New Medline BioConTM 500 Bladder Scanner Aids Nursing Homes In F-Tag 315 Incontinence Assessment

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 14 May 2010 - 14:00 PDT

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Medline Industries, Inc. announced the launch of the BioCon 500 Scanner, which can calculate bladder volume in seconds, giving nursing homes a quick, safe and non-invasive way to conduct their F-Tag 315 incontinence assessments.

F-Tag 315 expects long-term care facilities to have systems and procedures in place to ensure continence assessments are timely and appropriate interventions are defined, implemented, monitored and revised as necessary within current standards of practice. The BioCon 500 provides a non-invasive post void residual (PVR) urine volume measurement that allows the caregiver to closely monitor the patient for urine retention, thus giving them more information to determine the need for inserting an indwelling catheter, or instead, utilizing an intermittent catheter. Reducing the amount of catheters could lessen the risk of the patient developing a catheter-associated urinary tract infection during their stay.

CAUTI is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections, not only comprising 40 percent of all institutionally acquired infections, but also eight percent of infections in the home care setting. Avoiding unnecessary catheter use is a primary strategy for preventing CAUTI. Bladder scanners can be used in place of a urinary catheter to assess bladder volumes and reducing the number of catheterizations.

The BioCon 500 is also the only portable, 3-D ultrasound device with pre-scan capability, which allows the clinician to view the bladder on the screen before the measurement begins. This feature improves accuracy by making sure the entire bladder is being scanned. It also saves time by not having to redo an improper scan. Currently, many caregivers take up to three scans and average them in order to feel confident they have the most accurate reading -- a less than optimum use of time.

Additionally, an optional calibration kit is available for purchase so that biomedical engineering departments can perform the required calibration that every scanner needs on a yearly basis. Other scanner models require the scanner be sent back for repair or calibration, which often times takes 1-2 weeks to return and is costly.

To learn more about the BioCon 500 and other alternative solutions to urinary catheterization, visit http://www.erasecauti.com/alternatives.asp or contact your Medline sales representative.

Source
Medline Industries, Inc.

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