Baxa Corporation Announces Enteral Syringes Now on Contract with AmeriNet, MedAssets, Novation and Premier Group Purchasing Organizations
Baxa Corporation announces its new syringes, designed for enteral feeding only, have been accepted on contract with key group purchasing organizations to facilitate hospital compliance with patient safety goals and to prevent wrong-route errors. Contracts for enteral syringes have been made between Baxa and these top US group purchasing organizations: AmeriNet, MedAssets, Novation and Premier. Baxa Corporation's specialty enteral syringes were launched in response to Joint Commission and National Health Service Alerts regarding the risks of tubing and catheter misconnection errors.
Englewood, Colo. (PRWEB) April 30, 2007
Baxa Corporation announces the acceptance of its Exacta-Med® Enteral Syringes on contract with the top US group purchasing organizations - AmeriNet, MedAssets, Novation and Premier. The first medication syringes designed only for enteral feeding, the new Baxa enteral syringes feature a unique tip and distinctive enteral markings to prevent wrong-route administration of oral medications and nutrition. These specialty enteral syringes were launched in response to Joint Commission and National Health Service Alerts regarding the risks of tubing and catheter misconnection errors.
Premier and its member hospitals were the first to push for an industry response to the recognized dangers of tubing misconnections for enteral feeding, particularly in pediatric and neonatal applications where the majority of the oral and enteral doses are provided through a gastric tube. In the past three years, numerous journal articles and reference studies have documented the significant risks in using luer devices for administration of oral and enteral medications. Having the Baxa Exacta-Med Enteral Syringes on contract with all three of the key group purchasing organizations makes it easier for their members to access the products and comply with best practice recommendations.
In its Sentinel Event Alert published in 2006, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations stated that a standard luer syringe should "never" be used for oral medications or enteral feedings. Notes Katie Calabrese, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Baxa product manager, "The UK National Health Service and the US Institute for Safe Medication Practice have joined the Joint Commission in recommending the use of specialty syringes for all oral liquid doses. Adding the distinctive orange coloring to the syringes further differentiates them for enteral applications only."
Baxa enteral syringes are syringe-like devices with a non-luer tip that will not accept a hypodermic needle or actuate a needless IV access port. Their orange lettering and stripe coordinates with enteral tube sets; making them the safe choice for enteral fluid drug delivery. The new Exacta-Med Syringes, available in 20, 35 and 60 mL sizes, are individually packaged to reduce the opportunity for contamination prior to filling and administration.
Baxa focuses on providing technology to health-system pharmacies that improves patient safety, reduces the risk of medication errors and facilitates compliance to USP, Joint Commission, National Health Service and other regulatory requirements. The wider tip design of the Exacta-Med Syringes was developed in cooperation with representatives and customers from large children's hospitals.
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 (http://www. baxa. com)
About Premie
Premier, Inc., is a healthcare alliance entirely owned by more than 200 of the nation's leading not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems. These organizations operate or are affiliated with nearly 1,500 hospitals and more than 41,000 other healthcare sites. Headquartered in San Diego, Premier has offices in Charlotte, NC, and Washington, DC. To learn more, visit http://www. premierinc. com (http://www. premierinc. com)
About Novation
Based in Irving, Texas, Novation is the leading health care contracting services company, delivering unmatched savings and value to nearly 2,500 members of VHA Inc. and the University Health System Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances. Through its competitive bid process, Novation develops and manages contracts with more than 500 suppliers, both large and small. For more information, visit http://www. novationco. com (http://www. novationco. com)
About MedAssets
MedAssets, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, improves healthcare providers' margin and cash flow through revenue cycle and supply chain initiatives. MedAssets, through its supply chain subsidiary, operates the fastest growing group purchasing organization and supply chain services company in the U. S. and builds customized solutions encompassing procurement of common medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, physician preference supplies, and capital equipment. To learn more, visit http://www. medassets. com (http://www. medassets. com)
About AmeriNet
Amerinet partners with health care providers to improve operating margins through a comprehensive line of strategic resources designed to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and create new revenue streams. Supported by a team of clinical and data experts, and a comprehensive portfolio of purchasing contracts,
Amerinet identifies immediate cost-savings and provides a choice of quality, competitively priced products and services supplied by industry leaders. Amerinet serves more than 22,000 acute and non-acute health care providers nationwide. To learn more, visit http://www. amerinet-gpo. com (http://www. amerinet-gpo. com)
Contacts:
Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing
Baxa Corporation http://www. baxa. com (http://www. baxa. com) - 800.567.2292 ext. 2157 or 303.617.2157
Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR
Absolutely Public Relations http://www. absolutelypr. com (http://www. absolutelypr. com) - 303.984.9801 or 303.669.3558
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