Contract for DVT technology ‘good news’ for Canadian patients
Medbuy announces five-year contract with ArjoHuntleigh
Thursday December 4, 2008 -- Jason Thompson
Medbuy, one of Canada’s largest group purchasing organizations, has awarded ArjoHuntleigh with a contract for its deep vein thrombosis (DVT) technology.

Announced Dec. 1, the five-year contract allows ArjoHuntleigh, a provider of integrated solutions to care for patients and residents with reduced mobility, to promote its Flowtron system amongst Medbuy’s 25 members, which represent approximately 300 acute care hospitals.

According to the Safer Healthcare Now (SHN) campaign, aimed at reducing the number of preventable complications and fatalities in Canadian hospitals, DVT is one of the most common and preventable complications of hospitalization.

DVT is a blood clot that develops in the calf, thigh or arm. If a fragment of the blood clot breaks off and moves to the lungs it is known as a pulmonary embolism which is often fatal.

The SHN campaign reports the rate of hospital-acquired DVT, if a thromboprophylaxis is not used, is 10 to 40 per cent after general surgery and 40 to 60 per cent after hip surgery.

Effective use of a thromboprophylaxis is a key component of SHN’s intervention to reduce the rate of adverse events associated with DVT, lower healthcare costs and eliminate extended hospital stays.

ArjoHuntleigh says its Flowtron technology is a clinically effective, non-invasive mechanical compression for the prophylaxis of DVT.

John Thiessen, general manager of ArjoHuntleigh in Canada, says the timing of Medbuy’s contract award is very significant and good news for patients in Canada.

“Our members are excited to be working with ArjoHuntleigh and have been impressed with their technology from a clinical and cost perspective,” Bekhe Purkis, Medbuy’s contracting director, said in a news release.

Medbuy leverages the purchasing power of more than 350 healthcare organizations to achieve cost savings on pharmaceuticals as well as healthcare services and supplies.

“Through this contract, our members will be able to realize substantial cost savings, while achieving their clinical outcomes through mechanical prophylaxis of DVT for patients across Canada,” Purkis said.

Click here for more information on ArjoHuntleigh.

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