B. Braun Smart Infusion Pump Technology Advances Patient Safety and Treatment Efficiency

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to provide the best patient care possible, Western Maryland Health System (WMHS) recently announced its successful integration of B. Braun Medical Inc.'s (B.Braun) innovative Outlook^® 400ES Safety Infusion System. After exploring numerous infusion pump options for their hospital, WMHS's leadership selected B.Braun's Outlook^® 400ES System for its ease of use, wireless reporting and safety features.

The medical center's new infusion system now enables improved patient safety and streamlined patient care, as well as enhanced communication between nursing and the pharmacy, through the use of its unique barcoding capabilities and dose monitoring software known as DoseTrac™. Electronic barcoding matches the pharmacy-prepared medication to the patient's infusion pump, while dose monitoring software helps clinicians monitor the appropriate use and dosing of medications. These two patient centric safety features are designed to help clinicians ensure that the right medication is given at the correct dose and is delivered to the right patient--all in an effort to help reduce medication errors in the hospital setting. It is estimated that hospital patients are subject to at least one medication administration error per day, with 35% of errors causing significant harm due to infusion therapy pump programming errors. ^1,2 

"The system's DoseTrac software electronically displays reports back to our central pharmacy, allowing our staff to easily track the medication and dosage that each patient is currently receiving," said Dr. Sajal Roy, Director of Pharmacy Services at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. "These reports allow us to constantly monitor a patient's progress with their medication remotely and have been instrumental in helping to avoid medication errors. Within the first three months of implementation, we identified seven averted Adverse Drug Events that could have resulted in harm." ³

"We are pleased that Western Maryland Health System selected B.Braun's state-of-the-art Outlook 400ES Safety Infusion System and services," said Rachel Vitoux, Director of Sales, Clinical Services at B.Braun. "We are especially proud to provide our unique DoseTrac Infusion Safety Analysis Service to help staff interpret data, understand why trends are occurring, and implement process improvements to improve medication safety for their patients."

WMHS's new B.Braun Outlook^® 400ES Safety Infusion System provides wireless access to real-time infusion data, enabling both nursing and pharmacy staff to monitor medication administration remotely from any point in the hospital. Pharmacy staff can supervise dosage and frequency of use per patient remotely, ensuring the proper handling of each medication. Additionally, WMHS's pharmacy has enhanced operational efficiencies by improving just-in-time ordering through the real-time view system feature.

"It was clear to us that B.Braun developed these pumps with patient safety and efficiency in mind, which helps give our clinicians the peace of mind to focus on our patients," said Karen Howsare, RN, MS, Director of Nursing at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. "We know that these machines were designed for use by nurses, which made the changeover and training seamless for our medical center staff."

About Western Maryland Health System    
The Western Maryland Health System (WMHS) in Cumberland provides a wide range of healthcare services along the continuum of care for residents in Allegany and Garrett Counties in Maryland and surrounding counties in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. WMHS includes the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center, a 275-bed facility that opened in November 2009.  Other components include a nursing home, outpatient diagnostic centers, and a network of urgent care clinics, primary care centers and physician practices.   

About B. Braun    
B. Braun Medical Inc. (B.Braun), a leader in infusion therapy and pain management, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical products and services to the healthcare industry. The Company is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety. Guided by its "Sharing Expertise^®" philosophy, B.Braun continuously exchanges knowledge with customers, partners and clinicians to address the critical issues of improving care and lowering costs.

The B.Braun group of companies includes B.Braun, Aesculap^® and CAPS^®. B.Braun's U.S. headquarters is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with its global headquarters based in Melsungen, Germany. It employs more than 44,000 employees in more than 50 countries throughout the world. To learn more about B.Braun visit www.bbraunusa.com.

^1. Institute of Medicine. (2006) Preventing medication errors. Washington, DC; National Academies Press

^2. Tourville, J. (2003). Automation and error reduction. How technology is helping Children's Medical Center of Dallas reach zero-tolerance. US Pharmacist, 28(56), 80-86.

^3. Data on file.

SOURCE B. Braun Medical Inc.