Patient Supply Recovery Strategy Utilizing the RDS-32a, Rapid Decontamination System, combined with Supply Recovery Software, facilities can now instantly disinfect \"unopened\", \"unsoiled\" packaged supplies for safe handling.
LAS VEGAS, February 13, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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The dramatic rise in the costs of patient supplies and equipment continues to put enormous pressure on the financial health of providers to adequately care for patients and communities. "The pandemic has clearly demonstrated that America cannot be strong without its hospitals being strong." (ICT, Pollack 2022) TMG Health Technologies recently received feedback from an Infection Control Manager at an Alabama children's hospital advising that a 952% ROI was achieved through implementation of the "PSRP" Patient Supply Recovery Program using TMG's products.
Many cost-containment strategies are being discussed, but one strategy in particular offers documented results. Recently, the Critical Care Nurse Manager of the ICU and Infection Control Manager* realized that the practice of discarding unopened patient supplies left in the room after patient transfer or discharge had a direct impact on inventory shortages, department budgets, supply and disposal costs.
"Having a two-year history utilizing the RDS 32a Rapid UVC Decontamination disinfecting health electronics, devices and non-critical patient tools, we already knew it was an effective and reliable solution for the disinfection of equipment. Upon review of the independent testing certifying High-Level Disinfection on soft surface, packaged tools and supplies and a Johns Hopkins study of a documented $387,000 patient supply savings in their ICU, we knew we could use the RDS for our own cost-savings strategy. Our NICU patient supply recovery program saved us $100,000 in supply costs in the first seven months," said the Infection Control Manager.
The Infection Control Manager explained further: "We knew that the disposal of unused, unopened packaged supplies had direct costs in terms of purchase value, but learned there are indirect costs associated with their disposal and the hospital's environmental burden. The ability to efficiently disinfect multiple items simultaneously in a single 30-second cycle within the department, retain the budget savings, and restock the item to inventory couldn't be easier. We were able to achieve a 952% ROI on the RDS-32a system we already owned, and the program was easy to implement. With these savings confirmed, our executive team plans to expand this program to other patient areas. Imagine what a 5% savings in supply cost would mean to anyone's facility."
Now more than ever, healthcare needs innovative strategies to achieve cost containment and expense reduction. Manual disinfection of typical supply items is not feasible due to high volume, complex shapes and structure, labor time, the reliance on the operator to ensure adequate coverage and "wet-time" of the disinfectant ("Human Error" Factor). The RDS-32a Rapid UVC Decontamination System will disinfect these unused, unopened patient supplies in 30 seconds for immediate dollar-for-dollar savings. Additional savings are realized on disposal costs and cleaning supplies. For more information on this Patient Supply Recovery Program, contact TMG Health Technologies at TMGHealthTech.com or 888-443-1528.
Contact Information:
Sanford Green
President and CEO [email protected]
7025217253
Denise Hood
Marketing and Communications Director [email protected]
4349647511
Legionnaires' disease cases have increased nearly tenfold in recent decades, leading to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths. Outbreaks are linked to Legionella, a bacteria found in potable water systems in large facilities like hospitals, multi-family buildings, resorts, and office buildings. A recently published study shows that copper-silver ionization effectively controls Legionella in building water systems to prevent Legionnaires' disease.
Copper-Silver Ionization System A copper-silver ionization system installed in a building to prevent Legionella in the potable water supply.
LOMBARD, Ill., March 28, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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A new study published in the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Science journal shows that copper-silver ionization effectively controls Legionella in building water systems. The study, conducted by Dr. Mark LeChevallier with technical and financial support from LiquiTech, examines more than 80 sources of research studies and related literature to analyze the efficacy of copper-silver ionization as a water treatment solution. Dr. LeChevallier concludes "that use of copper-silver ionization to control Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens is highly effective when the units are properly designed, maintained, and operated."
Legionnaires' disease cases have increased nearly tenfold in recent decades, leading to thousands of hospitalizations. Those who catch Legionnaires' disease experience a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella, a bacteria found in poorly maintained water systems.
Studies show that Legionella is responsible for about two-thirds of all disease outbreaks from drinking water and the cause of all documented deaths attributed to drinking water-associated infections.
Historically, outbreaks were linked to cooling tower systems. As our understanding of Legionella has advanced over recent decades, most outbreaks are now connected to potable water systems in large facilities, such as hospitals, long-term healthcare facilities, resorts, and office buildings. It's estimated that 54% of all potable building water systems have some level of Legionella present.
Plumbing codes and regulations have been developed to standardize the design, structure, and management of building water systems to prevent waterborne diseases. However, based on the studies cited in this article and elsewhere, there is a need for supplemental treatment of building water systems.
One such supplemental treatment is copper-silver ionization, a chemical-free disinfection solution for potable water systems. It releases copper and silver ions into the building's water system to destroy waterborne pathogens like Legionella.
Copper-silver ionization is not a new water treatment option. Silver ionization was used in the 1960s by NASA for the sanitation of water on spacecraft. In the 1980s, copper-silver ionization was used in swimming pools as an alternative to chlorine.
Later, in 1994, copper-silver ionization was the first reported effective treatment for controlling Legionella in a hospital. Today, copper-silver ionization is used to prevent waterborne pathogens in a variety of buildings with complex water systems.
Although copper-silver ionization is a low-cost and chemical-free option for water disinfection, the system must be designed properly and used in the appropriate applications to achieve optimal results. Crucial to its effectiveness is identifying and responding to abnormalities in water usage patterns and chemistry.
Dr. LeChevallier, a drinking water research scientist with a Ph.D. in Microbiology, examined literature and studies related to copper-silver ionization system design, maintenance, and operations, and the impact water chemistry has on its performance. In addition to authoring more than 300 research papers, Dr. LeChevallier is a member of the Drinking Water Subcommittee of the Science Advisory Board of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), a past member of the Water Science Technology Board of the National Academies of Science, and the past Chair of the AWWA Water Science & Research Division.
In his recently published study, Dr. LeChevallier explained, "These water quality and operational characteristics must be properly addressed to assure that the highest disinfection efficacy is obtained through copper-silver ionization."
He reviewed research and related literature to investigate the mechanisms of copper and silver disinfection. Copper-silver ionization works by treating water through electrolysis. An electric current is applied to a copper and silver bar to produce and release positively charged ions. These copper and silver ions then find microorganisms in the water with a negative charge, like Legionella. The copper ions bond to the negative walls of the microorganisms, disrupting cell wall permeability and the absorption of life-sustaining nutrients. This disruption to the cell wall allows the silver ions to enter and destroy the core of the bacteria, thus making it impossible to survive.
Dr. LeChevallier cited studies showing that copper and silver can work as biocides independently or together. One study emphasized that combined treatment with copper and silver was associated with decreased incidence of Legionella and a faster reduction of bacteria than copper or silver alone.
In addition to copper-silver ionization being considered an effective supplemental method for water treatment by researchers, the US EPA has recognized both copper and silver as metallic antimicrobial agents. Studies show that copper-silver ionization is effective against many waterborne pathogens, including Legionella, Nontuberculous Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter, and fungi.
While the issue of copper-silver resistance was discussed in portions of the literature that Dr. LeChevallier reviewed, it's important to note that there was no evidence of it occurring with Legionella. Copper-silver resistance, where pathogens can continue to grow and thrive even in the presence of copper and silver, was only observed with E. coli and Salmonella.
During his investigation, Dr. LeChevallier found that the design, operation, and maintenance of copper-silver ionization systems are critical to their effective functionality. In his published paper, he explained that copper-silver ionization will act as a water disinfectant; however, the proper engineering and operation of the system are integral to its success.
Essential components of the copper-silver ionization system include the electrodes, flow cells, power supply, control panel, flow meter, and web interface. Each component must be operated and maintained for copper-silver ionization to be most effective.
"Buyers of [copper-silver ionization] systems should pay attention to the design and configuration of the electrodes - particularly as they wear. The construction of the flow cell and the adequacy of the power supply are important to deliver the necessary amperage to achieve the target copper and silver concentrations. Copper and silver doses should be flow paced and can be remotely monitored with a web-based interface," said Dr. LeChevallier.
Additionally, Dr. LeChevallier cautioned that water quality can impact copper-silver ionization as a water treatment. He explained that water chemistry, physiochemical, and environmental factors can influence the efficacy of copper-silver ionization if not considered and managed correctly.
Specific factors to consider include temperature, oxygen levels in the water, flow, pH levels, and levels of biofilm, sediment, and other chemicals that can impact the performance of copper-silver ionization. He stressed that these factors must be considered during planning, commissioning, and system operations for copper-silver ionization to be successful.
Dr. LeChevallier cited several case studies where copper-silver ionization was implemented in a building water system with positive outcomes. He explained that University of Pittsburgh researchers Dr. Stout and Dr. Yu found that copper-silver ionization is a viable proactive strategy for long-term Legionella control, specifically for healthcare facilities.
The studies collected data from 16 hospitals with copper-silver ionization systems over the course of five to 11 years. These studies found that 50% of the hospitals had not reported any indications of Legionella, and 43% had no indications for another five years.
In addition to the promising implementation of copper-silver ionization at hospitals, other case studies found benefits in multi-family buildings, hotels, and other specialized hospitals, including children's and veterans' hospitals.
Summarizing his findings, Dr. LeChevallier concluded, "This study has shown that [copper-silver ionization] can be effectively used for management of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens through the installation of a properly designed and maintained [copper-silver ionization] system and the details of the engineering and operation of the system are important to ensure the consistent delivery of copper and silver ions at their target levels."
About LiquiTech
For more than 30 years, LiquiTech has partnered with businesses worldwide to provide chemical-free, sustainable water treatment solutions. Their highly engineered approach brings together the right combination of products, services, and expertise to solve the most challenging water quality issues and help businesses get the most out of their water-bearing equipment. With more than 3,000 installations, LiquiTech is the worldwide leader in smart, clean solutions for water treatment. Learn more at liquitech.com.
Contact Information:
Kelsey Raftery
Director of Marketing [email protected]
847.738.0933
An innovator in virtual care, LTI is one of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas with a 1,256 percent growth rate between 2018 and 2021.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 28, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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Let's Talk Interactive, Inc. (LTI), a leader in customizable virtual care solutions, is ranked number 50 in the Financial Times' fourth edition of The Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies, a ranking and special report on high-growth businesses in North, Central, and South America, based on companies with the strongest revenue growth between 2018 and 2021.
"It's an honor for Let's Talk Interactive, Inc. to be named among the Financial Times' fastest-growing companies," CEO and Founder Art Cooksey said. "This comes on the heels of being recognized by Inc magazine as well, reinforcing our standing as a company that has a high growth potential."
For this special report, the Financial Times examined over 7,000 public companies across 20 countries. The data was collected via desk research in official sources like publicly available earning presentations, investor relations, websites, and annual reports.
"We continue to innovate in the virtual care sector, one that has experienced challenges and consolidation recently," Cooksey said. LTI offers healthcare providers a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform and medical device integrations that increase patient access to quality healthcare.
LTI's new enterprise telehealth platform, TrustVideo, is customizable with any workflow, can integrate with any EMR/EHR, and serves any medical use case. LTI's Medcart software pairs with medical hardware such as telemedicine carts, soft packs, and peripherals, which are all part of LTI's overall custom digital healthcare solutions that enable providers to evaluate patients remotely.
"We are continuing global growth with our partners, AWS, Ingram Micro, Liberty Wesco, and continue to focus on our mission to expand access to healthcare," Cooksey said. "We are experiencing tremendous growth and look forward to continuing to provide excellent telemedicine solutions to our customers."
As a leader in creating innovative digital healthcare solutions, the company's award-winning HIPAA-compliant software is enhanced with custom web and software development as well as provider network solutions that improve access to care at any time, from anywhere in the world.
About Let's Talk Interactive, Inc.
Let's Talk Interactive, Inc. is an innovator in telehealth that has developed the most complete and configurable HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform in the world. Through proprietary telehealth software, medical hardware, and provider network solutions, LTI gives those in need instant access to care. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the company ranked No. 496 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 annual list of fastest-growing companies. LTI is committed to providing innovative solutions for patients and healthcare providers in the post-COVID-19 era. For more information about Let's Talk Interactive, visitwww.letstalkinteractive.com.
Contact Information:
Caitlin Wolf
PR and Communications Executive, LTI [email protected]
980-220-3777
