3M announces changes and a new chapter for Australia’s original patient warming brands

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.

2012 brings with it a strong focus for 3M on the Infection Prevention Division which includes the Patient Warming group of products and three other key infection prevention portfolios: Perioperative, Hospital Hygiene and Sterile Processing.

The future of patient warming in Australia

3M Managing Director, Gary Stapleton shares the Company’s vision for patient warming in Australia:

“We are excited to finally see the Bair Hugger and Ranger brands aligned with 3M in Australia. The Bair Hugger and Ranger brands complement 3M’s existing infection prevention product portfolio and our expertise in the hospital and theatre environments.

“Importantly, the 3M Bair Hugger and 3M Ranger brands are consistent with 3M's ethos and overall category objective which is to reduce infection rates, improve patient care and ultimately, patient outcomes. The brands also reflect 3M's commitment to innovation supported with proven clinical evidence and are trusted by clinicians globally.

“In Australia, and globally, 3M's is committed to the future of patient warming. We are focused on increasing awareness of the efficacy of patient warming technology pre, intra and post-operative in order to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections, improve patient recovery times as well as enhancing the patient experience.

“Although the area of patient warming is not new, we anticipate the continued review of clinical based evidence for the use of patient warming in Australia leading to the replication of global best practice for this type of technology.

“As part of the 3M Healthcare portfolio, the Bair Hugger and Ranger brands will benefit from 3Ms global commitment to research and development. Each year, 3M invests a significant proportion of its revenue streams into research and development, around $1.4 billion worldwide.”

The original brand in patient warming

The 3M™Bair Hugger™and 3M™ Ranger™ brands have been synonymous with patient warming in Australia for around 20 years.

Patient Warming, where a patient’s body temperature is maintained throughout surgery has been shown to reduce convalescence time which has health economic benefits for both patients and hospitals by reducing length of hospital stays and getting patients back to work and their lives more quickly.

A growing body of evidence also supports the use of patient warming in pre, intra and post-operative care to improve overall patient outcomes in particular as an avenue to reduce surgical site infections.

A new look for Bair Hugger and Ranger

Many of you may have already seen the introduction of the 3M logo to the Bair Hugger and Ranger brands and the design and colour changes to the packaging which reflects 3M's involvement. A new range of product brochures will also be introduced over the coming months.

For further information contact your local distributor or 3M on 1300 363 878 or email 3Mmedicalaucs@mmm.com