May 15, 2007 - Nearly half of the hospitals rated the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report use the noninvasive, fully automated Arctic Sun Temperature Management device to cool their critically ill patients. Medivance is holding education seminars at the Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Sessions, which is from May 19-24 in Atlanta, GA.
Therapeutic temperature management potentially reduces damage and improves neurologic outcomes after stroke, cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, refractory fever, heat stroke and other life-threatening illnesses.
“We know that high fevers decrease the chance of good neurological outcomes,” says Igor Ougorets, M.D., director of neuroscience ICU at Weill-Cornell Medical College. “There is ample data from retrospective studies to warrant therapeutic temperature management to save brain tissue. Logistically, it’s easier for a physician to have a nurse apply Arctic Sun pads and begin cooling appropriate patients immediately.”
The five top-rated neurology/neurosurgery programs, and four of the top five heart/heart surgery programs are cooling appropriate patients in their critical care units with Medivance’s cooling technology.
"The user-friendly Arctic Sun provides our nursing staff a seamless process in implementing clinical protocols related to evidence-based care in therapeutic temperature management of our neurologically injured patients," says Ray Quintero, R.N., MSN, CCRN, department director of Neurocritical Care Units, Emory University Medical Center.
The following educational sessions will be held at the Medivance booth #2359 May 22-24 at the AACN:
· Return of the Ice Age: Benefits of Managing Temperature in the ICU
Ray Quintero, RN, MSN, CCRN, Department Director of Neurocritical Care Units, Emory University Medical Center, Atlanta GA
Tuesday, May 22— 11:15, 1:00
Wednesday, May 23— 10:30, 1:00
Thursday, May 24— 11:15
This session will focus on current best practices in nursing management of some of the most challenging patients in the critical care unit, discussing why and how to control refractory fever.
· Hypothermia Protocol Development and Implementation: The Cold Facts
Kirsten Pyle, R.N., CCRN, Surgical and Trauma ICU, Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA
Tuesday May 22— 10:30, 1:45
Wednesday May 23— 11:15, 1:45
Thursday, May 24— 10:30
Critical care nurses are instrumental in moving this promising therapy forward for optimal patient care and improved outcomes. This course will provide detailed information on developing and implementing a successful therapeutic hypothermia program, including protocol development and consensus building among all departments involved.
Critical care nurses will learn:
· Indications for therapeutic hypothermia and refractory fever control
· Recent research
· Temperature control best practices
· How critical care nurses can help drive adoption of this important new standard of care
· Protocol development
· Hospital-wide consensus-building for successful program implementation.
Nurses will receive 0.5 contact hours in category A for attending these educational sessions.
For more information visit www.medivance.com.