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Baxa Corporation Launches Educational Campaign Highlighting the Risks of Enteral Tubing Misconnections |
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Englewood, Colo., March 21, 2007 – Baxa Corporation announces the launch of a new educational campaign promoting the use of dedicated enteral systems for enteral feeding. The campaign highlights the risks to neonates when syringes, administration sets and other disposables with luer fittings are used for non-IV applications such as enteral feeding. While tubing misconnections can be deadly for any patient, neonates represent the highest risk population due to their small size and other health complications. Components of the campaign include a direct marketing piece, technical white papers, Web site, press releases, participation in industry lobbying efforts and the development of products that eliminate the risks. The campaign launch closely follows the January 2007 release by the Joint Commission of their proposed 2008 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) for comment. The NPSG draft recommends that providers take steps to prevent catheter and tubing misconnections. In their Sentinel Event Alert released April 3, 2006, the Joint Commission stated that a standard luer syringe should “never” be used for oral medications or enteral feedings. Devices that incorporate a ‘forcing function’ – physically preventing misconnection – provide the best means for patient safety and compliance. “Our goal was to raise awareness of the issue through the campaign and eliminate the risk with product improvements,” says Katie Calabrese, neonatal nurse practitioner and Baxa product manager. “These improvements needed to completely remove the luer connections from this application.” Baxa Exacta-Med® Enteral Syringes, included in some of the campaign materials, are the first medication dispensers designed only for enteral feeding. They incorporate a unique dispenser tip that cannot connect to a luer device, and distinctive enteral marking, orange lettering and stripe to coordinate with dedicated enteral tube sets. When used with the VIASYS MedSystems CORFLO® Anti-IV Enteral Feeding System, the Baxa enteral syringes combine to form a dedicated system that prevents wrong-route administration of non-IV fluids. The microsite http://www.baxa.com/helpthemgrow features campaign information and support materials. Since 1975, Baxa Corporation’s focus has been to provide technology for health-system pharmacies that improves patient safety, reduces the risk of medication errors and facilitates compliance to USP, JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. Latex-free Baxa enteral syringes fit the needs of pharmacy, nursing and outpatient caregivers for safe medication administration. The wider tip design of the Exacta-Med Dispensers was developed in cooperation with representatives and customers from premier children’s hospitals worldwide. About Baxa Corporation Baxa, a customer-focused medical device company, provides innovative, solution-based technologies for fluid handling and delivery. Its systems and devices promote the safe and efficient preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of fluid medications. Privately held, Baxa Corporation has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada and the United Kingdom; direct representation in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http://www.baxa.com About VIASYS Healthcare Inc. VIASYS Healthcare Inc. is a global, research-based medical technology company focused on respiratory, neurology, medical disposable and orthopedic products. VIASYS products are marketed under well-recognized trademarks including, among others, AVEA®, BEAR®, BIRD®, CORFLO®, CORPAK®, CORTRAK®, EME®, GRASON-STADLER®, JAEGER™, LYRA®, MEDELEC®, MICROGAS®, NAVIGATOR®, NICOLET®, NicoletOne™, PULMONETIC™, SENSORMEDICS®, TECA®, TECOMET™, VELA® and VMAX®. VIASYS is headquartered in Conshohocken, PA, and its businesses are conducted through its Respiratory Care, NeuroCare, MedSystems and Orthopedics business units. More information can be found at http://www.viasyshealthcare.com ### Contacts: Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR
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Case Study: Premature Infants Safer Because Of New Feeding System “Today, thanks to a collaboration among Premier, member hospitals and two suppliers, tiny infants receiving nutrition through feeding tubes face far less danger from the risk of IV lines and feeding tubes being accidentally connected. VIASYS MedSystems of Wheeling, Ill., a subsidiary of VIASYS Healthcare Inc. and Baxa Corporation of Englewood, Colo., have worked together to develop enteral-only tubing and syringes for feeding neonates and pediatric patients. These devices contain special connections that are incompatible with the standard Luer connections on IV lines. The new products are the VIASYS CORFLO® Anti-IV Feeding System and the Baxa Exacta-Med® Anti-IV Enteral Syringes. The new feeding system is the result of actions begun at a meeting of the Premier member Women and Children’s Committee (formerly the Pediatric Med/Surg Committee), contracted suppliers, and Premier’s Safety Institute in 2003. Debbie Campbell, RN, clinical manager of the pediatric ICU at Kosair Children’s Hospital, a part of Norton Healthcare in Louisville, KY, is a member of that committee.” Read more. . . |
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