“When nursing home administrators are dealing with a patient who has an infection, they should consider discussing venous compression with the doctor,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, a provider of venous compression equipment. “Venous compression is essential for treating and preventing DVT.”

Blood transfusions are another important, though less common, predictor of the need for hospitalization for venous clots, according to the study, published on the website of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Meanwhile, using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents was almost statistically significant as a risk factor.

Rogers and her colleagues noted that many risk assessment tools do not include infection, and venous thromboembolism risk algorithms should be updated to include the factors identified in the study.

The researchers studied patients 51 and older participating in a Health and Retirement study, linking data from Medicare files, outpatient visits, emergency room stays, and home health care visits, covering a period from 1991 through 2007.

The database linked to 16,781 patients, 399 of whom were hospitalized for the first time for a pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. The majority of the patients were female and white, with a mean age of 76.

Researchers looked at the period of 90 days before the hospitalization, compared to earlier periods of 90 days, to compare what factors were present as a possible trigger for a hospitalization due to venous thromboembolism. Infections, particularly respiratory tract infections, were more prevalent during the pre-hospitalization period than during the control periods. The association was significant, regardless of whether there had been a previous stay in a nursing facility or hospital.

The researchers took note that there is a well-described biological connection between the inflammation caused by infection, and coagulation of the blood.

Other significant predictors of a hospital stay for venous thromboembolism include chemotherapy, major operations, fractures, and immobility defined by any nursing facilty stay or nonsurgical hospitalization.

To learn more about frequently asked questions regarding DVT, and view the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, or IPC devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs.

“The study showed that the table surface was a key component,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “A big intervention that can help the patient stay comfortable and does more to prevent pressure ulcers is the Skin IQTM. It’s the latest negative airflow technology that prevents decubitis ulcers.”

The Skin IQ is also more budget-friendly than low air loss mattresses. The FDA has approved the Skin IQ for longer use, so the Skin IQ coverlet costs about $4.15 per day whereas a Low Air Loss mattress is about $30.00 a day. Perioperative nurses that can utilize a Skin IQ for patients and reposition them during and after surgical procedures will help patients stay comfortable and healthier.

“These strategies are easy to incorporate and relieve or redistribute the patient’s weight and wick away moisture,” said Grambor.

What is so unique about the Skin IQ is that it does have a foam layer, and two more layers of antimicrobial control. It pulls moisture down, cools the patient’s contact points, and performs 30 percent better than a typical medical mattress cover.

To learn more about the Skin IQ and how it can help in hospital settings or for pressure ulcer treatment, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. On the site, visitors will also find out about Vascular PRN’s other products for sale or rent such as SCD boots, lymphedema pumps, and sequential compression devices. Vascular PRN has been helping surgery centers and hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, and other institutions for decades throughout the United States. The Skin IQ is a registered trademark of KCI.

“Sequential compression devices can be great for many patients who cannot walk or get around much in the first few weeks,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, which helps healthcare professionals nationwide fill prescriptions for SCDs and IPCs. “Patients should talk to their doctor about their risk for a blood clot, find out if mechanical compression is good for them, and be proactive before the day of the surgery.”

The American Journal of Surgery notes that compression therapy devices can lessen the chances of DVT post-surgery by 60 percent. Many patients get mechanical compression therapy devices along with medicine to help prevent blood clots. Knee and hip surgery carry a higher risk of blood clots, so patients should be prepared when they have these types of surgeries to address any concerns ahead of time.

“Blood vessels can get damaged during surgery and when you are restricted to bed rest, SCDs can help blood flow from the superficial veins to the deep veins,” said Grambor. “The devices are comfortable and there are some choices depending on how portable you want the compression therapy system to be.”

Vascular PRN is known for its full line of sequential mechanical compression devices for the full leg, calf, and foot. To learn more about renting or buying a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

In the early 2000s, the American Venous Forum conducted a study showing how portable pneumatic compression devices helped improve compliance and, in time, would lessen the chances of DVT. As we enter into 2012, the latest in portable DVT care is the Polygel Ca5 DVTCare System. At the size of a book and one pound to carry in the over-the-shoulder case, the system is easy to use. Plus the battery works for 15 hours for single-leg therapy and 8 hours for dual-leg therapy.

So now when patients need to get out of bed, get transferred from the OR or ER to their hospital room, patient compliance can improve. The patient can wear it as he or she is getting radiographic studies, physical therapy, or other procedures. Compliance goes up, the device is easier to function in different settings, and the chances of DVT and blood clots goes down. As the study showed with a portable device, “…to be effective, they (devices) must be in use continuously; there is no effect that lasts beyond the time they are applied and functioning on the legs.”

Health care professionals will also have peace of mind that the functionality is the same as plug-in devices. The Polygel Ca5 DVTCare System has two segmented cuffs, wraps around the legs, and compresses veins to promote blood flow. The cuffs are comfortable and can be hand washed as needed.

As the previous American Venous Forum study showed, some medical professionals are concerned about the risk of bleeding in the early stages after an injury. Portable pneumatic compression devices can last for a long time and give everyone peace of mind that they are taking a proactive approach. And after a daylong worth of use, it can be plugged in and still used. Within 3.5 hours it is completely recharged again.

For the hospital setting, these devices can offer far more compliance than standard compression devices and thus are becoming more commonplace for doctors to prescribe. Portable devices can also be prescribed by the doctor for the home setting, as the system is made to be on the go.

To learn more about a Polygel Ca5 DVTCare System, pneumatic compression device, or Lymphedema boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

“Medical professionals must think proactively when the patient is at risk, not just after a serious ulcer or wound has occurred,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRNSM. “There are treatment protocols to help a patient prevent or address these concerns when they are clinically avoidable.”

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel suggests that monitoring, evaluating and revising patients’ diets, repositioning them, knowledge of their hemodynamics, and support surfaces are critical to keeping ulcers and wounds under control. A key part of the medical professional’s role is to document all the steps taken to care for the patient, communicate to the patient and his or her family, and involve them in the decision-making process. Case studies show that a minimum of 35 percent of lawsuits for nursing home or hospitals involves poor documentation that does not sit well with a jury.

“The skin is such an important organ that is sometimes forgotten,” said Grambor. “There are very efficient, affordable products out there for medical professionals to rent or buy to lessen a patient’s risk and decrease their own liability.”

For example, a Skin IQ is an electrically powered mattress coverlet that prevents skin breakdown and pressure ulcers as well as a LAL mattress. At $6 a day for the Skin IQ versus a LAL mattress at $30 a day, it also helps to minimize costs. For venous stasis leg ulcers that can be slow to heal, compression pump therapy products can stimulate venous blood flow and increase fibrinolytic activity.

“Everyone on the team needs to be well versed in wound and ulcer care,” said Grambor. “From a CNA to the dietician, and even new staff when turnover occurs, should be able to consult the patient’s file and the facility’s guidelines on preventing and lessening these issues.”

Best practices also include photographing a patient’s wounds or ulcers on admission, keeping accurate records of the patient’s care, and noting his or her compliance with the care given. Tracking how the issues are addressed in the patient file, along with precise staffing records and consistent use of best practices for care can dramatically decrease a facility’s liability.

“Medical professionals should be able to know their patient from head to toe,” said Grambor. “Vascular PRN is here to help you get access to the equipment you need to address ulcers and wounds proactively, and we can make a difference in your patient’s health overnight.”

Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with compression therapy pumps and the new Skin IQ. To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or the Skin IQ coverlet, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

“This is a very effective way for patients to continue to get the treatment they need, whether they are taking a walk, riding in a car, or on a long plane ride,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “You can wear it like a shoulder bag, have your calf wraps on, and get therapy for the eight hours of battery time.”

The pump is about the size of a book and it has a variable pressure setting so that the pressure can be adjusted to the doctor’s prescription and patient comfort levels. The system comes with three chamber knee high wraps and is made in the United States.

“Doctors can say goodbye to SCDs that are heavy and can only hang on bed rails,” said Grambor. “These portable DVT systems are just as efficient in achieving blood flow in a patient’s legs.”

In the long-term care setting, the system allows the patient to walk or be taken in a wheelchair on trips for bathing, toileting, dining, and more without interrupting therapy.

The price for the portable Polygel Ca5 DVTCare System is also lower than a standard DVT pump. And after a patient uses up the eight hours of battery time for dual leg therapy, he or she can plug it into an outlet for continued, stationary use. The battery recharges in three hours.

Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs. To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

Patient abuse is the most severe violation, and can involve workers stealing from residents, withholding food, or other physical and emotional types of abuse. Pressure ulcers and wounds are the next most common mistake. Nursing home workers should document and take photos of any ulcers on admissions. This can help to have a baseline reference of how the patient came into the facility and what steps the nursing home staff can take to heal these conditions.

It can never be said enough that bandages must be checked. A recent lawsuit awarded $650,000 to a woman whose bandages were not checked for 11 days and once the site was checked, it was crawling with maggots. Medical professionals cannot ignore internal controls and patient complaints. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 16 percent of nursing home residents deal with decubitis ulcers. Innovative products such as the Skin IQ Microclimate Manager can dramatically cut down the risk of developing decubitis ulcers. The Skin IQ is an electrically powered mattress coverlet that pulls moisture away from a patient’s skin and lowers the skin temperature to make them more comfortable. It costs about $6 a day versus a Low Air Loss mattress that is around $30 a day. For nursing home residents that are more immobile, this type of technology can be critical to lessening ulcers and the risk of patient liability.

Most pressure ulcers and wrongful death lawsuits stem from malnutrition and dehydration. Medical professionals at the nursing home must monitor each patient’s nutrition and watch out for weight loss. Also, patients must be monitored for issues regarding deep vein thrombosis and venous stasis ulcers. Compression therapy machines are affordable to rent and can help residents from having more severe issues. All these concerns should be addressed in each patient’s care plan; otherwise, lack of documentation can cause a nursing home to be liable for an injury or death.

Risk of falling is another area that nursing homes can improve on. Nursing homes must have initiatives to help residents stay mobile and have assistive devices as needed. Equally as important is the risk of residents wandering or escaping a facility. Insufficient staffing or ignoring internal procedures is no excuse for having a patient’s life in jeopardy. Nursing homes should take extra care in doing employee background checks to make sure they have the right staff on board and ensure that the ratio of residents to workers will help ensure the standard of care is upheld.

To learn more about the Skin IQ, and Vascular PRN’s other products such as Sequential Compression Devices, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

In particular, some cancer patients deal with lymphedema as a result of surgery or radiation therapy that causes a mechanical alteration of the lymphatic system. This chronic disorder can greatly affect an individual’s quality of life. It is critical that treatment for lymphedema occurs early on, as the disorder can worsen over time.

“Health care professionals need to do everything possible to keep the skin integrity and prevent further infection,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRNSM, a company that helps healthcare professionals nationwide with lymphedema pumps and lymphedema boots. “Compression therapy can keep fluid from repooling so that other complications do not occur.”

Over time, lymphedema can lead to cellulitis, disability, and psychosocial issues. Swollen tissues can create an environment where infections can reappear and cause irreversible damage to the tissues. Pain and difficulty moving can lead to a diminished quality of life, and affect other areas of a person’s social and intimate relations.

“With a doctor’s guidance, extremity pump systems and physical therapy can do a lot of good to regain comfort and lessen the issues that can ensue,” said Grambor.

To learn more about lymphedema boots, lymphedema pumps, and Vascular PRN’s other products for rent or for sale such as sequential compression devices or SCD boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their lymphedema product needs.

These types of symptoms can develop in the arms or legs and include pain, swelling, ulcers, and discoloration. Hundreds of thousands of people deal with these issues nationwide. Health care professionals are critical to helping a patient after they have dealt with a blood clot. Doctors can prescribe compression stockings, sequential compression devices, and Unna boots to prevent skin ulcers, for example.

“Doctors can be proactive and screen their patient for any new clots that might come up and if none are found, the physician can prescribe the right compression and course of action to keep the patient from further pain and complications,” said Vascular PRN president Greg Grambor.

The National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia (NATT) states that these symptoms usually happen in the first six months after experiencing a clot, but can happen as long as two years after the original bout with a clot.1 The NATT recommends that patients who can exercise and maintain a correct body weight for their age and height can also improve their symptoms with the right compression therapies as part of a comprehensive approach to the problem.

“It is important that any prescribing physicians take the steps to ensure that contraindications for any of these therapies do not exist and that your progress is monitored as you get back to your daily routine and take on exercise,” said Grambor.

To learn more about sequential compression devices, SCD boots or Vascular PRN’s other products for rent or for sale to the medical community, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their compression therapy product needs.

With these cuts, nursing homes are getting creative about ways to cut costs. This can be difficult given that nursing homes often take care of post-hospital patients. Patient advocates say that nursing homes could save money just by taking better care of patients as an estimated 14 percent of patients in their post-op care must go back to the hospital. Patient infections, falls that cause broken bones and other injuries, and medication mishaps could have been prevented. These incidents also are a part of “never events” that Medicare will not reimburse a facility for.

Taking on losses like this can equal a nursing home’s demise. As many facilities do a sufficient job of helping their short and long-term residents, a nursing home administrator must look at ways to cut costs in other departments or increase revenue. Ways to strengthen revenue include marketing to new and different groups for nursing home services, and responding to patient referrals quicker. Many nursing homes have already frozen wages, cut staff, and halted facility upgrades.

From here, they must find savings by looking at medical supplies that could do more for the nursing home at a lesser cost. From tissues and briefs to wound care and lotions, and even bigger items such as beds and medical equipment, every single item is being analyzed. For facilities that already have a pressure redistribution mattress, they can stop using a Low Air Loss (LAL) mattress, which typically costs $30 a day, and use the new Skin IQ coverlet for about $6 a day.

The Skin IQ coverlet does more to prevent skin breakdown and pressure ulcers than a LAL mattress. This new mattress cover wicks moisture away from the patient, minimizes odors, and helps prevent infections. For a nursing home that might rent 75 LAL beds per month, for example, for high risk patients, switching to a Skin IQ coverlet could save $54,000 in 30 days. The product is easy to clean and can be used for individuals up to 500 pounds.

To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

The guidelines recommend that ob-gyns assess if the patient has a history of blood clots, prior deep vein thrombosis, or a family history of occurrence. SCD boots, which are sequential compression devices, can be used to help increase blood flow. Each boot slips over the leg and mechanically pumps to stimulate blood flow up through the deep leg veins. Unless there is a time issue as in an emergency c-section or if the patient is using anti-clotting medication, the compression booties can work on many different types of women.

“It’s an easy thing to do that really does not cause harm and could potentially help,” said Dr. Erin DuPree, deputy chief medical officer Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Her medical center has used these compression devices for a few years at a cost of roughly $14 a patient.

SCD boots have been used in other surgical procedures and post-op settings and shown to lessen blood clot risk by two-thirds, says The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“While warning signs in some women may be evident early in pregnancy, others will develop symptoms that manifest later in pregnancy or after the baby is born,” said Dr. Andra James, the founder of Duke University’s Women’s Hemostasis and Thrombosis Clinic. “It’s important for ob-gyns to adopt these recommendations to help reduce maternal death. The risk of VTE is increased during pregnancy and the consequences can be severe.”

Vascular PRNSM rents and sells compression equipment to companies that can provide the equipment for use in the hospital or home care setting. Vascular PRN is a leader in high-quality SCD equipment throughout the United States, and can send by overnight delivery when requested. Their website includes product images, sizing guides, and frequently asked questions to help professionals choose the right compression equipment for their patient.

To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

Compression therapy can help prevent deep vein thrombosis and blood clots. Surgery already increases the chances of a blood clot as blood vessels are injured during a procedure. As a patient heals from getting a knee or hip replaced, for example, being immobile for long periods of time also elevates a person’s risk. Your orthopedic doctor will recommend a course of post-op treatment that can include the short term use of blood thinners and compression therapy.

The National Blood Clot Alliance reminds individuals and their loved ones to be on the lookout for signs of any unusual pain, skin color and temperature, or swelling that is beyond what your doctor has noted during recovery. Also, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, or bloody mucus can signal an imminent blood clot.

Nursing home medical professionals are responsible for communicating with the resident’s doctor about any irregularities and should be utilizing compression therapy unless there are contraindications for specific individuals. Of equal importance is making sure that a resident does not start to get bedsores. Immobility and other factors can make a person prone to developing bedsores that turn into more serious pressure ulcers. Aggressive measures should be taken to prevent this from happening, including helping patients turn every couple of hours as they rest in the bed or use a wheelchair.

Some residents are more prone to moisture problems as a result of excessive perspiration that can be caused by their medical condition or the medications they are taking. Pressure ulcers can arise when the skin develops excess moisture as more friction occurs against clothing, sheets and the mattress cover. Incontinence is similar as it can make the skin moister and cause infections. Many long-term care facilities already have pressure redistribution mattresses on hand for decubitus ulcer prevention. When a Skin IQ Microclimate Manager can be used on top of the mattress, a resident can benefit by the latest in skin integrity technology. The facility also benefits by obtaining the same results as with a Low Air Loss bed, but at a fraction of the cost.

The Skin IQ is a reasonably priced solution for nursing homes to use to prevent skin ulcers, minimize odors, lower temperature at the contact points and reduce friction. It is a good solution for residents of almost any size, even up to 500 pounds.

Vascular PRNSM assists long-term care centers and nursing home professionals with compression therapy products and the Skin IQ coverlet to prevent decubitus ulcers. They rent, sell and ship products to health care centers throughout the United States, and can send by overnight delivery. They carry high-quality brands that are built for even the most rigorous medical demands. To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.