October
From Acute Care facilities to Private Practice to Extended Care, RNs are the backbone of effective, compassionate care. The many facets of assessing, monitoring and managing patients are made easier with tools specifically designed for those clinical needs. Similarly, providing evidence-based care is supported by medical devices that are practical, reliable, and easy to use across multiple healthcare settings.
Urinary catheters are associated with higher UTI rates, longer hospital stays, and increased costs.1,2 And up to 80% of nosocomial UTIs come from indwelling urinary catheter use.3
New 2009 CDC Guidelines (II-H) indicate, “Consider using a portable ultrasound device…to reduce unnecessary catheter insertions.” Further information on this guideline is available at CDC Website.
BladderScan® ultrasound instruments noninvasively measure bladder volume accurately and reliably. They are easy for staff to use and no sonographer is required. They can help reduce catheterizations, the rate of catheter-associated UTIs and the complications that can result.
References: 1. Saint S, Lipsky BA. “Preventing Catheter-Related Bacteriuria: Should We? Can We? How?” Archives of Internal Medicine. 159 (26 April 1999): 800-808. 2. Cox CE. Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections. Urology. 32 (Sept. 1988) 3:210-214. 3. Saint S, Kowalski CP, Kaufman SR, Hofer TP, Kauffman CA, et al. Preventing Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection in the United States: A National Study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2008: 46; 243-56. 4. Moore DA, Edwards K. “Using a Portable Bladder Scan to Reduce the Incidence of Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections.” Medsurg Nursing. 1997, 6 (1), 39-43.
In an aging population, an increasing number of patients may be at risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA occurs in about 10% of men over 65 who have risk factors for vascular disease (e.g., obesity, smoking, etc.).1
Rupture of an AAA is most often fatal, causing up to 30,000 deaths a year in the U.S. Early diagnosis and surgical management, however, have been shown to decrease mortality1
The AortaScan® AMI 9700 instrument which measures abdominal aortic diameter can help physicians identify the presence of AAA. Quick, noninvasive, and accurate it is easy for staff to use -- no sonographer is required.
References:1. Ma OJ, Mateer JR, Blaivas M, eds. Emergency Ultrasound. 2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2008: 149-168.
In patients experiencing acute or chronic urinary retention, diagnosis and treatment can be aided with the use of noninvasive portable ultrasound.
BladderScan® 3D ultrasound instruments help diagnose and monitor urinary retention. They are quick, accurate and easy to use. They can help improve patient outcomes by reducing the duration of urinary catheterization, or avoiding it altogether.1 This can help reduce the rate of catheter-associated UTIs and the complications that can result.2,3
Some models have onboard video tutorials. Measurements can be done by staff - no sonographer is required. Exam results can be printed for physician review or exported to an EHR system.
References: 1. Moore DA, Edwards K. “Using a Portable Bladder Scan to Reduce the Incidence of Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections.” Medsurg Nursing. 1997, 6 (1), 39-43.. 2. Saint S, Lipsky BA. “Preventing Catheter-Related Bacteriuria: Should We? Can We? How?” Archives of Internal Medicine. 159 (26 April 1999): 800-808 3. Cox CE. Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections. Urology. 32 (Sept. 1988) 3:210-214.
Among the concerns in the PACU is managing postoperative urinary retention (POUR).
New evidence-based guidelines suggest that patient care may be improved and POUR may be alleviated by recommending appropriate catheter removal combined with ultrasound bladder monitoring.1,2
BladderScan® ultrasound bladder volume instruments help diagnose and monitor urinary retention. They are quick, accurate, easy to use - no sonographer is required. They can help manage POUR and improve patient outcomes by reducing the duration of urinary catheterization, or avoiding it altogether.3
References: 1. Baldini G, Bagry H, Aprikian A, Carli F. Postoperative urinary retention: anesthetic and perioperative considerations. Anesthesiology. 2009;110(5):1139-1157. 2. Zaouter C, Kaneva P, Carli F. Less urinary tract infection by earlier removal of bladder catheter in surgical patients receiving thoracic epidural analgesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2009;34(6):542-548. 3. Moore DA, Edwards K. “Using a Portable Bladder Scan to Reduce the Incidence of Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections.” Medsurg Nursing. 1997, 6 (1), 39-43.
Establishing and maintaining a patent airway is a critical part of clinical care. Airway management is complicated by factors—such as trauma, obesity, and other anatomical anomalies—that clinicians must overcome in patients of all sizes and weights. That’s why reliable, practical airway tools for a wide range of circumstances are so important.
GlideScope® video laryngoscopes are designed for 1st Pass Success. They provide a clear, real-time view of the airway and tube placement—ideal for difficult airways.
With configurations designed for a wide range of patient weights and sizes—from preterm to morbidly obese—GlideScope® video laryngoscopes let airway professionals choose the right tool for their patients.
New ScanPoint® image management technology gives healthcare professionals a comprehensive view of individual patient exam results from multiple ScanPoint-enabled instruments, allowing quick and easy tracking of treatment progress.
ScanPoint technology provides HIPAA-compliant online storage of patient records and secure EHR connectivity, enabling integration of exam data into patient health records.It also generates PDFs of exam records in multiple formats for patient records or reimbursement.