Halyard Health Educates and Celebrates Central Service Professionals at the 2016 IAHCSMM Conference and Expo

ALPHARETTA, Ga., April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Halyard Health (NYSE: HYH), formerly Kimberly-Clark Health Care, a global medical technology company focused on preventing infection, eliminating pain and speeding recovery, will showcase new study findings demonstrating the efficacy of sterilization wrap during the 2016 International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) Annual Conference and Expo (April 24-27).

"A recent, independent study found compelling evidence[i] in support of the use of sterilization wrap for maintaining the sterility of surgical instruments until use in the OR," stated Kevin Friedman, Medical Director of Halyard Health. "Maintaining sterility is a crucial front-line defense in preventing infection[ii] and Halyard is pleased to be providing education tailored to central service professionals as a tool for their arsenal." 

The company will also highlight the important role of central services professionals through the third annual SMART-FOLD* Wrap Race Championship.  

Please see the complete roster of Halyard Health IAHSCMM events below.

CE Accredited In-Booth Education
WHAT: The HALYARD KNOWLEDGE NETWORK* program "How do you know if your sterilized instruments remain sterile?" will be presented by independent study author Harry Shaffer, MS. This course will explore findings from the Sterility Maintenance Study, a new independent study published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), demonstrating that 87 percent of sterilized rigid instrument containers tested positive for bacterial contamination post-sterilization during transport and handling.
WHERE: Halyard Health booth #401
WHEN:   Monday, April 25 at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. CT
              Tuesday, April 26 at 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. CT 

Sterility Maintenance Study Poster Presentation
WHAT: The study poster will be on display during the vendor exposition in Hall 4. Digital versions of the poster will be on display outside of the Texas Ballroom on the fourth floor of the Grade Hyatt throughout the duration of the conference. Author of the Sterility Maintenance Study Harry Shaffer, MS, will be available at the Halyard Health booth #401 to discuss the study rationale, methodology, and results.
WHERE: Hall 4 and Texas Ballroom to view poster; Halyard Health booth #401 to speak with author
WHEN: Monday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 26, Hall 4
            Sunday, April 24 through Wednesday, April 27, Texas Ballroom

NOTE: Contact [email protected] to coordinate interview with study author or visit Booth #401

Wrap Race Championship
WHAT: Participate in—or watch—a fun and fast-paced competition designed to test the wrapping skills and speed of CS professionals using SMART-FOLD* High Performance Sterilization Wrap, an innovative sterilization packaging designed with the toughest tasks in mind, engineered to protect heavy trays and loaner sets from tears and cuts in handling.
WHERE: Halyard Health Booth #401
WHEN: Tuesday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Luncheon Co-Hosted by Halyard Health & STERIS
WHAT: Learn how Halyard Health is advancing health and healthcare by preventing infection, eliminating pain, and speeding recovery.
WHERE:  Lone Star Ballroom (Grand Hyatt, second floor)
WHEN: Monday, April 25 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. CT

About Halyard Health
Halyard Health (NYSE: HYH) is a medical technology company focused on preventing infection, eliminating pain and speeding recovery for healthcare providers and their patients. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Halyard is committed to addressing some of today's most important healthcare needs, such as preventing healthcare-associated infections and reducing the use of narcotics while helping patients move from surgery to recovery. Halyard's business segments — Surgical and Infection Prevention and Medical Devices — develop, manufacture and market clinically superior solutions that improve medical outcomes and business performance in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.halyardhealth.com.

[i] Sterility maintenance study: Dynamic evaluation of sterilized rigid containers and wrapped instrument trays to prevent bacterial ingress. Shaffer, Harry L. et al. American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 43 , Issue 12 , 1336 - 1341: http://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553%2815%2900761-0/fulltext

[ii] Preventing SSIs: The sterile processing connection. Torrance, Alecia Torrance and McClenathan, Barbara, Surgical Directions. Becker's Hospital Review, October 27, 2014: http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/preventing-ssis-the-sterile-processing-connection.html

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SOURCE Halyard Health, Inc.