Mediware's Transfusion Management Software Adopted By Major Florida Health System

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  IT / Internet / E-mail;  Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 18 May 2007 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Mediware Information Systems (Nasdaq: MEDW) announced today that Gainesville, Fla.-based Shands HealthCare has licensed Mediware's HCLL(TM) Transfusion Management software system, which provides automated support for highly regulated blood-related processes to reduce transfusion errors, improve patient safety and maximize operational efficiency.

"Shands' upcoming implementation of the HCLL system is an important step in making blood transfusion as safe as possible for our patients. Our most important duty is to get the right blood to the right patient, and HCLL will help us accomplish that," said Tisha Irwin, MD, medical director, Shands at University of Florida Transfusion Services.

"HCLL will provide the tools necessary for Shands' transfusion services to reach new heights in terms of quality and service to the medical, surgical and emergency programs that depend on a reliable supply of blood products," said Juan Scornik, MD, professor of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine and medical director, Shands at UF Blood Bank and Histo-compatibility Lab.

From donor to recipient, HCLL is designed to manage blood products administered at hospitals and centralized transfusion service facilities. It is a powerful software tool for reducing transfusion errors, enhancing patient safety, managing the hospital's blood supply and maximizing the efficiency and productivity of the entire transfusion process.

According to John Damgaard, vice president and general manager for Mediware's Blood Management Division, strong market acceptance of Mediware's transfusion and donor management systems is attributable to rich functionality and advanced integration capabilities. He added that Shands is a complex health system that prefers stand-alone transfusion information software separate from the central laboratory information system.

"HCLL gives multi-facility health centers like Shands HealthCare the ability to manage blood services processes without concern for possible downtime in the central LIS," said Damgaard. "Hospital blood banks and transfusion services departments can't afford to be down in situations when seconds could be precious."

About Shands HealthCare

Shands HealthCare is a private, not-for-profit healthcare system affiliated with the University of Florida. With eight hospitals and more than 80 outpatient clinical practices in north Florida, Shands is the state's leading health care referral system and one of the Southeast's most respected health care organizations.

Approximately 1,500 affiliated UF faculty and community physicians offer comprehensive care in virtually every medical specialty through Shands facilities in north Florida. Areas of expertise include cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, pediatric and transplant services.

About Mediware

Mediware delivers powerful software solutions that encapsulate patient care instructions, reinforce patient safety practices and improve efficiencies to lower costs. Mediware targets three primary areas of patient care -- Medication Management, Perioperative Management and Blood Management (transfusion, inventory and donor practices) -- with specialized solutions that are proven to improve operational effectiveness and clinical outcomes. Mediware customers include prestigious hospitals, clinics, correctional institutions, blood centers and other public and private health care institutions throughout the world.

About HCLL(TM)

The HCLL suite of products, including HCLL Transfusion and HCLL Donor, provide healthcare facilities with powerful technology and rich clinical functionality necessary to streamline blood management processes -- from donation to transfusion. Blood bank management software products are classified by the FDA as medical devices and require 510(k) clearance.

Mediware Information Systems
http://www.mediware.com

• Additional
• References
• Citations