Latest health care products demonstrated at Novation's annual Innovative Technology Expo

Novation, the leading health care services company, held its annual Innovative Technology Expo today in Irving, Texas. Medical suppliers, both large and small, are at the Expo to demonstrate the latest innovative health care products and meet with hospital clinicians and decision makers.

This year, the Expo features 120 suppliers from across the U.S. demonstrating 180 products, including a wide range of FDA-approved technologies in several categories. For the first time, the Expo includes several proven patient safety case studies from hospitals participating in the Partnership for Patients initiative which was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center, under the authority of the Affordable Care Act. The initiative aims to improve the quality, safety and affordability of health care for all Americans.

"Hospitals are increasingly looking for new products that enhance clinical quality and safety while reducing costs," said Debbie Archer director, procurement and innovative technology, Novation. "In this challenging health care environment, we are excited to provide a forum for hospitals to interact directly with a broad range of suppliers on products that could not only lower costs, but also significantly improve the patient care experience."

The Expo, part of Novation's Innovative Technology Program, enables Novation to work with hospital member-led councils and task forces to review supplier submitted technologies. If the hospital members determine the product provides incremental clinical benefit over existing products, an innovative technology contract may be awarded outside of Novation's competitive bid cycle.

Several Examples of Advanced Technologies at the 2014 Expo

• Fukuda Denshi USA showed a ground-breaking solution that provides a unique human touch to ultrasound images, instantly, in real time. A new portable ultrasound machine is paired with the world's first finger-tip ultrasound probe enabling physicians to see images and the patient at the same time, which is more effective, easier to use, requires less movement, and reduces chance of error. The product is being tested with a viewing device that can make the solution even more efficient.
  
  "Fukuda Denshi is very excited to be a part of the Novation Innovative Technology Expo this year," said Julie Davis, Ultrasound Business Development Manager, Fukuda Denshi USA. "We feel we have a new product that will change the way physicians use ultrasound with our new finger probe, and support their efforts to provide great patient care."
   
• St. Jude Medical, a global medical device manufacturer, demonstrated its recently approved CardioMEMS HF System, which includes a miniaturized, battery-free implantable sensor about the size of a small paper clip that wirelessly measures and monitors pulmonary artery pressure and heart rate. 
  
  "At St. Jude Medical, we believe that investing in purposeful innovation is the best approach to treating epidemic diseases," said Michael Rousseau, Chief Operating Officer at St. Jude Medical. "We do this by developing cost-effective medical technologies that save and improve lives of patients around the world."
   
• The emergency pediatrician founder behind MMJ Labs, Dr. Amy Baxter, says her mission is to reduce patients' pain, especially from needles. The company demonstrated its award-winning Buzzy® pain management system featuring a palm-sized oval device that comes in either black or with a smiling bumble bee or ladybug design specifically for pediatric patients. When the vibrating device is used in combination with unique ice wings, it quickly minimizes the sharp pain from needle sticks like IV starts, blood draws, finger pricks and immunizations.
  
  "We don't have much time for pain relief in the emergency room - Buzzy works on contact, and lets patients know you're trying everything you can to help ease their pain. For hospitals, our device means pennies per use and no waste," said Dr. Baxter.
   
• According to the latest research, medical costs for hospital-acquired infections are estimated at about $45 billion. To reduce infection rates, a broad range of companies demonstrated the latest in UV room disinfection systems including Clorox, Steris, Surfacide, TRU-D and Xenex. These technologies include robot-like devices that automatically kill bacteria in hospital rooms and facilities in minutes.

Partnership for Patients: Real word case studies address key patient safety areas

The Expo provided hospital representatives with case studies on seven of the 10 categories in the initiative. This included injury from falls, central line infections and pressure ulcers. In addition to highlighting real world solutions that were successfully implemented at hospitals, the Expo featured several suppliers who had products to address each category.

The Partnership for Patients program also works in collaboration with registered Hospital Engagement Networks, including VHA and UHC, which help identify solutions with proven success at one participating hospital and disseminate the information to other member hospitals.

Since 2003, more than 1,500 new and innovative technologies have been submitted through the Novation Innovative Technology program.