she continued. “Achieving this high-level disinfection is key for patient and caregiver safety but reducing frequency and simplify- ing the process would greatly benefi t nurses in the current staffi ng environment.”


PRODUCT & SERVICE LINE REPORTS TEM0PERATURE MANAGEMENT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS


Looking forward As healthcare organizations evaluate and invest in pain and temperature management devices and technologies, Benincasa, Augustine, Cushman and Ford offer relevant and useful tips for supply chain to consider. “When your organization is considering upgrading your temper- ature management devices, be sure that the instrument is designed specifi cally for professional clinical use, covered by a strong war- ranty and easy-to-access technical support; offers accessories such as wall-mounts, basket-mounts, calibration checkers, security tethers (where needed) and other items which will help maintain process utilization and strengthen performance,” Thermomedics’ Benincasa advised.


Augustine insists on assessing the patient’s condition while on the surgical table.


“The majority of hospitals still use forced-air warming blankets, which result in 30% to 50% failure to reach normothermia,” he said. “Hypothermic patients, especially if they are shivering, experience signifi cantly more pain and general discomfort than normothermic patients. I invented Bair Hugger forced-air warming 35 years ago specifi cally to address the issue of signifi cant postoperative discom- fort due to hypothermia. To achieve surgical normothermia, the clear solution is to warm from above and below simultaneously.” Ecolab’s Cushman echoes the importance of maintaining normo- thermia for surgical patients.


“Many organizations don’t recognize the value of the improve-


ments made in irrigation fl uid temperature and volume tracking during invasive procedures,” he noted. “Maintaining patient normothermia has been linked to improved patient outcomes. Negative patient outcomes can be tremendously costly for health- care organizations.”


Ford recommends portability. “Continuous therapy with a portable device – especially for perioperative warming – is miss- ing at most facilities,” she said. “This ability to have your patients warm and comfortable as they are preparing for surgery, having surgery and recovering from surgery would improve outcomes and improve patient satisfaction.”


Mathieson expresses concern about device and equipment age, cautioning how that can affect quality outcomes. “Many facilities maintain temperature management technology


that is decades old,” she noted. “This older technology often has outdated algorithms that check in on patient temperature a couple of times per hour, rather than every few seconds – which limits their ability to precisely control patient temperature and increases the likelihood for a patient temperature overshoot. In addition, older temperature management technology also often has limited dispos- ables which are not insulated, easy to clean or self-sealing. Newer disposables help with heat transfer to control patient temperature more precisely and improve clinical effi ciency through ease of use and by reducing water spills and limiting pad replacement due to patient bioburden.”


Mathieson encourages hospitals that are not seeing the precision or control they need to look to new devices for improved precision. “Hospitals that are struggling with nurse turnover and staff short- ages should consider upgrading to new TM technology for newer easy-to-use technology that will improve effi ciency in the TM treat- ment process,” she recommended. “Lastly, hospitals that are renew- ing focus on wound care and infection prevention should consider newer technology that does not aerosolize microbes and promotes skin integrity through the use of non-adhesive disposables.” HPN


The newest offering in patient temperature management products is the Ecolab Hush Slush 2.0. This device is primarily used in open heart and transplant procedures. It is engineered to make velvety soft surgical slush that may aid in minimizing damage to sensitive organs or tissues. It comes with a built-in fl uid warmer for surgical site irrigation and improvements to speed and safety over the previous generation of Ecolab ORS slush machines. Healthcare organizations more than ever need improved products they can rely on for the safety of their patients.


Altrix Temperature Management System from Stryker


Altrix is a Precision Temperature Management System which can be used through- out the care continuum. It offers three unique modes to meet the needs of both low and high acuity Temperature Management. Altrix can be set to manage water temperature alone, or to precisely manage patient temperature within 0.1oC by checking and


responding to patient temperature every few seconds for Targeted Temperature Management. Altrix is simple for caregivers to use, highly critical with current nursing shortages and travel nurses, safe for patients by offering non-adhesive disposables to promote skin integrity and helping to protect the air around patients by preventing the aerosolization of microbes, and it is effi cient for the facility due to its versatility of modes and disposables to meet the ever-changing TM needs throughout the hospital.


hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • July 2022 59


Augustine Surgical HotDog Patient Warming System Achieve better normothermia outcomes by warming above and below the patient simulta- neously, which the versatile HotDog® Pa- tient Warming System does effi ciently with the WC77 Controller, U101 Warming Mattress overlay, and B500 Universal Blanket.


CareGiver Thermometer from Thermomedics


THE CAREGIVER® PROFESSIONAL is a clinical-grade infrared thermom- eter for measurement of forehead temperature in adults, children, and infants without contact. It is de- signed for use in a wide variation of medical settings and can also deliver ambient/skin surface temperatures with the fl ick of a switch.


Ecolab Hush Slush 2.0


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