BOTHELL, Wash., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Verathon(R) is pleased to offer a free Infection Prevention Information Kit designed to help hospitals implement strategies to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs). As of October 1, 2008, Medicare no longer will reimburse for treatment of preventable nosocomial CA-UTIs.(1) This important regulatory change means hospitals may face significant cost increases based on reduced reimbursements for CA-UTIs contracted during a hospital stay.
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Infection control and prevention is an increasing concern in healthcare settings -- and UTIs are the most common hospital-acquired infection.(2)(3) In 2002, the CDC estimated that UTIs accounted for 36% of all nosocomial infections. That year, more than 13,000 deaths were attributed to hospital- acquired UTIs.(4) Up to 25% of hospitalized patients have a urinary catheter placed during their stay. The use of indwelling urinary catheters accounts for 80% of nosocomial UTIs. (2)(5) According to a study in the American Journal of Medicine, the annual cost of UTIs in hospitals may be as much as $451 million.(6)
The Infection Prevention Information Kit includes the following clinical articles:
To order a free copy of the Infection Prevention Information Kit, please contact Verathon Medical(R) Customer Care at 1-800-331-2313. For more information, please visit http://www.verathon.com.
References:
1. Federal Register, Vol. 72: 162; 47203-47205, Rules and Regulations. 2. Saint S, et al., “Preventing Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection in the United States: A National Study.” Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008: 46; 243- 56. 3. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, “Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms In Healthcare Settings,” The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (2006), http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/mdroGuideline2006.pdf. 4. Klevens, RM, et al, “Estimating Health Care-Associated Infections and Deaths in U.S. Hospitals, 2002", Public Health Reports, March - April 2007, Vol. 122, 160- 166. 5. Krieger, et.al., “Urinary tract etiology of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients.” J Infect Dis. 1983; 148(1): 57-62. 6. Consumers Union, “New Medicare Regulations Adopted to Reduce Certain Hospital Infections and Medical Errors - Medicare Will Withhold Payments To Hospitals For Failing To Keep Patients Safe,” (Aug. 8, 2007). http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_health_care/004786.html.
About Verathon Inc.
Verathon(R), formerly Diagnostic Ultrasound Corp., designs and manufactures reliable, state-of-the-art medical devices and services that offer a meaningful improvement in patient care to the health care community. The company’s noninvasive BladderScan(R) instrument is the standard of care for bladder volume measurement. The brand is found in over 60 countries in Urology and Primary Care practices, as well as Acute and Extended Care facilities. With the January 2006 acquisition of Saturn Biomedical Systems in Vancouver, Canada, Verathon(R) entered Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Emergency markets with the GlideScope(R) Video Laryngoscope (GVL(R)) brand. Verathon(R) is headquartered in Bothell, Washington and has over 350 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.verathon.com.
Media Contact: Rick Goetter, Brand Director - BladderScan(R), Verathon Medical(R), 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5608). Alternate Contacts: Jane Mueller, VP of Marketing, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5600) and Nansea Carmichael, Executive Assistant - Marketing, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5607).
Copyright (C) 2008, Verathon Inc. BladderScan(R), GlideScope(R), GVL(R), NeuralHarmonics(TM) Technology, ScanPoint(R), Verathon(R), and Verathon Medical(R) are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Verathon Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved.
CONTACT: Rick Goetter, Brand Director - BladderScan(R), Verathon
Medical(R), +1-425-867-1348, ext. 5608, or Jane Mueller, VP of Marketing,
+1-425-867-1348, ext. 5600, or Nansea Carmichael, Executive Assistant -
Marketing, +1-425-867-1348, ext. 5607, all of Verathon Inc.
Web site: http://www.verathon.com/
