Teleflex ISO-Gard Mask with ClearAir™ Technology
Helps Protect PACU Staff From Potentially Harmful Waste Anesthetic Gases
(WAG)
LIMERICK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2013--
Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical
devices for critical care and surgery, has announced the Community
Surgery Center North, part of Community Health Network in Indianapolis,
Indiana, will be the first healthcare facility to use the ISO-Gard Mask
with ClearAir Technology.
The ISO-Gard Mask is designed to help reduce hazardous waste anesthetic
gas (WAG) within a nurse’s breathing zone to minimize the cumulative
effect of low level exposure of WAG in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit
(PACU). The Community Surgery Center North served as the primary site
for ISO-Gard Mask demonstrations and has now become the first center to
incorporate the device into daily protocols.
“We value the safety of our nursing staff to ensure their ability to
provide the highest quality care to patients,” said Lou Bojrab, M.D.,
Medical Director, Community Surgery Center North. “Having partnered with
Teleflex in demonstrating the impact of the ISO-Gard Mask to help reduce
WAG in the PACU, we feel strongly that we need this device in our
facility to help protect our staff.”
The ISO-Gard Mask technology was developed by Teleflex in partnership
with clinicians who identified an issue and wanted to take action. As
the only solution available for “source control” of waste anesthetic gas
in the recovery room, the specialized ClearAir Technology of the
ISO-Gard Mask simultaneously delivers oxygen to patients and scavenges
their exhalation to help limit exposure faced by clinicians.
Teleflex estimates that anesthetic gases are used in 20 million
surgeries in the US annually and up to 100 million globally.1
As patients recover in the PACU, they exhale these gases which are then
released into the nurses’ breathing zone and work environment.2The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns of
several potential health effects from WAG exposure, including nausea,
dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.3
“Exposure to waste anesthetic gases on a daily basis is an invisible
risk to the healthcare providers working in recovery rooms,” said Cary
Vance, President, Anesthesia and Respiratory Division. “Teleflex
commends the Community Surgery Center North for addressing the issue and
taking action to comply with the OSHA Waste Anesthetic Gas Workplace
Exposure guideline.”
About Community Surgery Center North
Community Visionary Enterprises, Inc. (VEI), an affiliate within
Community Health Network, implements health care ventures with
physicians and hospitals that result in strong partnerships, outstanding
quality of care, exceptional service and solid financial performance.
About Teleflex Incorporated
Teleflex is a leading global provider of specialty medical devices for a
range of procedures in critical care and surgery. Our mission is to
provide solutions that enable healthcare providers to improve outcomes
and enhance patient and provider safety. Headquartered in Limerick, PA,
Teleflex employs approximately 11,200 people worldwide and serves
healthcare providers in more than 140 countries. Additional information
about Teleflex can be obtained from the company's website at teleflex.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe
historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Any
forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our
management's current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a
number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may
cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what
is expressed or implied by these statements. These risks and
uncertainties are identified and described in more detail in our filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report
on Form 10-K.
Teleflex, ClearAir and ISO-Gard are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Teleflex Incorporated or its affiliates.
©
2013 Teleflex Incorporated. All rights reserved. 2013-2545
References:
1. Inpatient Surgery data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/insurg.htm.
Updated
May 16, 2012. Accessed February 13, 2013.
Data purchased from IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics on file at
Teleflex.
Weiser TG, Regenbogen SE, Thompson KD, Haynes AB, Lipsitz SR, Berry WR,
Gawande AA. An estimation of the global volume of surgery: a modelling
strategy based on available data. Lancet. 2008 Jul 12;372(9633):139-44.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60878-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18582931
Accessed February 13, 2013.
WHO Guidelines for Safe Surgery. WHO/IER/PSP/2008.08-1E
http://gawande.com/documents/WHOGuidelinesforSafeSurgery.pdf.
Accessed February 13, 2013.
2. Anesthetic Gases: Guidelines for Workplace Exposures OSHA Directorate
of Technical Support and Emergency Management. July 20, 1999. Revised:
May 18, 2000. http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/anestheticgases/index.html
3. Waste Anesthetic Gases - http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/wasteanestheticgases/index.html.
Accessed February 13, 2013.
Source: Teleflex Incorporated
MEDIA CONTACTS
Teleflex Incorporated
Waggener Edstrom
Worldwide
Stephanie Coleman, 617-234-4107
scoleman@waggeneredstrom.com
or
Community
Surgery Center North:
Shannon Arrendale, 317-621-2035
sarrendale@ecommunity.com
or
Angela
Jaynes, 317-621-3755
ajaynes@ecommunity.com
or
INVESTOR
CONTACT
Teleflex Incorporated
Jake Elguicze
Treasurer
and Vice President, Investor Relations
610-948-2836