A national e-health system is well on its way and seamless alignment is now within our reach, writes Dr Chris Mitchell. [ + ]

Keeping people out of hospitals is an important part of a pharmacist’s role, and ensuring the quality use of medicine is one of the most effective ways of helping to minimise hospital admissions. [ + ]

Intravascular catheters are the most frequently used medical devices1 in hospitals and enable fast infusion of often lifesaving medications and fluids, delivered directly into the blood stream. [ + ]

SAFE AND EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTROL WITH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY [ + ]

We use our hands to do things all the time. Our hands are great carriers of germs. Infection control experts have identified the hands as being the number one method whereby germs are transferred from one person to another. They regularly reinforce the good hand hygiene message in the prevention of disease outbreaks to healthcare workers and to the general public. [ + ]

Forbo - comprehensive flooring solutions provider [ + ]

New scientific studies continue to prove that antimicrobial copper surfaces provide a constant barrier to germs. [ + ]

3M champions patient warming in Australia Following the acquisition of Arizant Healthcare in October 2010, 3M has been working to integrate the Bair Hugger patient warming and Ranger fluid warming brands into the Infection Prevention Division of 3M healthcare globally. In Australia, as of 1 January, 2012 3M Healthcare will be stepping-up its involvement in these brands and supporting their operational functions including research and development capabilities. [ + ]

All health professionals have important roles to play in actively affording patient safety through infection prevention and control, write Dr Ramon Z Shaban, Mary-Rose Godsell and Professor Jenny Gamble. [ + ]

Coregas is a group business of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety - a division of Wesfarmers Limited. [ + ]

Knowledge. Service. Support [ + ]

The recent national benchmark for golden staph infection rates is one of a whole host of new safety and quality measures being reported on the “MyHospitals” federal government website. This has once again raised the importance of infection control in a healthcare environment, especially after 13 hospitals failed to meet the standards in 2010/11, which was set at no more than two cases per 10,000 occupied beds. [ + ]

Each year around 200,000 cases of Health Care Associated Infections (HAIs) occur in Australia contributing to more than 7,000 deaths (1). Good hand hygiene is critical to reducing the spread of HAIs by breaking the chain of infection. [ + ]

The recent detection of the bacterium Clostridium difficile (C-diff) in Australia has sparked concerns among healthcare experts of a possible outbreak of this new Super Bug, in February this year, three patients at a Melbourne hospital were detected as carrying the bacteria and last November another 10 from a Melbourne aged care facility also tested positive to the bacteria. [ + ]

Emerging Health Solutions (EHS) was designed for Australian hospitals by Australian clinicians, this secure, web-based clinical information system provides quality patient care by improving clinical communications, creating effective and efficient processes, and aiding risk identification and management. [ + ]