The Infector Detector
Urinary tract infections caused by catheterisation are a common and nasty affliction for the disabled, elderly and hospital patients.
Touchless hand disinfection
The Japanese hygiene products specialist SARAYA has been in business for half a century. Today, its products are still at the cutting edge.
GE in Germany
GE Healthcare reports that, in recent years, it has been making it quite clear just how important the German market is for the Group. In 2006, GE Healthcare opened its new Customer Centre in Munich to present itself there as a complete Healthcare supplier:
Safer hygiene with silver-based products
UK - Results from a National Health Service (NHS) trial, which investigated the effectiveness of silver at reducing levels of bacteria in an actual hospital setting, have been announced by BioCote Ltd, manufacturer of antimicrobial products.
At a glance
Where are the most high-tech start-ups? That`s an easy one: Silicon Valley. But who comes in a close second? Surprisingly: Israel. Further: Israel ranks Number 1 in terms of availability of scientists and engineers and Number 2 in quality of higher education. The result of this impressive track record is a wide range of successful enterprises and products, particularly related to the life…
FDA works with outdated IT Systems
USA - Outdated and broken IT systems are blamed for slowness of the Federal Drugs Administration (FDA) reviews of foreign drugs, said former FDA officials and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) during a House Energy and Commerce Oversight Investigations Subcommittee hearing.
BlackBerries may be good for your health
Researchers in the United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden are taking part in a study to ascertain whether the use of BlackBerries to transmit real-time health information can boost the treatment of patients with chronic conditions.
Microsoft's role in healthcare
Ten years ago, Tim Smokoff began his career with Microsoft. Since then, the healthcare arena has become a long term investment for the company and today he is Managing Director of the Microsoft Healthcare Group.
COMPAMED 2007
Micro and medical technology are growing together and driving one another on to new developments. According to a survey by IVAM, the Professional Association for Microtechnology (Dortmund), medical technology is the principal target sector for European microtechnology companies, with a clear lead on the telecommunication and electronic industries.
Top down or bottom up?
Managed Care in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Spores simply wiped out
Gama Healthcare has developed an advanced innovative wipe — Clinell Sporicidal — which, the company reports, is the world's first peracetic acid generating wipe specifically designed to deal with spores.
Medical technology
As in past years, this year's MEDICA is one of the most important stages for the medical technology industry. International manufacturers will do a song and dance to dazzle the international clientele. As Managing Director of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (Deutscher Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. - ZVEI), Hans-Peter Bursig, is well…
Bern Inselspital relies on consulting expertise from Hamburg
In the Bern Inselspital, one of Switzerland's most renowned university hospitals with a tradition of more than 650 years, change is underway: within the next six years the university hospital grounds are to be wholly replanned and restructured. An enormous task, as the colleagues from the University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE) can certainly attest, since here they are already in the midst of…
One of Europe's biggest e-health projects
Following an agreement between Wolfgang Pföhler, Chairman of the Management Board of German company Rhön-Klinikum AG, and Professor Erich R Reinhardt, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and President of Siemens Medical Solutions, the hospital group is to install Siemens' WebEPA, an intra-facility electronic patient file, to link its 46 hospitals and respective medical care centres --…
New concept leads to greater leadership
Changes in the healthcare sector are presenting increasingly difficult challenges to European hospitals, but, according to the hospital chain Ategris GmbH, based in Mülheim/Oberhausen, these pressures ' might present a chance to open up encrusted structures'. The company reports that it 'embraces Christian values while optimising existing hospital structures' and has worked on a new model of…
Spotlight on patient safety
Medical errors occur in any part of the treatment process and typically involve the wrong medication, improper treatment, or incorrect or delayed test results. At its annual partner meeting, which took place in Berlin, September 27-28, Philips reinforced its commitment to use its leading global position in healthcare speech recognition to drive technology advancements towards reducing medical…
Patent pending wipe technology by GAMA Healthcare
GAMA Healthcare has developed an advanced innovative wipe called Clinell Sporicidal: This is the world's first peracetic acid generating wipe which has been specifically designed to deal with spores. This technologically advanced wipe was developed by a team of medical doctors and contains patent pending technology designed around the stability of the peracetic acid.
Burned out or bored out of your mind?
A survey by the Gallup Institute (Potsdam) revealed that only 15% of Germans consider their job satisfying; 16% have mentally handed in their notice and 69% are 'working to rule'. Explicit research studies into the living and working conditions of nurses were carried out in 1993-'94 by the Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg.
Guide launched to develop nurses' business skills
UK — The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has launched a new guide to help nurses understand business and financial practices in the country's National Health Service (NHS).
Lightening up the environment for patients and staff
'Is professional lighting for the bathroom a luxury?' asks specialist lighting manufacturer Derungs Licht. 'The Dlite vanera bath is something quite special.
The healing environment
The healing environment approach is a comprehensive concept targeting the elimination of stress factors for patients as well as their visitors that would otherwise minimise patient's wellbeing, impair the healing process, or even violate their dignity/privacy.
Devices dedicated to efficient hand washing
The 134-bed private hospital Dr R Schindlbeck private hospital in Herrsching am Ammersee, Bavaria, which also has a large out-patient department, provides 110 units for use after hand washing by staff, patients and visitors. From the Katrin range by Metsä Tissue, Finnish producer of paper towels and dispensing systems, they consist of paper towel rolls and dispensers.
Infection source: water
That tap water carries pathogens such as legionella or pseudomonas aeruginosa is well known, writes Heidi Heinhold. However, new research results show that bacteria that were previously considered non-pathogenic, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS), can be present in hospital water and are transmitted by the water
Meeting legal requirements
During modernisation previously installed machines in contaminated hospital sluice rooms must comply with the same Medical Devices Act requirements as new machines, the specialist firm Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH & Co points out.
