite healthcare communities. Today, hospitals, physicians, labs, payers and pharmacies use Emdeon’s leading healthcare information network to securely exchange health information over six billion times annually. These healthcare stakeholders are demanding greater connectivity to each other and the ability to facilitate comprehensive, end-to-end clinical information exchange.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/48120-emdeon-expands-clinical-information-exchange-capabilities
In the lead-up to Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November, the ‘future face’ of women’s cancer is being revealed. While new data published last month by Cancer Research UK suggests the number of women dying from breast cancer in the UK is in decline – expected to drop almost 30 percent by 2030 – the number of women dying from lung cancer is on the increase.
Liz Darlison, Macmillan Consultant Nurse Specialist, University Hospitals of Leicester, says, “While the statistics paint a frightening picture, there’s a great deal that can be done to help ensure women are diagnosed earlier, treated earlier and live longer. By raising awareness of the tell-tale signs – for example, a persistent cough that lasts longer than three weeks – there’s the potential to save thousands of lives every year.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56634-lilly-uk-lung-cancer-awareness
