Case Medical Corporate Updates

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank those who have sent well wishes, words of encouragement and support our way. As most of you are aware, New Jersey was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Sandy. Almost all of Northern NJ was without power, heat, and phones for as long as two weeks. Much of the Case Medical staff has faced their own personal issues during the disaster cause by Hurricane Sandy, and amazingly still found the time to come in and work to get the company back up and running.

After two weeks of no power, heat, internet, or phone access we finally had our power turned on this Monday. This has allowed us to access our servers, ship orders, and stage jobs at the minimum. We have been handling phone orders remotely and are shipping them based on inventory and priority. I thank you for your continued patience, we will be up and running at normal pace within two weeks. If you have any orders or inquiries, the best way to reach us right now is at info@casemed.com. If you need to speak to someone, please call (201) 313-1999. Listen carefully as the menu options have been updated.

As Thanksgiving is around the corner, we are reminded of the things we are most thankful for. A big thank you to all of our loyal customers, associates, suppliers, and friends for your continued support.

I hope that everyone else affected by the hurricane is now safe and making progress. Thank you all for your continued support, it really means a lot to the Case Medical family.

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Free Webinar – “Packaging Materials & Methods: Not All Packaging is Created Equal”

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

Please join guest speaker Nancy Chobin in a Case Medical sponsored Free Educational Seminar on Wednesday, October 10th! The topic is Packaging Materials and Methods.

Case Medical would like you to join Nancy Chobin in this comprehensive online seminar. Nancy Chobin has been a leader in healthcare education and is an internationally known speaker and author of topics pertaining to sterile processing, materials management and the operating room.

There are two scheduled sessions for your convenience. Please register below for the session that best fits your schedule.

With the large variety of packaging options available for use in sterilizing surgical instruments it can be difficult to decide which methods to use in different situations. In this educational webinar we will be reviewing best practices and standards for packaging and storing instruments.

Click here to visit Case Academy Online. All of the programs are free to take.

Topic: Packaging Materials and Methods: Not All Packaging is Created Equal!
Objectives:

  • Review packaging options
  • Assess how to make packaging choices based on validation, productivity and the basic science
  • To demonstrate use of container organizing devices to protect and secure surgical   instruments
  • Review AAMI standards for packaging materials and methods

Host: Nancy Chobin
CEU: 1.5 credits from IAHCSMM and the CBSPD

Session 1: Morning Session at 9:30AM
Date and Time:
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 9:30 am, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 668 206 141

Click here to join the 9:30am Session

To join the teleconference only:
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-479-3207
Access code: 668 206 141

________________________________________________________________

Session 2: Afternoon Session at 4:00PM
Date and Time:
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 4:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 669 481 891

Click here to join the 4:00pm Session

To join the teleconference only:
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-479-3207
Access code: 669 481 891

Posted in containers, environmentally preffered, flash sterilization, green, sterilization, sustainability, technology | Leave a comment

Labor Day and Loaners Sets in Sealed Containers

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, parades and athletic events.

We are proud to be an American medical device manufacturer with products that support your efforts. One of our main goals at Case Medical is to save you time, money, and help you take the unnecessary labor out of processing instrument sets.

Loaner instrumentation has long been recognized as a concern for central service/SPD and operating room professionals and has more recently become even a greater challenge as the cost of specialty instruments has skyrocketed. As you know, Case Medical has been working with orthopedic companies and other major medical suppliers to allow for containerization of their “loaners.” In fact, Case Medical started, nearly 20 years ago, as a manufacturer of custom graphics trays for orthopedic instrument sets. We developed our SteriTite universal, DIN sized container originally for this purpose.

Some major medical companies have already transitioned their graphics trays to sealed containers. Others have endorsed the use of rigid, sealed containers for their “loaner” sets. At this time users, vendors, and container manufacturers have been working together with AAMI and additional input from the FDA to provide guidelines for using sterilization containers in lieu of disposable or reusable wrap for custom graphic sets.

Over the years, we have been asked by many users to help containerize “loaners” and get the word out to orthopedic vendors. Our mutual goal was to avoid tears in the wrappers, address reprocessing issues, delayed cases, reduced stress, and support your efforts to return to standard cycles and improve the way your products are organized and packaged.

At Case Medical we understand the importance of your job and want to help you save time, money, and labor hours. We would like to thank all of our customers and healthcare professionals for their hard work and efforts to contribute to patient safety. We wish you all a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.

We are here to help, contact us if you have any questions at info@casemed.com or call 1-888-227-CASE.

Posted in containers, Loaner Trays, sterilization, sustainability, technology, Uncategorized, Verification | Leave a comment

Express Cleaning Cycles Require Thorough Pre-Cleaning

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.
As most of you know, Case Medical is a manufacturer of sterilization trays and instrument chemistries.  We are FDA registered, ISO certified and have FDA 510k and CE mark for our products.  We have been honored to receive a preferred partnership with the US EPA for our environmentally friendly, sustainable instrument chemistries.

While everyone wants to save time, energy and water, we also need to be aware of the consequences with “quick” cycles programmed in automated washers.

There are many instrument chemistries on the market; some have single or dual enzymes, others with multiple enzymes, some pH neutral and others alkaline and some high alkaline requiring an acid neutralizer.  There are ready to use, concentrated, super concentrated, liquid or solid cleaners to choose from.  Nonetheless, all instrument cleaners have the same purpose to remove organic and inorganic contaminants, as well as bioburden. But, to be effective all must be washed away.  Thus, whether manual cleaning or automated cleaning is done rinsing is critical to remove soil and detergent residues.

It has been brought to our attention recently that new automated washers and even some existing units have pre-programmed short cycles. Some have no rinse at all between the enzyme and detergent cycles. Some have only a 15 second rinse for the entire process!

Others use cold water for enzyme cycles to save energy.  While some enzymatic cleaners can activate at room temperatures, more time may be needed to achieve cleaning.  Warm water can contribute to improved enzyme action.  When cold water is used, more time and perhaps more product is required. This is true of detergents as well as enzymatic cleaners.  This is why we always recommend a minimum of two minutes for each cleaning step followed by a thorough rinse.

While all of us have worked hard to reduce “flash” sterilization cycles, recognizing the issues when surgical devices are processed without adequate time, what are we doing now by transitioning to express or short “FLASH” wash cycles?  If thorough pre-cleaning and rinsing occurs, then these “FLASH” wash cycles can provide an effective secondary cleaning process.

However, what is our assurance the cleaning process has been effective for patient care? Although cleaning indicators can target a process failure or a pass, they do not give any information on why the process failed.  Again, it comes to using the correct product and process, following manufacturer’s recommendations and considering the consequences for our actions when we short cut the process.
Posted in environmentally preffered, flash sterilization, instrument chemistries, sustainability | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Earn Free CEU’s and Learn About Hospital Acquired Infections

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

Please join guest speaker Nancy Chobin in a Case Medical sponsored Free Educational Seminar on June 19th! The topic is Hospital Acquired Infections and Prevention.

Click here to register. Simply choose the time that best fits your schedule and click register on the next page.

We are all aware of the growing number of hospital acquired infections and the importance of proper cleaning and decontamination. This topic is now newsworthy and being followed regularly in the media. Education and knowledge are the keys to proper processing.

Case Medical would like you to join Nancy Chobin in a comprehensive online seminar. Nancy Chobin has been a leader in healthcare education and is an internationally known speaker and author of topics pertaining to sterile processing, materials management and the operating room.

Topic: Hospital Acquired Infections and Prevention
Date: Tuesday, June 19th
Times: Morning Session at 9:30AM and Afternoon Session at 4:00PM
Objectives:

  • Define Hospital Acquired Infections and review how they are transmitted
  • Understand the importance of sterile processing in infection prevention
  • Review methods to prevent cross contamination and improve patient safety by proper reprocessing and handling of devices
  • Discuss the importance of certification and competencies for sterile processing personnel

Host: Nancy Chobin
CEU: 1.5 credits from IAHCSMM and the CBSPD

There are two sessions available to register for. Simply choose the time that best fits your schedule and click register!

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AAMI Updates on Loaner Trays

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

Rigid reusable sterilization container systems are commonly used in the US and even more so in Europe, and numbers are growing. Both the sterilization method utilized and the parameters set are similar to those for wrap. However, container systems provide some significant advantages including reduced reprocessing and cycle times, no torn wrappers, reduction in wet packs and improved ergonomics. Reusable products also save time and money, are environmentally preferred and can meet the goal of achieving standard hospital cycles.  According to AAMI ST79 Annex J, “A delay in heat up time is not seen in container systems processed in a pre-vacuum cycle.”

While hospitals transition their sets from wrap to rigid reusable sealed containers, many have also decided to move their custom wrapped trays graphics trays to containers. Nonetheless there has been much confusion and discussion about how to do this and whether this transition falls under FDA regulations. IFU’s from medical device manufacturers do not necessarily indicate whether wrap, container or unwrapped trays should be used for packaging of these devices or instrument sets.

This discussion was a hot topic at AAMI last week in both the ST77 and ST79 working groups.  ST77 is a manufacturer’s document on containment devices while ST79 is a guidance document for users.

According to FDA officials who shared their opinions:

Guidelines help sterile processing  personnel make correct and educated decisions in the field. Device manufacturers are not required to mention a specific device used for validation, only parameters. AAMImay offer advice to users on choosing a wide variety of cleared FDA sterilization accessories.The important issue here is whether the container and tray as well as the device share common labeling and are FDA cleared.

Case Medical has worked with medical device companies over the past 20 years to design and manufacture custom graphics trays for specialty devices.  The company’s SteriTite container was designed specifically for containerizing custom trays, commonly called “loaners”.  Our container and accessories have been cleared for all current sterilization modalities and medical devices based on manufacturer’s instructions.

We would like to use our expertise to assist you with the transition from wrap to containers. Please contact us for more info at (201) 313-1999 or email us at info@casemed.com.

Additionally, please mark your calender for our next free online educational program on June 19, 2012. Nancy Chobin will be leading the discussion on Hospital Acquired Infections and Prevention. We will be sending registration information for the webinar shortly.

Posted in containers, Loaner Trays, Standard Hospital Sterilization Cycles, sterilization, technology, Verification | Leave a comment

News for Dropping Loaner Trays into Sealed Containers

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

Recently, Synthes has sent out a letter to all customers and to the industry to give their approval for using sterilization containers in lieu of disposable or reusable wrap for packaging of their non-sterile custom graphic sets “loaners”.

The letter states,

“To date, Synthes’ recommended processing instructions for non-sterile devices have only applied to the use of woven and non-woven sterilization wrap materials, which are widely used in healthcare facilities. In order to provide more options to hospitals, Synthes has now included rigid sterilization containers in our recommended processing instructions for non-sterile implants and reusable medical devices.

Sterilization parameters for non-sterile devices detailed in current labeling (device specific inserts, generic inserts, technique guides, etc.) will remain the same and are validated for use with wrap or rigid sterilization containers. The labeling contains validated recommendations for Cycle Type, Minimum Exposure Time, Minimum Exposure Temperature and Minimum Dry Time that are applicable to all devices cleared by FDA as sterilization wraps, including rigid sterilization containers.

Our current cleaning and sterilization instructions for use (Processing Synthes Reusable Medical Devices and Processing Non-sterile Synthes’ Implants) have been updated to state the following:

“Only legally marketed, FDA-cleared sterilization barriers (e.g., wraps, pouches, containers) should be used by the end-user for packaging terminally sterilized devices.”

…Detailed processing instructions for Synthes non-sterile implants and reusable medical devices, as well as the instructions outlined in the formal hospital letter, must be followed to ensure proper sterilization of the devices.”

As you know, Case Medical has been working with orthopedic companies and other major medical suppliers to allow for containerization of their “loaners.” In fact, Case Medical started, nearly 20 years ago, as a manufacturer of custom graphics trays for orthopedic instrument sets. We developed our SteriTite universal, DIN sized container originally for this purpose.

Over the years, we have been asked by many users to help containerize “loaners” and get the word out to orthopedic vendors. Our mutual goal was to avoid tears in the wrappers, address reprocessing issues, delayed cases, and support your efforts to return to standard cycles and improve the way your products are organized and packaged.

Case Medical has actively participated in the AAMI working group focusing on containment devices – ST77, and contributed to the new Annex A providing a protocol for integration from wrapped custom sets to containers.

Please use this information as a guide. Let us know how we can help facilitate the transition. Call (201) 313-1999 ext. 206 for more info or click here.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happy Earth Day from Case Medical!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.
Earth Day this year is April 22nd!  How is your facility recognizing this event in 2012? Everyone should be minimizing waste in their facility by eliminating unnecessary and harmful materials.
Case Medical proudly offers sustainable solutions for the SPD and OR. Get rid of disposable wrap by switching to the universal container, SteriTite.
You can use our environmentally friendly cleaners. We are in partnership with the EPA in their Design for the Environment Program (DfE). According to the US EPA, green chemistry is also known as sustainable chemistry. Case Medical has designed our products to eliminate the use of hazardous substances, reduce waste, eliminate end of line treatments and increase energy efficiency & patient safety.
Case Medical’s theme for this year’s IAHCSMM Conference is “It’s Time to Containerize Loaners.”
Please join us in Albuquerque from April 29 – May 2 for the Annual IAHCSMM Conference. Meet the Case Medical Team and see our latest innovations at Booth 329 during the exhibit hours.

IAHCSMM Logo

Case Medical will be sponsoring the Early Bird Discussion Groups and the Golden Slipper Award for Service Excellence.
Case Medical will be featuring new products including our options for containerizing “loaners”, long container for bariatric sets, and our latest innovations for modular specialty tray organization.

In addition, you will see ourFlashTite system for sealed immediate use sterilization, as well as our new instrument chemistries including our EndoWipes and Alcohol Wipes for safe, effective and easy to use products for manual cleaning of surgical devices.

Posted in containers, environmentally preffered, green, instrument chemistries, Loaner Trays, Low Temperature Sterilization, sterilization, sustainability, technology | Leave a comment

Surgical Robots? Are they worth the cost? Whatever your opinion, Case Medical has ways to protect your investment.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Case Medical, Inc.

This link directs to the article. Please read http://bit.ly/AwL3JN

A great article by Mr. Montagnolo that investigates the cost-benefit of surgical robot systems. While I believe in the benefits of such systems like the da Vinci and especially in awe of the technology, its up to each hospital administration to decide.

Whatever your choice is, Case Medical has worked with the leader in surgical robotics, Intuitive, to engineer protective trays and containers specifically for the da Vinci robot. See some here http://bit.ly/xvQlgR or give us a call at (201) 313-1999 for more info.

Posted in containers, sterilization, technology | Leave a comment

Seasons Greetings…Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday and a Successful New Year!

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Case Medical, Inc.

During this holiday season, all of us at Case Medical would like to let you know how much you are appreciated. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to serving you in the New Year. Here are some of our accomplishments and product innovations from 2011 and a preview of what’s to come during 2012.

Sincerely,

Marcia Frieze, CEO Case Medical
http://www.casemed.com

Accomplishments in 2011:

  • Case Medical receives EPA partnership for Green Chemistry

Case Medical received a formal partnership agreement from the EPA under the Design for the Environment Program for the company’s Case Solutions and SuperNova, environmentally friendly instrument chemistries. The EPA allows companies like Case Medical with environmentally preferred products to carry the Design for the Environment (DfE) label. This mark enables users to identify and choose products that are safer and can help protect the environment.

  • Case Medical’s newest 510K for STERRAD

On July 1, 2011 Case Medical received FDA 510k clearance for its SteriTite sealed container system and MediTray products for use in STERRAD 100 NX sterilization system for use in both standard and flex cycles. The company’s SteriTite container system meets sterilizer manufacturers’ recommendations for surfaces and lumens, including rigid and flexible endoscopes.

  • Expansion of our Manufacturing abilities.

Silicone Backbone Brackets are now manufactured in house using our silicone injection molding machine. We also have recently upgraded our hydraulic press to the most advanced version so that we can quickly and accurately draw our SteriTite sealed container systems in-house.

  • Participation at AAMI and FDA Summit

AAMI ST77 ANNEX-A provides a template for integrating wrapped custom sets into sealed containers. This will extend the useful life of surgical instruments and contribute to faster turn-around time, something Case Medical has always emphasized.

Case Medical participated in the task group that drafted the ANNEX and also joined our colleagues at the FDA/AAMI Symposium on Reprocessing Surgical Devices.

What’s Next in 2012:

  • More container and specialty tray options for 2012

New 2″ and 4″ high containers; SC02MG, SC04MG. We are offering a variety of smaller containers and trays for specialty sets and extending the line for STERRAD and VPRO use.

  • Custom Tray Options in SteriTite sealed containers

Case Medical can help you integrate your wrapped custom trays and loaners into our SteriTite sealed container. An OEM supplier of custom trays to major medical companies for the past 20 years, we can provide you with a universal, sealed container designed for “loaners” that you can put in to use at your facility and save time, reprocessing costs, and protect valuable instrumentation.

  • Bariatric Trays and SteriTite Long Container System

Bariatric surgery is rapidly growing as a procedure to reduce obesity and its associated diseases. Case Medical understands the need to develop a longer tray system for this procedure and will be providing the appropriate trays and containers in the 1st quarter of 2012.

  • Case Solutions offer NEW PentaWipes and Alcohol Wipes

PentaWipes are pre-moistened, non-woven, durable, single-use wipes containing proprietary surfactants and multiple enzymes including protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase, and other proprietary enzymes. Impregnated with EPA preferred, biodegradable, PentaZyme, enzymatic cleaning solution. Designed for use within the Endo Suite, and for manually cleaning of surfaces and sterilization containers.

Alcohol Wipes are ideal for further decontamination of non-critical surfaces after cleaning. Facilitates drying. Quick, easy to use, non-streaking.

  • Educational Offerings

Case Medical is committed to providing educational programs for sterile processing, operating room staff, and materials management. Visit us at http://www.casemed.com for the listing of 2012 Educational Programs, always with CEU’s that are available to you free of charge.

Posted in containers, environmentally preffered, green, instrument chemistries, Loaner Trays, sterilization, sustainability | Leave a comment