NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06/09/06
Contact: Steve Owens,
HEALTHPOINT
Steve.owens@healthpoint.com
1-800-441-8227
(Fort Worth, TX) --- HEALTHPOINT, Ltd., Surgical Division, a DFB Pharmaceuticals Inc. company, presents SURGICEPT™ Waterless Surgical Hand Antiseptic at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) in Tampa FL, which begins Sunday, June 11, 2006.
SURGICEPT is the latest member of HEALTHPOINT’s popular, brush free, skin asepsis product line. Last October, HEALTHPOINT licensed the SURGICEPT skin asepsis technology from Columbia University and acquired the SURGICEPT product line.
HEALTHPOINT, the company that innovated brush free surgical scrubbing with TRISEPTIN® in 1996, is a recognized leader in products formulated for protection.
“The SURGICEPT formula offers unique and vital characteristics for efficacy and user preference,” said Lawton Seal, PhD, senior program manager for HEALTHPOINT. “SURGICEPT goes on quickly, is fast drying, and has received exceptional customer feedback and user acceptance---factors which can increase compliance with infection prevention protocols.”
HEALTHPOINT launched SURGICEPT at the 2006 Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) annual Congress in March with a record number of attendees visiting the HEALTHPOINT booth. Many attendees requested product evaluations in their facilities, demonstrating a lack of satisfaction with their current suppliers, according to the company.
”Our sales organization has been executing the evaluations and SURGICEPT has been selected as the preferred product in the majority of situations,” said Steve Owens, Director of Marketing, HEALTHPOINT Surgical Division. “To us, this confirms that a quick to apply, rapid drying, GPO-contracted product has met market needs.”
“Not only was this acquisition a great addition to the HEALTHPOINT product line, it also allowed HEALTHPOINT to establish a relationship with Columbia giving HEALTHPOINT access to some of the industry’s leading resources in the areas of skin asepsis,” Dr. Seal continued.
Through this access, Dr. Seal joined Columbia’s Shanta Modak, PhD and Cenk Cayci, MD of the Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, to survey AORN operating room (OR) nursing personnel’s awareness and adherence to AORN guidelines regarding the utilization of waterless, alcohol-based hand rubs in December 2005. The 746 surveys received also provided user opinions of the skin-friendliness and limitations of current products. The large number of clinicians responding to this survey demonstrates the concern of the OR nursing community about the brush free agents currently in use.
“While the efficacy of waterless, alcohol-based hand rub agents is clinically proven,” remarked Dr. Seal, “such a product’s efficacy is compromised if not used properly. From our survey, we learned that a combination of factors led to improper product usage. The factors included limited understanding of AORN Guidelines and manufacturer’s instructions for use, time constraints in the OR setting, and a level of dissatisfaction with waterless scrubs currently available in their ORs.”
“First, nurses and doctors must like the product’s attributes. Then the product will be used properly,” said Mr. Owens. “We are honored to present SURGICEPT to APIC members. These professionals truly value products that are designed to increase compliance and can play a role in preventing infections. SURGICEPT has a number of popular features. It’s easy to apply. The rapid drying formulation is designed to minimize sticky build up and slipping under gloves, and to improve skin condition. This promotes better compliance in surgical hand asepsis, which could lead to a reduction in surgical site infections (SSIs).”
To learn more about SURGICEPT Waterless Surgical Hand Antiseptic and other HEALTHPOINT products, visit the HEALTHPOINT booth #333 at the 2006 APIC Annual Conference or call 1-800-441-8227.
Since its inception in 1992, HEALTHPOINT has established a U.S. presence in the research, development, and marketing of branded pharmaceuticals, over the counter drugs, and medical devices for surgical, dermatology, and tissue management indications. An aggressive research and development effort has brought HEALTHPOINT unique technologies to the market, setting the pace for its highly trained field sales organization of direct sales representatives. HEALTHPOINT, with over 300 employees, is a DFB Pharmaceuticals, Inc. affiliate company. HEALTHPOINT is based in Fort Worth, Texas. Visit the HEALTHPOINT web site at www.healthpoint.com.
