» Pfizer must pay $142 million for the marketing and prescribing of epilepsy drug Neurontin for unapproved uses, a federal appeals court has ruled. The justices refused to overturn a jury’s previous verdict. The jury determined Pfizer marketed Neurontin for bipolar disorder, migraines and neuropathic pain. The Food and Drug Administration had not approved the medicine for any of those uses.
» Xerox is developing a digital nurse assistant that is intended to help reduce the busywork related to documentation, saving them valuable time. The system relies on a small digital tag that the nurse wears, which recognizes him or her when entering a patient’s room. The patient’s information immediately appears on an in-room display, along with any specific data that needs the nurse’s attention.
» The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has issued an updated Clostridium difficile infections Implementation Guide. The free guide includes sections on the changing epidemiology, strategies for prevention andconsiderations for specific patient populations.
» Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S4 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Set to take on the iPhone 5, the Galaxy S4 sports a new 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with full HD 1080p video recording capabilities.
» American HealthTech and Maun-Lemke Speaking and Consulting have launched a partnership for providers. Maun-Lemke’s ARMS (Admissions, Rightness, Marketing and Sales ) is a step-by-step program with weekly coaching. That structure, combined with AHT’s data, can help providers succeed, the companies said.
» Drive Medical has acquired certain assets of Mason Medical, a manufacturer of pressure prevention products. Mason Medical has made innerspring mattresses and pressure redistributing therapeutic support surfaces for more than four decades.
» EarlySense introduced a continuous patient monitoring solution designed to enhance patient care on the medical-surgical floor. The EarlySense System monitors heart rate, respiratory rate and motion.
From the May 01, 2013 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
