Categories
Pedigo

Copper Kills MRSA

The link below is to a very short article from the Journal of the American Society of Microbiology.
The article states that:
 
MRSA IS KILLED ON COPPER IN 20 MINUTES OR LESS.
COPPER DESTROYS THE GENOMIC DNA OF THE BACTERIA.
 
Sound confusing or technical…it is not really.  Copper and CuVerro (copper and nickel alloy) kill bacteria.
 
These are the facts:
  1. Germs are everywhere.
  2. Infections cause great harm.
  3. Copper kills infectious bacteria.
Pedigo is the only company offering bactericidal side rails on an extremely high touch surface (transport stretchers) that travels throughout the acute care hospital with very little chance of getting thoroughly cleaned.
Link to article here: https://aem.asm.org/content/early/2016/01/25/AEM.03861-15.abstract
Categories
Cleaning Verification Stations Endoscope Reprocessing News Healthmark Industries SGNA Houston

SGNA BREAKING NEWS

Announcement: SGNA Releases Revised Infection Prevention Practice Document
SGNA recently revised a practice document focused on infection prevention. The revised Standards of Infection Prevention in Reprocessing of Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes (2016) refines the statement about manual cleaning of endoscopes, and includes a detailed listing of practice areas where further research is needed. SGNA is committed to providing gastroenterology nursing professionals with resources based on current evidence, and evaluates and updates practice documents when new research is published or brought forward.
As the professional organization representing GI nurses and associates, SGNA is committed to meeting the needs of our specialty with practice-related strategies. Infection Prevention is a critical issue facing GI professionals, and SGNA provides GI professionals with the necessary tools and resources to ensure the delivery of safe patient care.
Categories
Bronchoscope Cleaning Cleaning Verification Stations Endoscope Reprocessing News Healthmark Industries Infection Control Tips SGNA Houston

New Quick Comply Starter Kit!

Healthmark Industries is proud to present the “Quick Comply” starter kit for your Endoscopy / GI departments.

Designed to comply with AAMI ST91, the Quick Comply Kit provides key elements for cleaning verification, safe storage, traceability, and labeling all in one convenient kit: 100 ChannelCheck™ (UCC-101) that come with 2 boxes of 50 test strips and 1 control per box capable of testing any lumened instrument for residual organic soils (i.e., blood, protein and carbohydrates); 20 Valvesafe™ (VS-002 BLU) single-use polypropylene cages that attach to endoscopes for storage of up to four endoscope valves and detachable parts, the unique container design has large openings that allow disinfectants to flow through effectively and permit adequate drying in a contaminant free environment; 1 Valvesafe™ Dispenser (VSH-022) made from ABS Plastic designed to store 20 single-use Valvesafe™ cages (VS-002 BLU); 100 Green HangTime Labels (403225 HTKG) that track your endoscope by day and month to indicate the scopes last reprocess date, which includes fillable spaces for the scope serial number and initials (labels are available in other colors). The Quick Comply Kit is available for individual purchase.

Part# Description Pkg Price

QCK-101 Quick Comply Kit EA $165.00

More information available upon request. Email US or Call: 713-640-5393

TheQuickComplyKitProductReleaseMemo

Categories
Bronchoscope Cleaning Endoscope Reprocessing News IAHCSMM Infection Control Tips LogiQuip SGNA Houston

New Scope Drying Cabinet from Logiquip

Houston Hospital Services is the proud distributor for Logiquip Storage Solutions. At the IAHCSMM Conference and Expo, Logiquip launched a newly designed Endoscope drying cabinet. Logiquip is proud to offer a full line of endoscope cabinets, the Endo Dri-Stor series. Fabricated using high-quality stainless steel and available with a broad range of options including channel air purge. Designed to stylishly protect and manage scopes.

FEATURES:

• All welded type 304 stainless steel fabrication.

• Every surface is non-porous and can withstand hospital-grade disinfectants.

• Hinged glass doors with stainless steel 1-1 /2″ tubular frame and piano hinge.

• Innovative side-compartment design allows easy access for to interior components and cabinet modularity. Two storage cabinets can attach to one component cabinet, which provides significant space and cost savings

• The modular design allows for options to be added later, expanding with your needs.

• Removable bottom stainless steel drip tray allows access to adjustable leveling feet and also to clean the floor beneath the cabinet.

• LED Lighting

• More ventilation options than any other cabinet made in North America. Choose from: – Ambient without filter – Power vent with HEPA Filter – Channel Air Purge with HEPA Filter – Power vent with HEPA Filter and Individual Channel Purge

• Premium HEPA filter: removes 99:97% of particulate 0.3 micron in size

The Industry Demands REAL Channel Purge Drying Cabinets! 

Drying is a critical element in reprocessing … Endoscopes must be stored in an area that is clean, well­ ventilated and dust-free in order to keep the endoscopes dry and free of microbial contamination …. Drying cabinets are designed to control air quality and humidity, and access to endoscopes” SGNA, Standards of Infection Prevention in Reprocessing of Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes, 2015

For more information or to contact us for a quote, please call 713-640-5393 or email team@hhstx.com

Categories
Bronchoscope Cleaning Cleaning Verification Stations Healthmark Industries Infection Control Tips

Infections Associated with Reprocessed Flexible Bronchoscopes: FDA Safety Communication

HMARK - ENDOCHECK - HHS-lowAccording to a recent study, approximately 500,000 Bronchoscopes are performed nationwide each year. The FDA is taking a serious look at how meticulously these scopes are cleaned after each use. The team at Houston Hospital Services, Inc. in partnership with Healthmark Industries, offers solutions for some of the cleaning process failures outlined in this recent report. Below is an excerpt from that report. To read the report in its entirety, CLICK HERE

  • Failure to meticulously follow manufacturer instructions for reprocessing, including:
    • Lack of pre-cleaning at point of use. Pre-cleaning typically includes surface wiping and channel flushing to prevent drying of blood, tissue and other biological debris;
    • Failure to perform thorough manual cleaning before high-level disinfection (HLD) or sterilization;
    • Failure to flush or brush channels;
    • Use of expired detergent or high-level disinfectant;
    • Insufficient flushing, rinsing and/or drying after HLD.
  • Continued use of devices despite integrity, maintenance and mechanical issues, including:
    • Persistent device channel kinks or bends;
    • Channel wall scratches, divots, or crevices;
    • Holes, cracks, or other imperfections in the distal end;
    • Use of repaired or refurbished devices using out-of-specification parts;
    • Use of devices despite residual material in the instrument or suction channels.

Unfortunately, this isn’t something we are seeing LESS of in the news. However, we are confident steps are being taken at all levels to ensure patient safety and care. Healthmark Industries has an entire line of cleaning verification products that add very little time, money and effort to each procedure.  Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your departmental in-service TODAY. (713) 640-5393 or team@hhstx.com

 

Categories
IAHCSMM Infection Control Tips

IAHCSMM RECAP

The Grand Hyatt Conference Center in San Antonio played host to thousands of professionals for the annual IAHCSMM Conference & Expo (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management). Vendors, educators and professional converged to focus heavily of the topic of GI, Endoscopy and the best practices of processing of scopes. In the latest edition of Healthcare Purchasing News, there is an excellent trade recap of the winners, educators, vendors, spotlights and more. READ MORE

Categories
Hospital Development

Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital Opens its Doors

PEARLAND, Texas, March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The cranes and construction crews are gone, and in their place is the new, Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital – a 250,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art healthcare facility that ushers in a higher level of quality and safe care to the Pearland community.

Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital officially opens its doors offering a number of high-quality services and specialties to Pearland, Alvin, Angleton, Manvel and surrounding communities.
Photo – https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160329/348736

The hospital, along with the Convenient Care Center and adjoining medical office buildings, make up a 40-acre, comprehensive medical campus. Memorial Hermann Pearland becomes the 14th hospital in the Memorial Hermann Health System.

“This is an exciting time for us as we open our hospital and I say our hospital because many of our employees, including myself, live in Pearland,” says Mario Garner, Sr. Vice President and CEO, Memorial Hermann Pearland. “We want Memorial Hermann Pearland to quickly become the hospital of choice for the residents of Pearland, Alvin, Angleton, Manvel and surrounding communities.”

With its 64 beds, Memorial Hermann Pearland offers a number of high-quality services and specialties, including orthopedics and sports medicine, neurology, general surgery, heart and vascular, labor and delivery, gastroenterology and urology.

As an added amenity, Pearland Café, located inside Memorial Hermann Pearland, is open to the public serving breakfast from 7:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. daily. While at the hospital, patients and guests can also view Pearland’s historical timeline located just off the hospital’s main lobby. The timeline, which was developed in coordination with the Pearland Historical Society, illustrates the history of Pearland dating back to the early 1800s.

“We wanted our patients and their families to walk through our doors and into a warm, welcoming environment,” says Garner. “The unique architectural design of the hospital – which includes high ceilings and a lot of natural light – promotes a comforting healing environment for all. Equally important, the new hospital offers advanced, state-of-the-art technology to expertly address any healthcare need of the patient.”

The medical campus will offer additional benefits as part of the Memorial Hermann Health System. For example, if a patient arrives at Memorial Hermann Pearland in need of a higher level of care, they may be transferred to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital or Memorial Hermann LifeFlight® can quickly and safely transport patients to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center or Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Memorial Hermann Pearland is located at 16100 South Freeway on the southbound side of Highway 288 near FM 518.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Glenn Willey
Corporate Communications
(713) 242-2581 (o)
(919) 622-0623 (c)
glenn.willey@memorialhermann.org

Memorial Hermann logo.

Photo – https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160329/348736
Logo – https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140923/147994

 

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/memorial-hermann-pearland-hospital-opens-its-doors-300242726.html

©2016 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

Categories
AORN Surgical Conference & Expo LogiQuip Storage Solutions

AORN Surgical Conference & Expo

Don’t forget to visit our representatives with LogiQuip Healthcare Storage Solutions at the annual AORN Surgical Conference and Expo in Anneheim, California on April 2-6, 2016. Houston Hospital Services proudly represents several lines that will be exhibiting and presenting cutting edge solutions for the Texas Medical Center.

2016 AORN

Categories
Hospital Development

New Memorial Hermann Campus Opening!

Houston Hospital Services, Inc. was proud to serve our local community on February 22, 2016. In a recent Community Impact Newspaper (Cypress Edition) article by Shawn Arrajji,  The Memorial Hermann Hospital System expansion continues by opening a Convenient Care Center in the Cypress area north of Houston. Located at 27700 Hwy 290 in Cypress, TX the center is housed on the first floor of a six-story medical plaza that includes an additional 125,000 square feet of medical office space. The ribbon cutting was on March 1, 2016.

For the last year, together with GKL Health Services, Houston Hospital Services, Inc has provided support and solutions to assist the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Cypress, In the next year, Memorial Hermann plans additional expansion adding eight operating rooms, 16-bed intensive care unit, a neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac catheterization lab and a Memorial Hermann Life Flight helipad. For more information on this article, please visit the Community Impact Newspaper Online.

Categories
SGNA Houston

SGNA Houston Conference & Tradeshow Tomorrow!

On February 27, 2016, Houston Hospital Services, Inc. represents Healthmark Industries at the local Houston SGNA Annual Spring Conference and Tradeshow! Located at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Greenway from 6:30am until 5:00pm. Join us to see what’s new from Healthmark Industries and how Houston Hospital Services can help your Gastroenterology departments with the latest tools in reprocessing and cleaning verification. Anyone centered around the Gastroenterology or Endoscopy departments in the Texas Medical Center and surrounding hospital systems are encouraged to attend.