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First International Sharps Injury Prevention Group Launched by Industry Leaders
Added: (Thu Oct 25 2001)
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, USA, released October 25, 2001 UK – A group of leading companies specializing in technologies to improve the safety of healthcare workers, unveiled an organization committed to reducing the number of sharps injuries that occur throughout the world each year.
The International Sharps Injury Prevention Society (ISIPS) will promote the services and products that encompass the entire universe of safety products, from modified sharps to alternative products that actually eliminate the sharp. These safety products and services are essential weapons in the fight against accidental sharps injuries because not all sharps in the workplace can be eliminated by newer technologies. ISIPS will also act as a global clearinghouse for information on sharps injuries and preventive legislation.
“ISIPS is the first international coalition dedicated to increasing awareness of sharps injury prevention and promoting safety products and services,” said Ron Stoker, founder and executive director of ISIPS. “We extend an urgent invitation to all manufacturers of sharps injury prevention devices and services around the world to join with us in providing a one-stop shop for healthcare workers the world over who are looking for best-of-breed products to reduce sharps injuries.”
With unique products dedicated to safety in their own markets, eight leading companies have joined ISIPS in the quest for a dramatic decrease in sharps injuries on a global basis. The nine founding companies include Porex Medical, Amsinco, Medamicus, Bio-Plexus, Suturtek, Biomedical Disposal, Becton Dickinson, Inviro Medical Devices, and B. Braun.
Membership in ISIPS is open to medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, health organizations, healthcare professionals, medical waste disposal experts, hospitals, insurance companies, managed care organizations, alternate site providers and others interested in helping to prevent sharps injuries. In addition, ISIPS extends a special invitation for not-for-profit service groups to join.
The federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, signed into law last year, was designed to help protect healthcare workers from accidental needlesticks. The newly revised OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, in effect as of July, requires the use of safer medical devices such as sharps with engineered injury protection and needleless systems. The updated standard mandates that employees responsible for direct patient care must be involved in the process of identifying, evaluating and selecting safer medical devices. ISIPS provides a method for healthcare workers to do this by showcasing technologies and practices that reduce sharps injuries.
ISIPS grew out of the need to spread awareness and education about sharps prevention methods internationally. In the U.S. alone, more than 2,200 healthcare workers a day suffer accidental injuries from sharps. More than 100,000 needlestick injuries are reported in U.K. hospitals each year. Needlestick injuries are virtually undocumented in many developing countries, but are estimated to equal or exceed those in the industrial world. It is believed that only one out of three needlesticks are ever reported. Improperly discarded sharps also injure family members, housekeeping staff, and waste and recycling workers, or end up in places where they are a danger to the public, such as playgrounds and public beaches.
Although the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act was a victory against unsafe sharps, it is only one of many battles in the global war for healthcare worker safety, observed Stoker, adding that ISIPS is issuing a "call to arms" to all healthcare workers, hospital administrators, and health organizations to reduce sharps injuries by identifying, evaluating and selecting safer products.
"Safer needle devices work—they have been shown to reduce accidental needlesticks by more than 80%,” Stoker said. "Safety equipment exists that will prevent most sharps injuries. It is critical to the healthcare workers of the world that safer technology be adopted to protect them and others in related industries from these very avoidable injuries. ISIPS is committed to providing education about the variety of products and services that are currently available to reduce this global health hazard." For more information about ISIPS go to www.isips.org.
Information on the nine founding companies follows:
About Porex Medical
Porex Medical Products Group, an operating subsidiary of Porex Corporation, offers expertise in the design, development and manufacturing of high performance plastic injection molds and injection molded plastic products for the medical device industry. The Medical Products Group designs, develops and manufactures proprietary medical components and finished devices which are distributed on an OEM basis to companies servicing the hospital, clinic and home care markets. For more information, visit http://www.porex.com
About AMINSO
AMSINO is an ISO 9001 certified, FDA registered manufacturer and distributor of disposable medical products, with two manufacturing plants located in China. AMSINO products are distributed in the United States and more than 30 different countries worldwide. AMSINO provides products under its own label and to major U.S. and international customers on an OEM basis.This year AMSINO introduced a full line of IV administration sets featuring KippMedÓ needleless connectors with non-DEHP tubing and components to assist their customers in a cost effective conversion to a needle free infusion environment. For more information, visit http://www.amsino.com
About Medamicus, Inc.
Medamicus, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDM) is an ISO certified medical device company engaged in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of medical products for the vascular access markets. Medamicus commenced operations in 1985 and became a public company in 1991. The company is headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. For more information, visit http://www.medamicus.com
About Bio-Plexus
Bio-Plexus, Inc. (Pink Sheets: BPXS), located in Vernon, CT develops and manufactures blood collection needles and winged sets that utilize it’s unique, patented PUNCTUR-GUARD® technology. Bio-Plexus believes that by eliminating the exposure to a sharp, contaminated needle, you eliminate the risk of an accidental needlestick. ZERO EXPOSURE = ZERO INCIDENTS. For more information, visit http://www.bio-plexus.com
About SuturTek Inc.
SuturTek's Safe-SuturingÔ Wound Closure Technology is a broadly enabling, patented platform technology, from which the company is developing a full line of devices that will virtually eliminate the risk of suture needle sticks. The technology enables surgeons throughout the major surgical specialties to suture as quickly, easily, and safely as they can staple, in the millions of cases where stapling is not applicable. For more information, visit http://www.suturtek.com
About Biomedical Disposal, Inc.
Biomedical Disposal, Inc. (BioMed), located in Norcross, GA, is an innovative medical device manufacturer and software developer providing comprehensive, cost effective solutions to the issue of caregiver safety and regulatory compliance in the healthcare workplace. BioMed’s Sharpx® utilized with conventional needles provides compliance to the new Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Sharpx is a cost effect alternative to expensive safety syringes, offering savings over $25,000 per 100,000 needles. For more information, visit http://www.biodisposal.com
About Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) offers the most complete line of advanced protection products in the industry and holds over 75 patents in the safety area. Recognizing the issues surrounding sharps-related injuries, Becton Dickinson leads the world in providing devices that can reduce the incidence of sharps injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens. For more information, visit http://www.bd.com
About Inviro Medical Devices, Inc.
Inviro Medical Devices provides safety products, particularly syringes and needles. The Inviro SNAP!ä retractable needle syringe improves healthcare worker safety. The company’s emphasis on completely eliminating the use of sharp metal needles whenever possible has resulted in the development of additional innovative safety products which will be introduced in 2002. For more information, visit http://www.inviromedical.com
About B. Braun
B. Braun Medical Inc. is a global leader in Intravenous Therapy-related products and services. As a pioneer in safety product innovation, B. Braun produced the world's first passive needlefree IV system, SAFSITEã, followed by the first positive pressure capless valve, ULTRASITEã, and was also the first US manufacturer to offer non-PVC/DEHP-free IV bags. Following this proud tradition of excellence in medical safety design, B. Braun now offers Introcanã Safety TM. For more information, visit http://www.bbraunusa.com
Media Contact:
Ron Stoker, Executive Director
ISIPS
801.280.8797
ron@isips.org