Smith & Nephew Offers New Silver Wound Dressings

ALLEVYN Ag

       Smith & Nephew Wound Management introduces new ALLEVYN Ag, the unique silver hydrocellular foam dressing designed to simplify the use of silver in wound care.
       ALLEVYN family of products is well known for its effective fluid management, optimal moisture balance, soft padding, long wear times, and easy dressing changes.
       ALLEVYN Ag provides sustained, controlled silver release at bactericidal levels throughout its 7-day wear time, even against difficult pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
       This creates an ideal moist environment to promote faster healing with sustained antibacterial protection for patients. The effective exudate absorption and dressing integrity of ALLEVYN Ag minimizes messy dressing changes for caregivers, while its 7-day wear time permits fewer dressing and increases cost-effectiveness.
       Currently ALLEVYN Ag dressings are available in three convenient shapes and multiple sizes to further simplify wound care needs: adhesive, non-adhesive (sealed and shaped) and sacrum. The launch of ALLEVYN Ag expands Smith & Nephew’s infection management portfolio, which includes: ACTICOAT, IODOSORB, and BIOSTEP Ag.
       For more information, visit www.smith-nephew.com or call 800-876-1261.
       Circle Reader Service Card No. 8

Edema Control Gloves Reduce Swelling And Scarring

Hatch® Edema Control Gloves

       Hatch, a BAE Systems company and leading supplier of high-quality products for both medical and home healthcare industries, introduces its Hatch^® Edema Control Gloves. The gloves help reduce swelling and hypertrophic scarring caused by burn and traumatic injury. These versatile gloves can also be used for compression, protection against bruises; can be worn by patients with arthritis, and act as a cast liner.
       The Hatch Edema Control Gloves are made of medical grade LYCRA^® to provide gentle compression that equalizes pressure when worn and is soft on the hands. The seams on the Hatch Edema Control Gloves are sewn on the outside of the glove rather than the inside—making this glove more comfortable and increasing wear-ability.
       The six available models are: three-quarter-finger over-the-wrist (Model ED900-1); full-finger over-the-wrist (Model ED900-2); full-finger wrist length (Model ED900-3); full-finger forearm length (Model ED900-4); full-finger shoulder length (Model ED900-5); and three-quarter-finger shoulder length (Model ED900-6). The gloves come in sizes extra-small to large.
       For more information, visit www.hatch-corp.com or call 800-347-1200.
       Circle Reader Service Card No. 9

Regulatory Manual Prevents Facility Fines

The Briggs F323 Incidents/Accidents Simplified

       Senior-care compliance company Briggs Corporation announces a new manual that aids nursing homes avoid the costly fines and negative publicity associated with accidents.
       The Briggs F323 Incidents/Accidents Simplified manual is the latest addition to the Briggs “Simplified” series for long-term care facilities. Briggs clinicians developed it in response to recently released federal guidelines addressing what nursing home surveyors cite as one of the top five reasons for deficiencies found during visits. Nursing homes found to be in violation of the revised guidelines can receive a fine of up to $10,000.
       The new Briggs manual guides facilities through processes and procedures that will help them manage risk and maintain regulatory compliance. Specifically, the incidents/accidents regulation ensures that the resident environment remains as free of accidental hazards as possible. It ensures each resident receives adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.
       The regulation mandates that facilities have methods to identify, analyze, and implement interventions to reduce hazards and risks while monitoring for effectiveness. Some associated hazards and risks include falls, communication, smoking safety, environmental issues, and whether equipment is used per manufacturer’s recommendation.
       Briggs F323 manual identifies and offers solutions in all of these areas and includes these features and benefits:
       * Reduces administrative time.
       * Guides the creation of policies and procedures.
       * Trains staff with pre- and post-tests.
       * Manages risk and ensures regulatory compliance.
       For more information, visit www.briggscorp.com/simplified or call 800-224-2343.
       Circle Reader Service Card No. 10

New Wound Therapy Surface Offers Safety Features

Comfort Shield® Barrier Cloth 8-packs

       Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. recently announced its Hill-Rom subsidiary has introduced a revolutionary new hospital bed surface that enhances care for patients with pressure ulcers. The Hill-Rom® E700 Wound Surface (a low air loss therapy surface) offers new levels of flexibility for use within healthcare facilities. Unlike traditional mattress replacement systems, this surface easily converts to fit multiple bed frames.
       The new therapy surface should enhance patient safety and represents the next generation of technology in wound care surfaces, while the patient is afforded the comfort they have been missing in traditional therapy surfaces.
       For more information, visit www.hillenbrand.com.

Powerful Tool For Observing And Reporting IAD Now Available

The Temperature Product Group of Measurement Specialties (MEAS)

       Sage Products’ exclusive Peri Check^™ Guide is currently available on Comfort Shield^® Barrier Cloth 8-packs and multi-use tubs. The pre-moistened, disposable Shield Barrier Cloth delivers one-step perineal cleansing, moisturizing, and deodorizing while treating and protecting skin with dimethicone. This method of care empowers healthcare staff to observe and report incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) to nurses more frequently and efficiently.
       IAD is the inflammation of skin caused by contact with urine and stool. The Peri Check Guide peel-and-stick labels that can be easily used by non-licensed staff to note any indication of IAD and quickly report it to the patient’s nurse—promoting rapid response with follow-up interventions and helping hospitals meet JCAHO requirements.
       For more information, visit www.sageproducts.com.

Biomedical Thermistor Probes Set the Standard Of Care In The Healthcare Industry
       The Temperature Product Group of Measurement Specialties (MEAS) created by the combination of BetaTHERM Sensors, HL Planar, and formerly YSI Temperature offers a complete range of disposable temperature probe assemblies for medical equipment and patient monitoring applications.
       NTC thermistors are used in disposable medical temperature products to optimize monitoring accuracy and clinical hygienic standards. Measurement Specialties’ NTC thermistor sensors offer a combination of electrical sensitivity, durability, and interchangeability in physical configurations at a low cost. Measurement Specialties’ new disposable vinyl cap sensors are suitable for incorporation in catheters or invasive medical devices. The sensor may be used in a variety of applications including Foley catheters, esophageal temperature monitoring, oral, rectal, and fever thermometers, as well as temperature measurement of environments.
       For more information, visit www.meas-spec.com or www.betatherm.com.