ClearCount Medical Solutions (http://www.clearcount.com) and Medline
Industries, Inc. (http://www.medline.com/) today announced that their
newest customers, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare system, will help
prevent retained surgical sponge incidents with the use of the
SmartSponge System@
(http://www.medline.com/programs/clear-count-smartsponge-system/) .
The SmartSponge System is part of ClearCount's radio-frequency
identification (RFID)-based platform that uniquely identifies each
sponge so that they can be easily counted and detected. Medline is the
exclusive distributor for the SmartWand-DTX
(https://www.medline.com/irj/catalog/details/MDSSMARTWAND) and the
SmartSponge System
(https://www.medline.com/irj/catalog/details/MDSSMARTBKT) , the only
FDA-cleared systems using RFID
(https://www.medline.com/media-room/press-release.asp?ID122) to both
count and locate surgical sponges.
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"We are pleased to derive the benefits of such a comprehensive
solution for the prevention of retained surgical sponges," said Mark
A. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Surgeon and Medical Director of the
Surgery Specialty Service Line, VA Pittsburgh. "We use the SmartSponge
System to improve patient safety in our ORs with the goal of also
improving efficiency. The uniqueness of this RFID platform is its
integration of both counting and detection strategies. It is capable
of growing with our patient safety initiatives, and we look forward to
the future benefits it will provide."
"The SmartSponge System provides a safety net for human error. Despite
the level of experience of staff, individuals are bound to make
mistakes. Distractions during counting and the mundane simplicity of
'counting' make the inevitability of losing track of a sponge a
constant reality. The use of a system that virtually eliminates
retained sponge incidents allows us to meet our ethical obligation to
our patients," said William Stevens, RN, BSN, CNOR Nurse Manager
OR/PACU Surgery Specialty Service Line, VA Pittsburgh.
The VA Pittsburgh hospital has implemented SmartSponge Systems into
its full suite of operating rooms. The national Veterans Health
system, which includes 155 medical centers and 842 outpatient clinics,
is the largest health care system in the US, with more than 5 million
of the 25 million veterans alive today receiving its services.
"We're pleased to add the VA Pittsburgh to our customer base," said
David Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of ClearCount. "The VA
Pittsburgh has shown great leadership in terms of innovation and its
commitment to patient safety. We are proud to now be a part of that
continued tradition."
Despite designation as a "never event," retained items are estimated
to occur in one of every 1,000 to 1,500 abdominal surgical procedures,
which can lead to hospital inefficiencies, unnecessary costs, serious
infections and even death. Hospital infections add an estimated $30.5
billion to the nation's hospital costs each year. In one study using a
retrospective review of medical malpractice claims data from a
statewide insurer in Massachusetts, sponge counts had been falsely
correct in 76 percent of non-vaginal surgical cases involving retained
sponges. Falsely correct sponge counts were attributed to team
fatigue, difficult or long operations, sponges "sticking together,"
shift changes or procedures with a large number of sponges.
About ClearCount Medical SolutionsClearCount Medical Solutions is a
medical device company focused on patient safety solutions. ClearCount
has assembled an extendable RFID-based platform that provides a
comprehensive solution to improve efficiency while preventing medical
errors, distributed exclusively by Medline. ClearCount Medical
Solutions has been recognized with a Popular Science 2009 Best of
What's New Award, and has received additional recognition from TIME
and WIRED magazines, the 2009 Wall Street Journal Technology
Innovation Award, the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) and
more. ClearCount's SmartSponge and SmartWand-DTX systems are the only
RFID enabled systems for counting and detecting surgical sponges,
thereby improving patient and OR safety, enhancing productivity, and
reducing cost. To learn more, visit www.clearcount.com
(http://www.clearcount.com) .
About Medline Industries, Inc. Medline, the nation's largest privately
held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures
and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care
facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies.
Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated
sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and
cost management services.
Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing
distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as
the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare
systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive
array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply
chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools
and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.
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