Product Review

Product Update: PICO NPWT; Encision; TimerCap; AMA


 

SURGICAL SITE WOUND THERAPY

PICO NPWT is a negative-pressure wound therapy device to treat surgical site infection (SSI). According to Smith & Nephew, a new meta-analysis demonstrates that the prophylactic application of PICO with AIRLOCK™ Technology significantly reduces surgical site complications by 58%, the rate of dehiscence by 26%, and length of stay by one-half day when compared with standard care.

The PICO System is canister-free and disposable. Patients can be discharged safely with PICO in place. Seven days of therapy are provided in each kit, with 1 pump, 2 dressings, and fixation strips to allow for a dressing change.

PICO uses a 4-layer multifunction dressing design in which the layers work together to ensure that negative pressure is delivered to the wound bed and exudate is removed through absorption and evaporation. Approximately 20% of fluid still remains in the dressing. The top film layer has a high-moisture vapor transmission rate to transpire as much as 80% of the exudate, says Smith & Nephew.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: http://www.smith-nephew.com/

SHIELDED LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS PREVENT BURNS

Encision’s patented Active Electrode Monitoring (AEM®) Shielded Laparoscopic Instruments eliminate patient burns and the associated complications.

Every 90 minutes in the United States, a patient is severely injured from a stray energy burn during laparoscopic surgery, according to Encision. The AEM® Shielded Instruments are designed to eliminate burns caused by monopolar energy insulation failure and capacitive coupling, reducing complications and re-admissions.

In addition to helping health care professionals improve patient safety in line with a recent FDA safety communication, Active Electrode Monitoring is a recommended practice of AORN and AAGL.

Encision offers a complete line of premium laparoscopic monopolar surgical instruments with integrated AEM® technology as well as complimentary products to improve clinical effectiveness and patient safety, including bipolar and cold instrumentation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: https://www.encision.com/

iSORT: 7-DAY BLUETOOTH PILLBOX

TimerCap has a new Bluetooth-enabled 7-day pill box called the iSort that sends reminders to take medication to a patient’s phone using a free TimerCap App found at the AppStore and Android Market.

The iSort automatically records and stores the times when each door/slot is opened and closed. It knows which door has been used and seamlessly updates the TimerCap App. The app will notify the patient and, if designated, a caregiver, whenever a dose is due or missed using pictures to show what and how many meds are scheduled. More than one iSort box can be used with the app.

iSort provides reminders that help improve adherence to medication dosing instructions and eliminates annoying false alarms, double entries, and unnecessary reminders when pills already have been taken. The portable iSort uses 2 AA batteries that need to be changed about once per year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: https://www.timercap.com/isort

PLATFORM TO COORDINATE HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently has established a new initiative that introduces a solution to improve, organize, and share health care information. The Integrated Health Model Initiative (IHMI) is a platform that coordinates the health and technology sectors around a common data model. IHMI fills the national imperative to pioneer a shared framework for organizing health data, emphasizing patient-centric information, and refining data elements to those most predictive of better outcomes. The AMA says that evolving available health data to depict a complete picture of a patient’s journey from wellness to illness to treatment and beyond allows health care delivery to fully focus on patient outcomes, goals, and wellness. Participation in IHMI is open to all health care and technology stakeholders.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.ama-assn.org/ihmi

Share your thoughts! Send your Letter to the Editor to rbarbieri@mdedge.com. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.

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