Theramed Corporation signs an eight year extension with EUSA Pharma Ltd. for the exclusive right to import, market and distribute COLLATAMP® G in Canada
Working to Save Lives and Limbs—New Hope Emerges For Canadians with Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Hospital-Acquired Infections in the News
Leading Canadian Hospitals Quick to Use New Implantable Antibiotic for Prevention and Treatment of Surgical Infections
New Website Educates Public on the Risks and Prevention of Deadly Surgical Infections
Economic Model Demonstrates Hospital Cost Savings Using Collatamp G
Ontario's Mandatory Public Reporting of Surgical Site Infections Puts SSIs on the Public's Radar
New Implantable Antibiotic Helps Canadian Hospitals Save Lives And Money By Preventing Surgical Infections
FDA Designates Gentamicin Surgical Implant (Collatamp G) as a Fast Track Development Program
Theramed Announces Long-Term Partnership with Canadian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
New Website Educates Public on the Risks and Prevention of Deadly Surgical Infections
Published Sunday, March 15 2009
Surgical site infections are devastating to patient safety and hospital budgets, but relatively unknown to the public-at-large despite being the second most common cause of hospital adverse events.
Approximately 50,000 Canadians each year develop an SSI, doubling their risk of death, making them five times more likely to be readmitted to hospital and 60% more likely to require time in intensive care. On average SSI patients spend eight additional days in hospital.
Most often, media reports on hospital infections focus on the MRSA and C. difficile ‘superbugs’ when in fact SSIs cost the cash-strapped Canadian healthcare system over $200 million and over 400,000 bed days annually.
It is surprising that such a serious and tangible threat to patient safety, with such a huge cost on Canadian healthcare resources has, until fairly recently, been largely overshadowed. With the Ontario Ministry of Health’s move to mandatory public reporting of hospital SSI rates beginning April 2009, however, this is changing.
The Canadian Patient Safety Institute through its "Safer Healthcare Now" campaign has focused on improving healthcare and patient safety through a number of initiatives including SSI prevention. This initiative has been focused on healthcare professionals however and is resulting in adoption of Safer Healthcare Now SSI prevention measures in many hospitals across the country.
Now, Canadians preparing to go for a surgical procedure also have a new resource at their disposal to ensure they are fully informed about SSIs, and equipped to engage in a dialogue about this risk and prevention with their surgeon. Patients scheduled for surgery and their caregivers may visit www.collatampg.ca/patients-and-caregivers.
For Further Information
Stephen McElroy
Chief Commercial Officer
Theramed Corporation
800-305-4441
smcelroy@theramed.com
