* ECPN * January/February 2001

Industry and Product News

Horizon Healthcare Technologies Introduces HHT-MasterSeries^™

HHT-MasterSeries is designed expressively for post-acute care and is written in Visual Basic Six. Database management is supported through Oracle, SQL Server 2000, or Access. Preferred platforms include Windows NT 98 and 2000. HHT-MasterSeries features the following:

HHT-CareMaster^™: Construct complete patient medical records automatically from pre-admit to discharge or from stay to stay.

HHT-AccountMaster^™: Input your data only once to cover every payment scenario.

HHT-BusinessMaster^™: Backend accounting software powered by Great Plains^™.

HHT-TimeCoder^™: Unique bedside data capture device that populates clinical and reimbursement records.

For more information, contact Horizon Healthcare by phone at (800) 477-5827 or by e-mail at www.hhtbriggscorp.com. ***

Versatile Bed Alarm Helps Reduce Falls

The Informer Plus system alerts staff when an individual at risk of falling gets out of bed unassisted. The system uses a special long life pressure pad placed under the mattress, eliminating contamination concerns associated with pads placed above the mattress.

The Informer Plus system is easy to install on the headboard of a bed and can be adjusted to monitor active or sedate individuals. The system also features a special "stand by" button that allows staff to temporarily disarm the system when escorting the patient or resident out of bed.

For more information on the Informer Plus system and other fall prevention products from Micro-Tech^™ Enterprises, call (800) 206-1045 to be put in touch with your local distributor or visit www.mtenterprises.com. ***

The Secure Care Products wandering Resident I.D. system identifies each resident by name, room number, and transmitter I.D. code. When the exit is approached by a monitored resident, the system will identify the resident by his or her name, lock the door, and report the attempted exit to the nurse console. The nurse console will display the resident's name, room number, and the exit location.

For more information, contact Secure Care Products at (800) 451-7917 or visit www.securecare.com. ***

Nutritional Products for Critical Care Patients From Hormel Healthlabs

Hormel Healthlabs offers a line of products that meets the nutritional needs of critically ill patients.

The full line includes Glutasorb^™, a high glutamine formula that is premixed and ready to use. It gives patients the high quality nutritional support they require and saves labor, eliminates waste, and reduces the threat of contamination.

For more information about the family of critical care nutritional products from Hormel Healthlabs, call (800) 866-7757 or visit www.hormelhealthlabs.com. ***

Wound Care Shoe System^™ by Darco

Now the incidence of amputations can be reduced in at-risk patients with the new custom off-loading Wound Care Shoe System^™ by Darco. The Wound Care Shoe System provides another tool for you to use in the battle to further reduce the amputation rate in patients with ulcers or infections of the feet. While appropriate antibiotics and surgical intervention are important in treatment, they are ineffective unless weight is off-loaded from the area of the foot being treated. The shoe incorporates a system of multi-density insoles that may be cut or otherwise altered to off-load weight and pressure away from the ulcer. The insoles are contained within the semi-rigid rocker sole surrounded by a circumferential counter to prevent slipping of the insoles. The rocker sole assists in ambulation while reducing friction and pressure from vulnerable areas of the foot. The soft upper of the shoe is constructed of top quality EVA lined leather that can be modified to protect the lesion being treated and reduce the occurrence of window edema.

For more information and a list of authorized distributors, call Darco at (800) 999-8866. ***

Water-Tight Shower Sheath by Ortho-Dri

Ortho-Dri Products, Inc. is proud to introduce its newest product line. The form-fitting, non-slip, reusable, leak-proof sheath enables a person wearing a bandage or a cast to shower in complete freedom and safety. The Water-Tight Shower Sheath is guaranteed to keep water out and keep the affected area totally dry. Adult and children sizes are available for arms, feet, and legs. The suggested retail price is $39.95.

For more information, contact Ortho-Dri Products, Inc., PO Box 371, Denver City, TX 79323; phone (888) 617-3218; fax (806) 592-1034. Visit Ortho-Dri on the web at www.orthodri.com. ***

Cytomedix Completes Acquisition of Procuren^® From Curative

Cytomedix, Inc. and its affiliates announced that it has completed the acquisition of the worldwide manufacturing, sales, and distribution rights to Procuren^® solution, a proprietary wound-healing agent, from Curative Health Services, Inc. The Procuren acquisition expands Cytomedix's product portfolio, which includes AuTolo-Gel^™, its proprietary system for the treatment of non-healing wounds.

Procuren is currently distributed exclusively in the U.S. through the more than 130 clinics managed by Curative Health Services. AuTolo-Gel will also be made available to Curative's clinics on a non-exclusive basis. Cytomedix will market both AuTolo-Gel and Procuren outside the U.S. Cytomedix will assume responsibility for 34 processing facilities located throughout the U.S. ***

Briggs Corporation Releases Documentation Guidelines for Long-Term Care Manual

Clinical documentation has become increasingly important in long-term care facilities. Successful completion of the RAI process and facility survey and certification, as well as reimbursement, is dependent upon your staff's ability to portray a clear picture of the resident through documentation.

As various payment systems have evolved, the relationship between the intensity of services and the payment for delivery of care has been recognized. It is paramount that the information on the MDS is validated by the supporting documentation provided in the medical record by resident caregivers.

Briggs' Documentation Guidelines for Long-Term Care is an excellent resource to establish consistently accurate documentation practices. The manual:

*Provides a central facility resource to help increase consistency and accuracy in documentation practices.

*Ensures that your documentation presents a clear picture of the resident to support successful surveys and appropriate payment.

*Enables facility personnel to document in a manner that meets medical record audit requirements.

*Provides information on internal processes as well as suggested documentation tools and provides the essential tools to further assure consistency in accurate documentation practices.

Briggs' Documentation Guidelines for Long-Term Care will assist your organization in establishing standardized and accurate documentation practices. For more information on this manual or any other Briggs product, call (800) 247-2343. ***

Personal Alarm for Restraint-Free Safety

Recommended for restraint-reduction programs, Skil-Care's Personal Alarm alerts caregivers when resident is about to leave the bed or wheelchair. Audible up to 125 feet, this reliable alarm operates on a standard 9-volt battery. For economy and convenience, the alarm can be transferred from bed to wheelchair. Wheelchair and bed attachments are included. Replacement guaranteed for one full year.

For additional information, please contact Arnold Silverman, Skil-Care Corporation, 29 Wells Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701; phone (800) 431-2972; fax (914) 963-2567. ***

Ambulatory Infusion Pumps from Curlin

The Curlin 2000 Plus^™ Ambulatory Infusion Pump is the first multi-therapy ambulatory pump designed for infusion at both hospital and at non-hospital sites. It is also the first ambulatory pump designed specifically to use low-cost straight line PVC tubing administration sets for infusions over a wide flow range.

Some ambulatory infusion pumps are designed for a single, specific therapy such as intermittent or patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The Curlin 2000 Plus will perform five modes and nine different therapies--a record for such infusion pumps. This significantly reduces the costs of pump inventory, pump storage space, and personnel training.

The secret to success of the new pump is a patented pumping mechanism that delivers the same accuracy and high resolution of the hospital pumps in a very compact, lightweight module. The pump does not require the costly pumping chambers or complex cassettes of conventional ambulatory infusion systems.

The Curlin 2000 Plus is manufactured by Curlin Medical LLC in Huntington Beach, CA, the corporate office location since 1984, and is distributed through a worldwide network of distributors and manufacturer's representatives.

For additional information, please contact Curlin Medical, LLC by phone at (714) 893-2200 or visit www.curlinmedical.com. ***

Promise^® Changes Its Name to TENA^®

SCA Hygiene Products is a leader in incontinence care. For over 15 years, the brand name in North America has been Promise^®. For over 40 years, the brand name in over 40 countries worldwide has been TENA^®. To capitalize on their global identity, the company has decided to change the Promise name to TENA.

To effectively communicate this change to their customers, the company created a 12-month direct marketing campaign.

With this truly global brand, all TENA customers around the world will receive innovative, technologically advanced products that support the ever-changing markets as well as individual needs. ***

Span-America Signs Exclusive Licensing Agreement with P.J. Noyes Company

Span-America Medical Systems, Inc. announced that it formed an exclusive distribution and licensing agreement with P.J. Noyes Company, Inc., a contract manufacturer and packager of OTC health and beauty aids and dietary supplements. The agreement, which is effective January 1, 2001, grants Span-America the exclusive right to sell and market P.J. Noyes' Selan^® product line--a complete line of skin care products for the treatment and prevention of dry skin, diaper rash, and pressure wounds.

Span-America will assume responsibility for current Selan customers in addition to offering the products to Span-America customers and prospects throughout North America. Span-America will pay an annual license fee for the right to sell the products, and P.J. Noyes will continue to manufacture the Selan line for Span-America. The initial term of the agreement is five years with an option to renew under certain conditions.

For more information, contact Span-America at (800) 888-6752. ***

SNUGS Tape-Free Wound Care Products Save Money and Time and Provide Patient Comfort

Assurity Personal Healthcare Products, LLC, located in Gainesville, GA, has introduced a money saving product called SNUGS. SNUGS products are used as a secondary dressing for long-term chronic wounds. SNUGS save money by eliminating the expense of non-reusable tape and gauze. SNUGS also provide needed options for treating wounds that historically have been hard to dress, such as the heel, sacral, and head areas.

Reusable and washable, the product line includes the heel glove, foot glove, hood and cap, mastectomy/abdominal/ back wraps, under arm wraps, sacral wraps, knee and hip holster, and leg glove. The company is also developing tape-free device holders that are scheduled for 2001.

One of the unique concepts of the product line is each item provides a window. The window allows the caregiver to visually check the primary dressing without removing the secondary dressing. In addition, the window feature also frames and secures the primary dressing without tape.

Assurity has now converted all of their products to a one-size-fits-all concept. This reduces the need to stock multiple sizes. Custom orders remain available. All products are sold in pairs.

To request product information and review pricing, visit www.asnugs.com or call (800) 977-6847. ***

Orcas^™--A New Class of Information System Solutions for the Long-Term Care Enterprise

SHS.com (Shared Healthcare Systems) announced a new class of information system solutions, Unison Orcas^™. Orcas is a software solution integrating clinical, financial, and case management information into a single long-term care solution. The Orcas software solution offers a unique, intuitive, and easy-to-learn user interaction.

SHS designed Orcas to help the long-term care industry thrive by reducing operational inefficiencies, improving productivity, and realizing measurable cost savings. Orcas will provide management with a real-time view of resident census, quality indicators, accounts receivable, and other data for facilities in any region. The frustration of collating information from multiple faxes and retrospective reports is eliminated with Orcas. The enterprise advantage allows administrators to manage risk proactively before issues become problems.

Orcas combines a highly flexible information system and a unique user interaction. Orcas is a web-enabled application hosted by Microsoft Internet Explorer^™. The application uses HTML Application object model (HTA^™) and C++/COM imparting a great deal of control, advanced security, and high-level performance. The backend database is built on Microsoft SQL Server^™ 7.0. Orcas is scalable and offers computing options for processing at your data center or SHS's. One implementation option for Orcas is ECS (Enterprise Computing Services), providing processing and data management services through the SHS Data Center.

A limited production release is scheduled for next spring and the product will be generally available summer 2001. Distribution of Orcas will be managed by SHS's National Sales Team and a developing channel of Value Added Resellers.

For more information, visit the SHS.com web site at www.shs.com/orcas. ***

Home studies approved--RDs, DTRs. Over 100 CEU hours for LTC professionals. Dehydration, weight loss prevention, care planning, saving money, more. Share/save available. Contact us for cost effective ways to bring presentations to your area. Kobriger Presents, Inc., POB 0055, Chilton, WI 53014; (888) 687-4806; www.kobriger.com

Fall Monitor Offers Versatility

The TABS^® Select monitor enables you to choose the appropriate method of monitoring each individual, with the cord and clip assembly or with TABS^® Sidekicks pressure pads for bed, chair, or wheelchair. For additional security, both monitoring methods can be used simultaneously.

To minimize disruption, the TABS Select monitor can also be integrated with your facility's nurse call system and the local alarm silenced. For times when a local alarm is more suitable, you can choose from four distinct alarm tones.

For more information about the TABS Select monitor or other TABS products, contact Senior Technologies, Inc. at (800) 824-4490 or visit www.seniortechnologies.com. ***

New Fall Prevention Device: Thera-Glide Safety-Glider

The Thera-Glide Safety-Glider offers all the therapeutic benefits of a rocking chair without the risks of instability during ingress and egress. A patent-pending automatic locking system prevents rocking as the resident sits down. Once safely seated, the lock releases, permitting the user to experience a smooth and relaxing gliding motion. When it is time to exit the chair, the lock automatically engages again to secure the Thera-Glide for a steady and safe egress. Stabilizing front feet and ergonomic armrests provide further security during transfers. Small wheels mounted atop the rear feet allow the chair to be tipped back and wheeled from room to room. The Thera-Glide's attractive residential appearance conceals a durable steel frame designed to survive years of rugged institutional use. Healthcare-grade upholstered cushions remove for thorough cleaning and can be replaced if damaged.

Call Optima Products, Inc. at (888) 845-6447 for more information. Onsite demonstrations and evaluations are available. ***

Diane Newman, RNC, MSN, FAAN, Joins PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders

The Division of Urology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System is proud to announce the addition of Diane Newman, a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the non-invasive, non-surgical treatment of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction, to the PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders. The PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders was established as a collaboration between Dr. Eric Rovner and Dr. Alan Wein of the Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania, a regional center of excellence for the diagnosis and treatment of all types of voiding dysfunction. Now with the added expertise of Diane Newman, the division can offer additional advanced services to patients. As previously, the PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders will address the needs of those with all types of urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis, pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginal prolapse, and neurogenic and non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction in both men and women. Now, in addition to the comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and surgical treatments already provided, the PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders will offer access to the latest advances in non-surgical treatments.

Diane Newman, RNC, MSN, FAAN, is a nurse practitioner who has provided services for persons with urinary incontinence and related problems in ambulatory, home care, and long-term care settings in the Philadelphia area since 1986. Ms. Newman received her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is certified as an adult nurse practitioner by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. She has been appointed a fellow by the American Academy of Nursing. She is a Visiting Professor at Rutgers, School of Nursing. Over the past 15 years, Diane has developed an established reputation in state-of-the-art assessment and behavioral treatment of urinary incontinence and is a respected leader in the field. She is the author of The Urinary Incontinence Sourcebook (a book for the lay public), a member of the National Association for Continence's Project Advisory Council, and was Co-Chair of the 1996 Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (formerly AHCPR, now AHQR), Department of Health and Human Services, Clinical Practice Guideline Update panel on "Urinary Incontinence in Adults: Acute and Chronic Management." A prolific writer, Ms. Newman has written more than 75 scientific papers, chapters, and articles and is regularly published in texts and major journals.

For more information, contact PENN Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders at (215) 615-3459. ***

The MD.2^™ Personal Medication System Automatically Dispenses Medications

Interactive Medical Developments, LC (IMD) announced the launch of the MD.2^™ Personal Medication Dispensing and Monitoring System, a product that organizes, delivers, and monitors solid, oral medications, simplifying even the most complicated medication schedules.

With MD.2, medications are loaded and programmed in advance, then automatically delivered on time with multiple audible and visual reminders for each dose. The system also can be programmed to provide verbal and text reminders for instructions and use of non-oral medications. A storage compartment locks to keep medications secure, storing three to four weeks of medications for the average user.

An important feature for compliance is a built-in monitoring system. Connected to the user's current phone line, MD.2 can automatically alert family members or friends whenever a dose is not dispensed, the unit needs refilling, or the MD.2 backup battery runs low.

When monitored by the IMD Support Center, nightly quality tests are performed on each unit. In addition, MD.2 downloads the daily dispensing data to the IMD Support Center. The user information can be made available to appropriate healthcare professionals and caregi vers the following day. Trained IMD staff members are on call 24 hours a day to assist in setting up the MD.2, answer questions, and provide technical support.

Over the past two years, IMD has exhaustively and successfully tested an initial prototype of the MD.2 system with individuals who face medication compliance issues. Building on that success, IMD is now launching MD.2 to healthcare professionals, senior living facilities, individuals, and caregivers.

MD.2 is available for purchase or rental through www.imd2.com or by calling (877) 563-2632. ***

Intelligent Fall Detection Device Unveiled by SOS Industries, Inc.

Reliable fall detection, the most significant innovation in personal emergency response since the advent of the wireless call button, is now available exclusively from SOS Industries, Inc.

Falls are a leading cause of death and injury for 35 million American seniors. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 10 million to 17 million seniors will fall this year. Someone who falls needs help to get up 50 percent of the time. The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that at least 300,000 older Americans are discovered helpless or dead in their own homes each year, usually hours or even days after a fall. Falls are even more common among people with neuromuscular and cognitive disorders like Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and MS. Rapid response to an incapacitating fall is the best chance for survival.

Millions of Americans fall in their homes every year. Unfortunately, the inability to summon help because of unconsciousness or incoherence after a fall is a common event, says William B. Kane, president and CEO of SOS Industries, Inc. Fall Alert automatically notifies caregivers of a fall, even when the user cannot, providing peace of mind to users and their families.

The patent-pending Fall Alert technology uses the latest in microprocessor design and solid-state sensors to monitor and interpret body positioning, accelerations, and impacts, virtually eliminating false alarms while assuring response to true events. For example, the device can distinguish between falling and lying down, sitting down, or running. The attractive, clip-on package is smaller than a pager, weighs about an ounce, and is water resistant, permitting use in the shower.

Fall Alert is offered through the SOSSignal emergency response system from SOS Industries. Offering monitoring services nationwide since 1988, SOS Industries operates two linked monitoring centers.

For more information, contact SOS Industries, Inc. at (800) 368-2925. ***