For Immediate Release
Medline's Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program Addresses New CMS Deadline Of October 1, 2008
Program combines a product bundle, education and training, and program support to assist in reducing healthcare-acquired pressure ulcers
Thursday, May 29, 2008 —
Knowing that pressure ulcers are top-of-mind for the entire healthcare community, Medline Industries, Inc. today introduced its Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program to assist in reducing and preventing pressure ulcers, incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) and skin tears.
It's crucial that healthcare facilities take a hard look at their current pressure ulcer prevention strategies and fill in any gaps. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in FY2007, there were 257,412 preventable pressure ulcers reported as secondary diagnoses in hospitals. The average cost of each of those pressure ulcers is estimated to be $43,180 per hospital stay. These figures are staggering, and pressure ulcers are about to have even graver implications for health care. Beginning October 1, 2008, the CMS will no longer assign a higher diagnosis-related group (DRG) for facility-acquired pressure ulcers. The financial implications of this new policy are enormous.
Compelled to help customers understand and address this new policy, Medline turned to a panel of wound care experts to provide possible solutions. The result is a program that integrates a product bundle, education and training, and program support. Combined with a money-back guarantee, the goal of the program is to reduce facility-acquired pressure ulcers and improve outcomes while saving facilities time and money.
Product Bundle
The product bundle includes Medline's Remedy line of products: moisturizers; cleansers; protectants and antifungals. All of these products contain Olivamine®, a patented blend of ingredients that deliver essential nutrients necessary for optimal skin health including amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants and MSM.
Incontinence products are also part of the product bundle. Medline understands that managing incontinence is extremely challenging and time-consuming and has developed products that provide possible solutions to these challenges.
Included in this bundle are Ultrasorbs® AP dry pads and Restore®/Remedy™ adult briefs. Both of these products help to keep the skin dry, a very important quality in reducing and preventing IAD. The Restore/Remedy adult brief provides an extra level of care with its Remedy-lotioned inner liner, helping to keep the skin dry and moisturized.
A pressure ulcer prevention program wouldn't be complete without support surfaces. Included in the product bundle are the Medline Supra DPS alternating pressure and low-air-loss mattresses.
Education and Training
This comprehensive program packages together all the tools and resources a healthcare team needs to implement an effective pressure ulcer prevention program and immediately begin reducing the incidence of healthcare-acquired pressure ulcers.
Nursing Assistant Workbooks
Designed to take nursing assistants straight to the heart of pressure ulcer prevention, these four-chapter workbooks include exercises and exams to reinforce knowledge.
Nurse Workbooks
Ideal for RNs and LPNs, these workbooks contain both core and advanced learning tracks so that each participant can select the most appropriate material level for their current understanding of pressure ulcer prevention.
Instructor Notebooks
The Instructor Notebooks contain a copy of the International Expert Wound Care Advisory Panel's consensus paper on pressure ulcer prevention, as well as teaching materials, forms and tools and references.
Patient & Family Education Brochures
These brochures are designed to educate patients and their families, who often provide continuing care for the patient at home.
CDs
Contains all of the materials found in the workbooks and binder. Program adoptees are encouraged to personalize these documents and distribute them.
Rewards Program
Staff members who complete the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program receive an attractive golden pin. When affixed to uniforms, these pins are also a great way to keep pressure ulcer prevention top-of-mind!
Program Support
Medline also offers complete support from the moment a facility adopts the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program. Medline will partner with the facility to implement the program, assist in staff education and training and help track facility-acquired pressure ulcer incidence and outcomes effectiveness. Long-term continued support for the program includes webinars, user groups and other peer networking activities.
To learn more about the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program, visit www.medline.com or call 1-800-MEDLINE.
About Medline
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 and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, IL, Medline has more than 800 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 250 major hospitals and health care 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.
Medline has a growing network of 34 distribution centers around the country, as well as an expanding, dedicated transportation fleet with over 160 vehicles in a variety of sizes to fit customers' specific delivery needs. The fleet is equipped with the latest navigation devices for enhanced order tracking and communication.