Professional Medical Named LTC LINK 2012 Elite Supplier For the second consecutive year, Professional Medical has earned an "Elite Supplier" distinction for the LTC LINK Meetings. This award is given to the suppliers that participated in LINK 2011 and ranked in the top 25% of suppliers based on provider scores for their ability to be consultative, innovative and address providers' specific needs. "This seal identifies Professional Medical Supply, Inc. as a progressive thought leader in long-term care and senior living, and as an organization that understands how to build partnerships with clients," said Bailey Beeken, LINK Conference Director and Vice President for Lincoln Healthcare Events.

LTC LINK brings top executives from large long-term care and senior living provider organizations together with executives from leading suppliers for peer-to-peer education, networking and consultative meetings centered on generating actionable business improvement ideas. LINK suppliers represent more than 35 product/service categories, with participation from innovative industry leaders and emerging companies. The LINK program offers educational sessions, including case studies from the LINK Spirit of Innovation Award winners, roundtable discussions and innovation focus groups. The 8th Annual LTC Link Meetings will be held in Chicago from July 30 through August 1.

What Needs to Be Disinfected When? Are you familiar with the Spaulding classification system? It was created more than 30 years ago as an approach to disinfection and sterilization of healthcare items and equipment and it remains the gold standard today. The system breaks items down into three categories: critical, semicritical and noncritical. Items are categorized based on the risk of infection involved in their use, and disinfection instructions are included for each category. The categories are as follows1: Critical items are items that normally enter sterile tissue, or the vascular system, or through which blood flows. This category includes items such as needles, intravenous catheters and urinary catheters. Disinfection: Equipment must be sterile when used.

Semi-critical items are objects that touch mucous membranes or skin that is not intact. This group includes items such as thermometers, podiatry equipment and electric razors. Disinfection: These items require high-level disinfection using an FDA-approved agent. They may also be sterilized. Noncritical items either come into contact with intact skin or do not touch the resident. This category includes items such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and over-bed tables. Disinfection: These products require low-level disinfection. They should be cleaned periodically and after visible soiling with an EPA-registered disinfectant, detergent or germicide that is approved for healthcare settings. Single-use disposable equipment can also be used in lieu of sterilizing reusable instruments (remember, devices that are labeled by the manufacturer for single use should never be reused). Manufacturers are also beginning to introduce touch-free devices, such as thermometers, that greatly reduce the need for constant disinfection. ProMed territory managers are ready to tell you more about our disinfecting products as well as our new, touch-free Infrared Thermometer. Give us a call at 800-648-5190 to learn more! Reference 1 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities (Rev. 70, 01-07-11). Available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/ som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed July 17, 2012.

Our clinical model Infrared Thermometer is the first non-contact clinical forehead thermometer in the world. Body temperature is measured by pointing the thermometer at the center of the forehead. Additional features: Temperature measurement is quick, precise, hygienic and safe To use, simply release the button and keep the thermometer still until the lights flash and the temperature appears in the LCD display Temperature can also be taken on the navel or neck (this is recommended for residents who have thick forehead wrinkles) Light beams that are emitted from the unit are totally safe FDA approved Adult use

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