Medline Announces Advanced Line of Therapeutic Mattresses, Operating Room Table Pads and Stretcher Pads

MUNDELEIN, Ill. — Medline Industries, Inc., announced an advanced line of therapeutic pressure redistribution mattresses, operating room table pads and stretcher pads aimed at helping hospitals and long-term care providers prevent avoidable, painful pressure ulcers in their facilities. Designed with state-of-the-art materials, the products provide outstanding pressure redistribution, greatly reduced shearing effects and a cool, comfortable therapeutic surface for patients. They are also part of the product bundle included in Medline's comprehensive Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program to assist in reducing and preventing pressure ulcers, incontinence-associated dermatitis and skin tears.

"It is critical that healthcare providers have a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program — and prevention starts with the surface," said Alecia Cooper, RN, CNOR, vice president of clinical services marketing for Medline. "Patients are often placed on stretchers upon admission and for transport. They can also be on operating room tables for lengthy surgical procedures and for extended recovery periods. Since pressure-related forces can damage tissue in as little as 20 minutes, a key prevention component is a support surface that is effective in redistributing pressure away from areas of peak pressure on the body."

Pressure ulcers — which are frequently preventable and often occur in patients who are immobile or bedridden — result from lack of blood flow to certain parts of the body, often the tailbone, hips, elbows or shoulders. This causes the skin tissue to break down, creating an open sore that can become a portal for infection. Treating one of these sores can cost between $38,000 and $55,000. Medicare recently announced that beginning in October  it will no longer assign a higher diagnosis-related group for facility-acquired pressure ulcers, giving hospitals and healthcare facilities even more incentive to implement prevention measures, such as Medline's Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program.

Source: Medline Industries, Inc.