Between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year from preventable medical errors, according to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 1999 report. That single fact, along with all the complications associated with it — patient lawsuits, regulatory pressures and media scrutiny — has compelled hospitals to implement new systems to reduce preventable errors, including decreasing errors associated with the administration of medications. According to an American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists survey, the No.

An Achilles' heal in the armor of hospital patient safety protocol is the fact that anesthesiologists are the only doctors who diagnose, prescribe, fill the prescription and administer drugs with no checks or balances to prevent mistakes. This is the No. 1 reason why anesthesiology information management systems (AIMS) have become popular and new technical innovations are constantly added to the systems in an effort to make hospitals safer and prevent malpractice litigation.

April 9, 2008 - Michigan Instruments Inc. recently launched its new life support device, Life-Stat, that provides effective, consistent hands-free cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

This mechanical CPR device provides rescuer hands-free AHA Guideline-compliant CPR in either the 30:2 compression to ventilation ratio or continuous chest compressions with asynchronous ventilation modes of operation.

MedWaves Inc. received FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2008 for its patented Microwave Coagulation/Ablation System for general surgery use for the coagulation and ablation of soft tissues.

At AACN 2008, Vital Signs Inc. will display its new 500 and 1,000 mL InfusaScan fluid pressure infusor bags, which are designed to help reduce medication errors.

Monitoring system maker Mennen Medical recently said an additional monitor, the VitaLogik 4000 Series, will soon be available for monitoring requirements in neonatology, pediatrics, cardiology, ICU, OR, and ER.

The product is available in two versions. The noninvasive VitaLogik 4000 and the invasive VitaLogik 4500 and has FDA clearance and CE mark.

The newest version of Mediware's medication management software suite reportedly offers enhanced data integration and functional improvements for tracking of medication orders, administrations and histories.

RES-Q Healthcare Systems demonstrated its Patient Waiting Room View at AONE 2008. Similar to airline flight displays at airports, it shows an abbreviated patient identifier (first two letters of the last name and first name initial), the surgeon’s name, the procedure, surgery start and completion times and current status (patient in OR, surgery in process, patient in recovery).

Baxa Corp. launched the MedBoard Web-based medication tracking system in December 2007, designed to record pharmacy preparation and delivery activities.

Cheetah Medical Inc. said this week the FDA cleared for marketing the Reliant, a portable cardiac output monitor that provides a noninvasive window to cardiac and hemodynamic function.

The Reliant monitor is powered by Cheetah�s BIOREACTANCE Technology, which has been used effectively with more than 1,000 patients in various clinical settings including hemodynamic monitoring, heart failure, perioperative care, hemodialysis and stress testing.

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