Cardinal Health Launches New Technology to Help Protect Patients from Blood
Transfusion Errors During Surgeries and Emergencies
CareFusion™ Transfusion Verification with Rapid Infusion offers a unique transfusion
verification feature for emergency situations.
Dublin, OH, October 16, 2007—Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that
improve the safety and productivity of health care, today launched a new technology to protect
patients from blood transfusion errors in operating rooms, emergency departments and other
critical care areas, where transfusions need to occur rapidly.
With the new Rapid Infusion feature, the CareFusion™ Transfusion Verification application can
now accommodate transfusion workflow in any critical care environment. Rapid Infusion
provides a systematic method of positive patient identification for matching blood components
and efficient documentation, even during emergency situations.
While the CareFusion™ Transfusion Verification application has been available for three years, it
is traditionally used in the patient room environment and other non-emergency situations because
of the time required for documentation. However, more than 60 percent of all blood products in
hospitals are transfused in an “emergency” environment, where extra safety measures to verify
the match between patient and blood tag aren’t currently viable because they could lead to delays
in transfusions. The amount of blood products transfused and the critical nature of events require
a solution that accommodates workflow, while keeping patient safety a priority.
“Patient safety is of utmost importance at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital,” said Kristi Custard,
assistant nurse manager of Cardiovascular Recovery who participated in a pilot program for the
new technology. “We always seek new and innovative methods and protocols to provide safe,
efficient care to all patients, especially the critically ill. The CareFusion™ Transfusion
Verification Rapid Infusion feature provides St. Luke’s with the ability to help ensure we are
transfusing the right blood to the right patient, even in the most critical environments.”
Using the wrong blood in a transfusion is considered a “never event” by the National Quality
Forum (NQF). According to the NQF, “never events” are errors in medical care that are clearly
identifiable, preventable, and serious in their consequences for patients, and that indicate a real
problem in the safety and credibility of a health care facility.
In August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they will no longer
pay for the additional cost to treat certain preventable errors in hospitals, including blood
transfusion errors. Beginning in October 2008, hospitals will have to absorb any costs associated
with treating blood transfusion errors for any Medicare or Medicaid patients.
Cardinal Health’s industry-first design provides a more flexible workflow in the operating room
and emergency situations. CareFusion™ Transfusion Verification with Rapid Infusion can be
configured as the only workflow or as an optional workflow. Documentation is optional and
visual alerts such as colors and red borders assist in expediting a less restrictive workflow.
About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is an $87 billion, global
company serving the health-care industry with products and services that help hospitals,
physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and
deliver better care to patients. With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing
hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health
develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris® IV pumps, Pyxis® automated
dispensing systems, MedMined™ data mining service, VIASYS® respiratory care products and
the CareFusion™ patient identification system. The company also manufactures medical and
surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
worldwide. Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500 and No. 1 in its sector on Fortune's ranking of
Most Admired firms, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents. More
information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com
<http://www.cardinalhealth.com/> .
Source: Cardinal Health
Medical Simulatiion Corporation Introduces Online Course in Invasive Line Management
What Does One Invasive Line Infection Cost?
Denver, CO, October 11, 2007—Medical Simulation Corporation (MSC) has introduced its latest
addition to the SimSuite expanding hospital-centric courseware: Invasive Line Management. This
self-paced, Web-accessible didactic course was developed to educate healthcare providers on the
management of invasive lines and the appropriate prevention practices as recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control. The goal of this course is to assist hospitals and their staff in meeting
quality initiatives in decreasing central line infection rates and ultimately the morbidity and
mortality that follows.
Healthcare-associated infections in U.S. hospitals account for an estimated two million infections
and 90,000 deaths annually. Central line-associated blood stream infections (BSI) are the third
most common healthcare-associated infections reported by medical/surgical Intensive Care Units
(ICU) participating in the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) system. Each year,
an estimated 250,000 cases of central line-associated BSIs occur in hospitals in the United States,
with an estimated attributable mortality of 12 – 25% for each infection. The marginal cost to the
healthcare system is approximately $25,000 per episode. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
have identified catheter-associated adverse events, including BSIs, as one of its seven healthcare
safety challenges, with a goal to reduce such complications by 50% in five years. Many states are
adopting laws that require hospitals to report healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) to state
boards, which in turn would disclose the information to the public. Due to this, many institutions
have implemented quality improvement initiatives aimed at decreasing the incidence of central
line-associated BSIs.
This course, designed for healthcare professionals who provide routine care for different types of
invasive lines, can be integrated into an existing quality improvement program or used as a standalone, institution-wide educational course. The course includes a pre-test to assess baseline
knowledge as well as reviews of the clinical indications and contraindications for central line
placement, types of invasive lines (long term and short term), routine management and care, and
complications with a focus on signs and symptoms of infection. A post-test has been designed to
ensure learning objectives have been met.
The SimSuite Invasive Line Management course provides an education solution for all
institutions striving to decrease the number of invasive line infections and enhance patient
outcomes. For more information or to register for this course, go to www.medsimulation.com and
click on “Education.”
Source: Medical Simulation Corporation
New B. BRAUN ONGUARD™ Contained Medication Systems Protects Healthcare
Workers Against Hazardous Drug Exposure
Innovative TEVADAPTOR™ components reduce exposure risk, increase institution
compliance with NIOSH safety P\protocols.
Bethlehem, PA, October 8, 2007—B. Braun Medical Inc., a global leader in innovative healthcare
products and services, today announced the launch of the ONGUARD™ Contained Medication
System with TEVADAPTOR™ components, manufactured by Teva Medical Ltd. The innovative
drug admixture and delivery system provides a new level of hazard protection and passive
needlestick prevention to the nurses and pharmacists at the frontline of chemotherapy preparation
and administration.
Studies have shown certain drugs, such as chemotherapy agents, can be associated with a variety
of both short term and long term health effects.[1] “Nurses and pharmacy personnel are most at
risk, due to exposure during prescription preparation and administration, but exposure can also
extend to other healthcare workers performing routine jobs, such as housekeeping staff,” said Tim
Richards, Senior Vice President, U.S. Marketing, B. Braun Medical Inc. “As a company
dedicated to both patient and healthcare worker safety, partnering with Teva Medical Ltd. to add
the ONGUARD Contained Medication System to our portfolio of safety products just makes
sense.”
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and USP<797>, have each recommended the use of
protective devices for the preparation of hazardous medications. The ONGUARD System with
TEVADAPTOR components provides protection from hazardous vapors, particles and aerosols,
by means of a hydrophobic 0.2 micron sterilizing grade membrane and the TOXIGUARD™
activated charcoal drug binding matrix.
Independent lab studies using chemotherapy medications demonstrate this system effectively
contains hazardous vapors from escaping by binding them within the activated charcoal matrix
while also preventing non-sterile air from entering the medication vial. ONGUARD further
protects workers and the patient care environment from admixture to delivery, by preventing
liquid droplets from exiting the dispensing units during use. These combined attributes create a
system that meets the NIOSH definition for a Closed System Drug-transfer Device.
“Investing in the ONGUARD System with TEVADAPTOR components is an opportunity for
health facilities to invest in and protect their most valuable assets – the health and well being of
employees and patients,” said Rob Albert, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Marketing, B. Braun
Medical Inc. “The system’s intuitive use design requires minimal changes to current practice
making compliance with regulations and guidelines simple and achievable.”
About B. Braun
B. Braun is the recipient of the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Medical Technology Global Excellence
Award for its excellence in helping healthcare providers improve the lives of their patients. B.
Braun Smart Pumps have achieved "Category Leader" in the KLAS Top 20 Mid-Year Report
Card for Smart Pump Technology, 2007.
Since its founding in 1839, B. Braun has built an unparalleled store of knowledge and expertise in
delivering innovative healthcare products, medical devices and programs that enhance working
processes in hospitals, alternate care settings and medical practices – increasing safety for
patients, doctors and nurses. Its 34,000 employees worldwide are proud of their commitment to
translating customer needs into products with unmatched quality, superior technology, costeffectiveness and environmental responsibility.
Through its "Sharing Expertise®" initiative, B. Braun promotes best practices for continuous
improvement of healthcare products and services. For more information about B. Braun or its
safety healthcare products, call 800-854-6851, email us at inquiry@bbraun.com or visit B. Braun
at www.bbraunusa.com.
About Teva Medical Ltd.
Teva Medical is a manufacturer of specialized medical products and is the innovator of a few
devices that led the market towards changing work systems bringing in added safety. Teva
Medical recently added TEVADAPTOR to its list of innovative devices providing a safer
environment while using hazardous drugs.
"The company is committed towards continued development of new safety and other devices for
protection of medical professionals and patients," said Dan Danieli, Director Teva Medical Ltd.
Teva Medical is a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Source: B. Braun
Microsoft Unveils Consumer Health Vision, Launches Technology Platform to Collect,
Store and Share Health Information
Company and industry leaders rally to support technology solutions that help people make
better health and wellness decisions.
Washington, DC, October 4, 2007—Joined by nationally recognized medical providers, healthmanagement device manufacturers and patient advocacy organizations, Microsoft Corp. today
launched Microsoft® HealthVault, a software and services platform aimed at helping people
better manage their health information. The company outlined its vision for ways that
HealthVault can bring the health and technology industries together to create new applications,
services and connected devices that help people manage and monitor their personal health
information, including weight loss and disease management, such as for diabetes.
“People are concerned to find themselves at the center of the healthcare ecosystem today because
they must navigate a complex web of disconnected interactions between providers, hospitals,
insurance companies and even government agencies,” said Peter Neupert, corporate vice
president of the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft. “Our focus is simple: to empower people to
lead healthy lives. The launch of HealthVault makes it possible for people to collect their private
health information on their terms and for companies across the health industry to deliver
compatible tools and services built on the HealthVault platform.”
Microsoft today also announced the availability of HealthVault Search, a powerful new vertical
health search tool designed to work with the platform. Integrated with Live Search and accessible
on the HealthVault Web site, this specialized health search engine intuitively organizes the most
relevant online health content, allowing people to refine searches faster and with more accuracy,
and eventually connect them with HealthVault-compatible solutions.
Privacy, Compatibility and Security
Created in cooperation with leading privacy advocates, respected security experts and dozens of
the world’s leading healthcare organizations, HealthVault is designed and built to enhance
privacy while providing people with the control they expect and require.
“Microsoft is the first major technology company to engage with the bipartisan Coalition for
Patient Privacy in a serious way. The privacy protections built into HealthVault reflect the
privacy principles of the Coalition. HealthVault prohibits onward transfer of data without explicit
informed consent; its contractual obligations with advertisers require protection of any data
transferred from the platform; its privacy policy is simple and easy to understand,” said Dr.
Deborah Peel, founder of the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation. “That means consumers finally
have a trusted place to store their personal health information that will not be data-mined, because
they alone control it. Microsoft’s use of strong privacy principles including the principles of the
Coalition, its ongoing relationship with consumer advocates, and its commitment to independent
third-party audits set a new standard for privacy protections in health information technology.”
Broad Industry Support
Today’s event highlighted the broad range of more than 40 applications and devices available on
the HealthVault platform now or in the future from the following organizations: ActiveHealth
Management; Allscripts; American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association and
American Stroke Association; American Lung Association; Aperion Companies; CapMed, a
division of Bio-Imaging Technologies Inc.; Claricode; Diabetes Prevention Source (DPS);
Diet.com; Eclipsys Corp.; HealthCentral Network Inc.; HealthMedia Inc.; Healthphone Solutions
Ltd.; Healthways; Healthy Circles LLC; Home Diagnostics Inc.; iMedica Corp.; Kryptiq Corp.;
LifeScan Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company; LiveHealthier; Matria Healthcare Inc.; Medem
Inc.; MedHelp; Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE); Medifast Inc.; MEDSEEK; Medstar
Health; Microlife USA Inc.; NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; NexCura, a Thomson Healthcare
Business; NextGen Healthcare Information Systems Inc.; NoMoreClipboard.com; OMRON
Healthcare Inc.; Peaksware LLC; Physicians Wellness Network; Podfitness; Polar; PureWellness;
Sound Health Solutions Inc.; StayWell, a MediMedia company; Texas Instruments Inc.; US
Wellness Inc.; Vital Data Technology; Whole Health Management; and WorldDoc Inc.
The broad support reflects the platform’s tremendous opportunities for innovative new solutions
from organizations across the health and technology industries. With a new platform provided by
Microsoft based on compatible Internet and healthcare technology standards, organizations no
longer need to spend development time working to connect a range of applications and devices.
Instead, they can deliver solutions to consumers that focus on care delivery, giving HealthVault
the potential to greatly enhance the quality and value of healthcare information technology across
the ecosystem.
Availability
Developers interested in building their own HealthVault-based solutions can download the
HealthVault software development kit at http://msdn.microsoft.com/healthvault. The HealthVault
platform is available to people for free at http://www.healthvault.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and
solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Source: Microsoft
Precision Dynamics Corporation Introduces Precision® Infant Thermal Band Wristbands
PDC’s Precision® Infant Thermal Bands reduce newborn identification errors and increase
patient safety using the latest in barcode technology.
San Fernando, CA, October 3, 2007—Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC), the leader and
innovator of automated wristband identification, announces the release of Precision® Infant
Thermal Band Wristbands. Manufactured exclusively by PDC, Precision® Infant Thermal Bands
are comfortable, durable, strong, and reliable—keeping with PDC’s commitment to patient
identification, safety and quality healthcare products.
In newborn care, the importance of accurate identification, safety, data security and privacy are of
critical concern. PDC’s Precision® Infant Thermal Bands alleviate those concerns by ensuring
positive infant patient identification for hospitals, delivery rooms, maternity wards, neonatal
intensive care units (NICU), etc. using the latest in bar code technology.
PDC’s Precision® Infant Thermal Bands patent pending design provides a flat surface for the best
bar code scanning results, eliminating curvature issues. Its specially coated direct thermal surface
protects imprint and bar code from water, soap, alcohol and hand sanitizer.
Additional features include:

Easy to apply adhesive closure ensuring infant safety and security.

No fold over laminate required to protect printed information.

Works with most thermal printers and accepts both linear and 2D Bar codes.
PDC’s Precision® Infant Thermal Bands comes on a 1.5 inch core, 200 bands per roll and is
available in White or ‘Snuggy Bear’ patterns. For more information contact PDC at 800-7721122 or 818-897-1111 6:30pm - 4:30pm PST or visit: www.pdcorp.com/healthcare.
About Precision Dynamics
With over 50 years of experience, PDC is the global leader and pacesetter in the development of
Auto ID wristband systems for healthcare, leisure and entertainment, and law enforcement. The
company introduced the first patient Bar Code ID Wristband, patented Smart Band® Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) Wristbands, the AgeBand® Age/ID System, and PDC Smart
Kiosk® Cashless RFID System. PDC is committed to 100% quality in service, design, and
manufacturing and has ISO-9001: 2000 and ISO-13485: 2003 certification. For more information,
visit www.pdcorp.com.
Source: Precision Dynamics Corporation
ARUP Laboratories Releases ARUP Consult® 2.0
New version provides improved laboratory test selection support tool for clinicians.
Salt Lake City, UT, September 27,2007—ARUP Laboratories, a national medical reference
laboratory and a leader in innovative laboratory research and development, announced the release
of ARUP Consult(R) 2.0 -- The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection and
Interpretation. The new version responds to clinicians' needs, including expanded content and
more algorithms to assist in diagnosis.
"ARUP Consult has concentrated information into a concise test selection and interpretation
tool, allowing users to make informed diagnostic decisions," said ARUP's Medical Director of
Informatics, Brian Jackson, M.D., M.S., who heads the ARUP Consult project. "At ARUP
Laboratories, we are focused on building tools that enable physicians to optimize patient care and
improve the diagnostic process."
Diagnostic Information
ARUP Consult 2.0 has expanded to offer more than 1,500 tests categorized by disease-related
topics. Topic entries include the following features:

Clinical background information, test ordering suggestions, and concise diagnostic advice

Congruent with and links to national guidelines and relevant references

More than 40 algorithms to support clinical decision-making

Updated and new content released every eight weeks.
Improved Navigation
With its updated and enhanced look, ARUP Consult 2.0 improved its navigation to enhance
browsability and reduce the number of clicks needed to reach information. New features include:

Index tabs on disease-related topic pages enable clinicians to move quickly through the
topic without scrolling

Readily accessible algorithm capabilities afford health care providers clinical decision
trees with links to topics, eliminating the need to toggle between pages

Full screen-width Web pages reduce scrolling and improve readability of informative
tables within topics
"Above all else, this is a clinician-focused release, designed to ease the burden placed on
physicians to stay current on ever-changing laboratory information," said Jackson.
ARUP Consult is available at no cost to health care professionals at http://www.arupconsult.com
or m.arupconsult.com for mobile users.
About ARUP Laboratories
ARUP Laboratories is a national clinical and anatomic pathology reference laboratory and an
enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology. With more than 2,000
employees, ARUP offers in excess of 2,000 tests and test combinations, ranging from routine
screening tests to highly esoteric molecular and genetic assays, for patients throughout the
country. ARUP's clients include more than half of the nation's university teaching hospitals and
children's hospitals, as well as multi-hospital groups, major commercial laboratories, group
purchasing organizations, military and government facilities, and major clinics. In addition,
ARUP is a worldwide leader in innovative laboratory research and development, led by the
efforts of the ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology®.
Source: ARUP Laboratories
LMS Completes Software Development of CALM PatternsTM
Montreal, Quebec, September 27, 2007—LMS Medical Systems (AMEX:LMZ; TSX:LMZ), a
healthcare technology company and developer of the CALM® clinical information system and
risk management software tools for obstetrics, today announced market availability of the first
version of CALM Patterns, an innovative risk management software tool specifically directed at
the health of the fetus.
Fetal distress during labor is recognized as one of the greatest complexities of childbirth and
therefore a significant issue insofar as risk management is concerned. During labor and delivery,
medical professionals review fetal heart rate tracings looking for indications of fetal distress. The
failure to recognize and respond to abnormal fetal heart rate patterns in a timely manner can lead
to a number of serious complications for the fetus and is a common problem in birth-related brain
injury. With this in mind, LMS has created a real time proprietary software tool that can, on a
heartbeat to heartbeat basis, constantly analyze and present updated information to medical teams
to assist in the identification of significant fetal distress.
CALM Patterns achieves this end with computing power using specialized algorithms and neural
networks that detect, label and measure patterns in fetal heart rate recordings at the bedside
during labor. No human being can rival the power of a computer for consistently processing
highly complex information on an ongoing basis in real time. Equally important, few patients are
able, in today’s healthcare environment, to have a medical professional at bedside analyzing fetal
tolerance to labor every minute of the way.
“LMS risk management tools have been designed to provide clinicians with an objective realtime bedside means to more clearly, accurately and proactively assess patient safety, improve
situational awareness and reduce risk,” said Dr. Emily Hamilton, Vice President of Medical
Research for LMS. “The ability to assess the baby’s tolerance to labor along with better
recognition of fetal distress can help reduce the incidence and severity of birth related brain
damage.”
About LMS
LMS is a leader in the application of advanced mathematical modeling and neural networks for
medical use. The LMS CALM Suite provides physicians, nursing staff, risk managers and
hospital administrators with OB clinical information systems and risk management tools designed
to improve outcomes and patient care for mothers and their infants during childbirth.
Source: LMS Medical Systems
Tennessee Company Announces Breakthrough Technology
AGT uses atmospheric plasma technology to sterilize medical instruments and devices.
Knoxville, TN, Wednesday September 26—Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley-based
Atmospheric Glow Technologies, Inc. announced a breakthrough today in the use of its
proprietary atmospheric plasma technology to sterilize medical instruments and devices.
To meet the needs of far-forward field medics, AGT has developed a lightweight, durable, and
lower power apparatus that can sterilize surgical instruments and devices in less than one hour.
"When fully developed and commercially available, this product could assist with humanitarian
efforts during natural disasters, aid in homeland security responses and address medical needs in
remote regions of the world," anticipates Scott McDonald, AGT CEO.
AGT equipment can sterilize contaminated medical instruments in the presence of simulated
tissue debris.
AGT's near-term goal is to deliver to the military a portable medical sterilizer demonstration unit
for testing next August. This effort is funded through a Department of Defense U.S. Army
Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) grant to AGT through a Congressional
appropriation of $1.65M, which is payable to AGT over an eighteen-month period that began in
March 2007. For more information about AGT, visit: www.atmosphericglow.com.
Source: Atmospheric Glow Technologies