Category: Critical Care
For Nearly Two Decades, Merit Compression Devices Deliver Quality and Confidence
Merit Recognizes Infection Prevention Week with a Strong History of Keeping Clinicians and Patients Safe
Introducing the Merit RadialFLO™ Arterial Catheter—the Next Wave in Caring for Critically Ill Patients
Merit Kicks off New Think Safety & Infection Prevention™ Education Program with Live Critical Care Webinar
Designed by Nurses: The Exclusive DualCap® System Solves Common Problems Associated with Competing Disinfection Products
On any given day, about one in 25 hospital patients has at least one health care-associated infection (HAI), resulting in thousands of lives lost and billions of health care dollars spent each year.1 A common risk factor for HAIs is IV catheter use.1 To tackle this threat to patient safety, solutions were created by medical […]
NTI 2018 Replay
It was “Game On!” in Boston where Merit enjoyed our time at the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, National Training Institute, Critical Care Symposium (NTI). Having wrapped things up, we can now take a moment to look back at the show, to reflect on the many wonderful people we met, and discuss how we […]
Merit to Exhibit at NTI 2018
It’s “Game On!” in Boston at the AACN National Teaching Institute (NTI) and Critical Care Expo, May 22-24. Merit Medical is proud to announce that we will be exhibiting at NTI, booth #3334, with CERP accredited presentations about infection control and patient safety. Bring your “A-Game” and join us for ice cream and some friendly competitive games while you learn about the DualCap® Disinfection and Protection System. We will also have experts on hand to answer your questions about our Safety and Hemodynamic monitoring products.
ExpoEd Sessions (CERP Accredited)
Merit Medical continues its focus on clinical education by bringing two respected experts to present on infection prevention and patient safety.
“Creating and Implementing a CLABSI Bundle”
A case study for implementing a CLABSI bundle within Nemours Hospital
Erin Dwyer, MSN, RN, ACCNS-P, CCRN-K
Clinical Nurse Specialist at Nemours/Alfred I. Dupont Hospital for Children
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018
- 10:45 – 11:15 am
- 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
- 12:15 – 12:45 pm
“Patient Safety Successes from the Frontlines”
An overview of the medical error challenge facing patients, and examples of how organizations have implemented strategies and tactics to mitigate
Bertie Chuong, DNP, RN, CCRN Resource and Education Coordinator, EPS Co-Chair, Yale New Haven Health System
Wednesday May 23rd, 2018
- 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
- 12:15 – 12:45 pm
- 1:45 – 2:15 pm
Think Safety and Infection Prevention, and Discover the vast array of solutions for clinicians and patients at the Merit Medical booth at NTI.
Infection Prevention Products
DualCap Disinfection & Protection System
The DualCap System consists of two caps designed to help prevent intraluminal contamination, as well as cross-contamination, especially important for IV catheter use over extended dwell times.
Safety Products
Our Medallion syringes are designed to facilitate compliance with national safety goals that require labeling of all medications on and off the sterile field. Medallion syringes come in seven color options with custom printing, or a frosted field for writing information directly on the syringe barrel.
For quick and safe fluid waste elimination, the Backstop+ and MiniStop+™ disposal systems both have seal-tight lids to prevent fluid leakage after a procedure. The disposal systems also come with a temporary sharps holder.
ShortStop Advantage® Temporary Sharps Holder
The ShortStop Advantage has all of the features of the original ShortStop temporary sharps holder but with the addition of side access for holding sharps devices in a safe and secure horizontal orientation. Fully loaded syringes will not tip or bend when secured in the ShortStop Advantage side access port.
Hemodynamic Monitoring Products
Meritrans DTXPlus® with Safedraw®
Meritrans DTXPLUS come in a range of single, double, and triple disposable transducer sets. They are available with the Safedraw safe arterial blood sampling system. They are designed with Easyvent® – a unique cap that allows clinicians to prime and zero the stopcock without removing the cap and exposing the line to the environment.
Merit Medical is pleased to sponsor an accredited webinar for Critical Care Nurses
Hemodynamic Monitoring is Monitoring Life
Earn: 1.00 CERP credit*
Course objective: Hemodynamic monitoring can be challenging, even for experienced nurses. This course establishes foundational knowledge related to the anatomy, physiology, and clinical care of patients on hemodynamic monitoring.
Speaker: Terry M. Foster, RN, MSN, FAEN, CCRN, CPEN, TCRN, CEN, Nurse Humorist
Terry M. Foster holds a Master’s Degree in Critical-Care and Trauma Nursing from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health, having previously earned his LPN and RN. His primary areas of nursing experience have always been in the Emergency Department and Critical-Care Units, holding several national certificates. Terry has lectured on a wide variety of clinical topics at nursing seminars and conferences throughout the USA, having given a total of over 5,000 formal presentations. He has authored more than 40 professional publications and is currently the Critical-Care Clinical Nurse Specialist in the six Emergency Departments at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky. Read more about Terry Foster.
*This Program Has Been Approved by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for 1.00 Synergy CERP Category A, File Number 21722.
Why Use a Closed-Flush Blood Sampling System?
A critically ill patient may enter the ICU because of organ failure, extreme dehydration, Sepsis, or some other complicated issue. In all of these conditions, a quick response is best for a positive patient outcome. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring allows a healthcare provider to access real-time information about the patient’s cardiac health. Additionally, blood samples are a routine and vital process to assess the patient’s lung function and perfusion. Multiple blood samples per day is not uncommon in the ICU; however, providers may be unaware of the inherent risks of drawing blood.
Each time a blood sample is drawn, the potential for contamination and blood discard is present. The CDC has made recommendations for improving blood sampling, including the use of a pressure monitoring system with a closed-flush (continuous-flush) sampling system. This type of system can help prevent air-borne contaminants from entering the blood stream. In a study comparing bacterial contamination in arterial lines, the results stated: “There was less microbial contamination of intraluminal fluid when BCS [a blood conservation system] was used for arterial catheterization.”1 Another study, measuring hemoglobin and hematocrit counts of critically ill patients having multiple blood samples drawn, indicated that the use of a closed blood sampling system was able to minimize blood count value changes.2
Merit Medical is proud to offer a portfolio of critical care products including invasive hemodynamic monitoring sets. The MeritransDTXPlus® with Safedraw® closed arterial sampling helps minimize the risk of infection and unnecessary exposure with a simple, closed, in-line arterial sampling system. Unlike other pressure monitoring systems, the EasyVent™ closed zero port allows clinicians to maintain a closed system when priming or zeroing the transducer (not opening the system to the ambient environment reduces patient risk and enhances overall safety).
A new critical care catalog and a brochure are available showing Merit’s critical care portfolio.
- Oto J, Nakataki E, Hata M, Tsunano Y, Okuda N, Imanaka H, Nishimura M. (2012 Aug). Comparison of bacterial contamination of blood conservation system and stopcock system arterial sampling lines used in critically ill patients. Am J Infect Control, 40(6):530-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.08.006. Epub2011 Nov 3.
- Rezende E, Ferez MA, Silva Junior JM, Oliveira AM, Viana RA, Mendes CL, Toledo Dde O, Ribeiro Neto MC, Setoyama TA. (2010 Mar). Closed system for blood sampling and transfusion in critically ill patients. Rev Bras Ter Intensiva, 22(1):5-10.
Merit Medical loves Critical Care Nurses!
Merit Medical recently joined the Critical Care community and was pleased to attend the AACN’s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition (NTI) in Houston May 23-25, 2017. At our first-ever NTI expo booth, we met hundreds of critical care nurses over ice cream at the Merit Ice Cream Café, during in-booth educational sessions, and […]
Your Safety Is Our Priority: Merit to Showcase Safety Products at NTI 2017
Thirty years ago, Merit Medical pioneered a clear-as-glass polycarbonate syringe to reduce the risk of a glass syringe breaking in the hand of a healthcare provider. Since our beginning, we’ve consistently prioritized solutions to procedural challenges, with the goal of making patient care safer for medical professionals like you. Keeping up with this tradition, we’re […]
NTI 2017: Partner with Us Across the Patient Care Continuum
Merit Medical is making its debut at the 2017 AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) in Houston, TX, on May 23-25. After 30 years of bringing quality, innovative products to medical professionals, we’re continuing the Merit tradition at this year’s NTI by introducing our critical care portfolio and demonstrating how we can partner with you across the patient care continuum.
Visit us at Booth 4300 and look forward to the following events we have planned through our Merit Education Theater:
- Earn CERP credits while learning about infection control from expert critical care nurses.
- Get an up-close look at our Critical Care and Infection Control products.
- Learn about our Patient Care Continuum promise to you and product continuity that spans the patient care continuum.
- Meet the Merit team at the Merit Ice Cream Café! Enjoy ice cream on us and learn about the many ways we can partner with you.
In-Booth Presentations You Won’t Want to Miss (Booth 4300):
Sepsis Survival for Patients and Nurses
Addressing the new definition of sepsis and mandatory CMS reporting.
Alexander Johnson, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, CCNS, CCRN
TUESDAY, MAY 23
10:45 am to 11:15 am
11:30 am to 12 noon
1 pm to 1:30 pm
Preventing CLABSIs: Tales from the Frontline
Discussing protocols to prevent bloodstream infections and how newer technologies and education have helped reduce the occurrence. A specific case will be discussed.
Donna Schweitzer, MSN, CCNS, CCRN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
10:45 am to 11:15 am
11:30 am to 12 noon
3:15 pm to 3:45 pm
Alicia Armeli is a paid consultant of Merit Medical. For a complete step-by-step guide to delivery, refer to instructions for Use. Please consult product labels and inserts for any indications, contraindications, potential complications, warnings, precautions and directions for use.
The DriPAD™: Super Absorbent Technology that Helps to Provide Better Patient Care
From assisting a patient with incontinence care to assisting in reducing room turn-over time, the DriPAD has numerous applications and can be used in multiple areas within a hospital. Having up to 10x more absorption power than alternative pads, using a product with a higher absorbency means fewer pads used per patient—which supports hospital cost-cutting initiatives and reduces biohazard waste disposal costs.
Through super absorbent technology, the DriPAD soaks up to 35x its weight in fluids. Each DriPAD features a robust polypropylene backing to provide a barrier that prevents leakage with a specially treated absorbent core that wicks moisture away from the skin for ultimate protection. This can help provide better patient care both during procedures and in the post-surgical-care environment.
The DriPAD not only keeps patients dry, but it also helps control odors through an EPA-registered Silver Ion agent. Many hospitals are looking for ways to continuously deliver positive outcomes while being environmentally friendly. Furthermore, just one DriPAD replaces many underpads, reducing the amount of unnecessary trash in landfills.
Available in various sizes and absorption capacities, the DriPAD extends its care beyond the hospital, making it easy to use at home.
