PeriGen’s protocol bundle to prevent H1N1 in pregnant women

PeriGen, Inc., today announced the release of its Influenza Prevention and Treatment Bundle to its North American client hospitals. In advance of the approaching flu season, PeriGen’s protocol bundle will help clinicians follow recommended guidelines for screening, preventing and treating as well as accurately reporting cases of seasonal flu and H1N1 (“Swine Flu”) to state and local officials.

PeriGen, the only OB-specific risk reduction provider to address the influenza epidemic, has designed influenza-related decision support rules which can be immediately incorporated into the Company’s OB-specific, clinical decision support system, PeriBirth™. The protocol bundle could aid in helping to reduce unidentified and untreated cases of influenza in pregnant women.

Like other high-risk groups, women in their third trimester of pregnancy are particularly vulnerable to both seasonal and H1N1 influenza. PeriGen’s protocol bundle combines the current American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ recommendations with Centers for Disease Control guidelines to help clinicians effectively evaluate and treat influenza in obstetric patients.

“The day that ACOG provided its members with recommendations concerning H1N1 and seasonal influenza, our software coding began,” said Dan O’Keeffe, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., and PeriGen’s Chief Medical Officer. “PeriGen’s clinical specialists comprised of 50 physicians, nurses, and midwives, work each day to ensure that our clients always remain in front of the problem and ahead of the curve. When it comes to patient safety, behind the curve is a dangerous place to be.”

The influenza protocol bundle is not one-size-fits-all but rather can be suited to meet the needs of each hospital.

“PeriGen’s Influenza Protocol Bundle is completely customizable, and can be tailored to each client hospital’s individual exposure pattern,” said Shai Feinsod, PeriGen’s Chief Clinical Solutions Officer. “Once implemented, the influenza update is ready to use: all patient data pertaining to H1N1 and seasonal influenza will be collected and compared against ACOG recommendations and CDC guidelines, permitting clinicians to evaluate and treat influenza in the OB patient.”

Information will then be automatically organized and analyzed by PeriTrack™, PeriGen’s reporting and analytics tool, permitting hospital administrators to more accurately report instances of influenza in pregnant women to state and local health officials.