University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Boosts Patient Safety: Upgrades Patient Monitoring to Innovative Pulse Oximetry Technology

IOWA CITY, Iowa, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics announced today that in its ongoing effort to remain in the vanguard of patient safety, it is converting to Nellcor™ pulse oximetry technology from Covidien.  Oximetry non-invasively and continuously monitors the oxygen level of a patient's blood, alerting clinicians should a patient's oxygen status become compromised.

Nellcor™ pulse oximetry technology can effectively monitor a wide range of patients even when signal interference is present. Covidien is the first company to receive FDA clearance for a motion-tolerant bedside pulse oximeter that is also compliant with ISO 80601-2-61 (International Organization for Standardization standards for pulse oximetry). Pulse oximeters provide early warning of dangerous respiratory complications, enabling clinicians to detect and address life-threatening events sooner and they provide consistent performance during various challenging conditions, such as patient motion, noise and low perfusion, which can impede the assessment of patient respiratory status.

Motion-tolerant pulse oximetry is critical for ensuring patient safety because patient movement can thwart accurate readings and delay diagnosis of serious respiratory compromise.

Use of this pulse oximetry technology from Covidien is part of University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics' continuous quality and safety improvement efforts.

"University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics is committed to changing lives, advancing medicine, and improving access to the highest level of care for the people in our catchment area and beyond," said Amy O'Deen, Senior Assistant Director at the hospital. "Our commitment to operating state-of-the-art patient care is reflected in our choice of Nellcor™ pulse oximeters from Covidien."

"It is terrific to partner with institutions that are as forward looking and as committed to quality and patient safety as University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Together we are working to provide monitoring solutions that benefit patients and their families," said Matt Anderson, Vice President and General Manager, Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions, Covidien.

About University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. We are committed to providing patient-focused care—available to every person, around the clock—in an environment devoted to innovative care, excellent service, and exceptional outcomes. In our 2011 fiscal year, we employed 1,432 physicians, residents, and fellows, and 7,482 non-physician employees, including 1,806 professional nurses. We're assisted each year by a dedicated corps of more than 1,300 volunteers. UI Hospitals and Clinics and UI Children's Hospital together deliver quality care in collaboration with University of Iowa Physicians, the state's largest multi-specialty medical and surgical group practice composed of faculty physicians of the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. These partners work together as University of Iowa Health Care, to provide patient care, conduct biomedical research, and train the next generation of health professionals.

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SOURCE University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics