Baxter to Acquire to Privately Held Baxa Corporation
Deerfield, IL, Aug. 25, 2011—Baxter International Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Baxa Corporation, a privately held company based in Englewood, Colo. Baxa develops pharmacy technology that enhances the efficiency and safety of oral and IV dose preparation and delivery. The addition of Baxa’s product lines will complement Baxter’s portfolio of nutrition products and drug delivery systems and supports patient safety.
Joint Commission Issues Alert: Dangers of Diagnostic Radiation
Oakbrook Terrace, IL, Aug. 24, 2011—While diagnostic radiation tests can help save lives, a new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert warns that health care organizations must seek new ways to reduce exposure to repeated doses of harmful radiation from these diagnostic procedures. The Alert urges greater attention to the risk of long-term damage and cumulative harm that can occur if a patient is given repeated doses of diagnostic radiation.
GE Healthcare Launches Centricity Business 5.0
Barrington, Illinois, August 22, 2011—GE Healthcare, a leading provider of healthcare information technology, launched Centricity* Business 5.0, the next-generation revenue cycle management solution for hospital networks, academic medical centers, large practices and physician billing groups.
TeleTracking Announces Availability of its Next Generation Real-Time Locating System (RTLS)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 22, 2011—TeleTracking Technologies, Inc. announced the availability of its second generation Real-Time Locating System, TeleTracking RTLS.
New Treatment Model Targets Improved Patient Outcomes at Free Clinic
Aug. 19, 2011—The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic in Herndon, Virginia, has received a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield grant to expand its Shared Medical Appointment program, a treatment model designed to increase clinic capacity, maximize staff and volunteer efficiency, and empower patients to engage in their own health care outcomes.
Editor’s Note: Old, Reliable Resources
For better or worse, many patient safety resources hold their value over time. Hazards in healthcare persist, and many of the solutions we advocate today date back years or decades.
American College of Surgeons Announces Goal to Enlist 1,000 Hospitals to its National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
CHICAGO (July 18, 2011) – The American College of Surgeons (ACS) today announced its goal to enlist at least 1,000 hospitals into its respected National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®). The commitment is part of the ACS Inspiring Quality initiative launched today, an effort to raise awareness of proven models of quality improvement, coordinated care and disease management that can help improve the quality and value of health care.
Zynx Health Streamlines Clinical Decision Support Workflow
Los Angeles, August 16, 2011—Zynx Health, the market leader in providing evidence-based and experience-based clinical decision support (CDS) solutions, announced the release of two software enhancements designed to streamline clinician workflow and improve productivity: Workflow Management, which simplifies CDS content development; and Export Validation, which provides a more efficient integration of content into the electronic health record system and expedites the delivery of evidence-based CDS to the point of care.
AHRA and Toshiba Expand Fourth Annual “Putting Patients First” Program
Aug. 15, 2011—The AHRA & Toshiba “Putting Patients First” program provides six grants of up to $7,500 each to hospitals and imaging centers and an additional grant of up to $20,000 to an integrated delivery etwork to fund programs, training or seminars aimed at improving patient care and safety in CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray and vascular imaging. The application deadline is Oct. 11, 2011.
PharMEDium Unveils New Website with Focus on Patient Safety
Aug. 15, 2011—PharMEDium Services, LLC, market leader for customized pharmacy sterile compounding for hospital intravenous and epidural therapies, launched its new website,www.pharmedium.com, which now provides updates on drug shortages, patient safety and ready-to-use pharmacy compounding services.