Two South Florida Hospitals Select Novel Radio Frequency Detection Technology to Aid in Prevention of Retained Items in Surgery
Non-invasive detection system mitigates patient risk and improves patient safety.
West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Florida, December 21, 2010—Good Samaritan Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center are the first two hospitals in South Florida to use radio-frequency (RF) detection technology in their operating rooms. The RF Surgical Detection system is designed to help surgical teams prevent and detect foreign items inadvertently left inside a patient during surgery. Good Samaritan and West Boca are implementing this technology, as an adjunct to the standard practice of manual counting, in an effort to enhance patient safety in all surgical suites at the two hospital systems.
“Radio-frequency detection technology is an important patient safety monitoring system that Good Samaritan is using to help us deliver the safest possible patient care,” said Mark Nosacka, CEO, Good Samaritan. “There is a growing body of data indicating that use of this technology is linked with enhanced patient safety. Our surgeons and nurses are excited about introducing this new patient safety tool into our operating rooms.”
“We are excited to announce the implementation of the RF Surgical Detection System as we continue to strive to provide top quality care in our hospital. Our number one goal is zero incidents,” said Mitch Feldman, CEO, West Boca Medical Center. “The system allows us to accurately scan patients to ensure that no surgical item is left behind post-surgery while promoting staff confidence and compliance.”
“RF Surgical is very impressed with the level of commitment from the leadership team driving these two hospitals in South Florida to raise the bar on patient care,” said Steve Subiry, Director of Marketing, RF Surgical Systems. “We are gratified that our market leading technology has been adopted by Good Samaritan and West Boca, and we are committed to supporting these hospitals’ leadership in patient safety.”
Results from 1600 patients in the largest prospective multi-center study on the effectiveness of radio-frequency detection technology to improve surgical counts and staff wound closure confidence were recently presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress meeting. Interim conclusions demonstrate that RF detection can speed identification and reduce the use of radiation (x-rays) to locate missing sponges and retained surgical items regardless of whether the manual counts were accurate.
About the RF Surgical Detection System
Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006, the RF Surgical Detection System was the first medical device solution to address the detection of retained surgical objects in patients. The System safely and accurately reads through deep cavity tissue, fluids and bone to detect if any radio frequency tagged surgical sponges, gauze or towels remain in a patient following surgery. The system consists of a self-calibrating console, hand-held wand, RFmicro-tags and gauze, sponge supplies and is designed for open-cavity surgeries including emergency, trauma, labor and delivery. To date, it has been used in more than 1,000,000 surgical procedures nationwide.
About Good Samaritan
Good Samaritan Medical Center, is a 341-bed acute care hospital located at 1309 No. Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. In 2005, the hospital proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary of service to Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. In addition to general medical services, Good Samaritan offers a broad range of specialty services, including oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics and cardiac medicine. The hospital provides cancer services in the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Institute, featuring the Miles M. Zisson Comprehensive Breast Center and the Ruth C. Heede Gamma Knife Center. The hospital also offers the Walter Newbern Suites, an all- private, upscale unit that combines quality medical care with personal comfort. Good Samaritan is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. To learn more about Good Samaritan Medical Center, visit www.goodsamaritanmc.com or call 561-655-5511.
About West Boca Medical Center
West Boca Medical Center, is a 195-bed acute care hospital at 21644 State Road 7 in Boca Raton, Florida. West Boca Medical Center has been serving the medical and healthcare needs of its community and surrounding areas for over 20 years. West Boca Medical Center offers a broad array of services, including general medical and surgical care, orthopedics and sports medicine, a robotic surgery program offering minimally invasive surgery for gynecological, urological and general surgical procedures, a state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging center featuring open MRI and digital mammography, cardiac and surgical intensive care, outpatient surgery services, 24-hour emergency services for adults and children, diabetes education, a cystic fibrosis program for adults and children, outpatient rehabilitation services and a specialized sleep diagnostic center with a dedicated lab for infants and pediatrics as well as adults. West Boca Medical Center is also a Certified Primary Stroke Center. The hospital also offers several specialties, including a level III neonatal intensive care unit, the BirthCare Pavilion, a pediatric unit and a pediatric intensive care unit. It is also a recipient of the HealthGrades Maternity Care Excellence Award four years in a row (2006/2007 and 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010). HealthGrades has ranked West Boca’s maternity program among the top 5% five percent in the nation for three years in a row (2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010). The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. For more information or for physician referral, call 866-904-WBMC (9262).
About RF Surgical Systems, Inc.
RF Surgical Systems, Inc. is the market leader in the prevention and detection of retained surgical sponges. The RF Surgical Detection System is the preferred solution in more than 1,000 operating rooms, trauma and labor & delivery suites nationwide. RF Surgical Systems is based in Bellevue, Washington with R & D facilities in San Diego, California. The advanced technologies used in the RF Surgical Detection System are protected by U.S. patents. The company is online at www.rfsurg.com.