Kimberly-Clark's Multi-Access Port Closed Suction System Wins Industry Recognition for Innovation

Kimberly-Clark Health Care has been recognized by the Premier Healthcare Alliance for its new KimVent Multi-Access Port Closed Suction System based on the product's innovation and potential to improve patient outcomes.

Kimberly-Clark is one of a few companies selected this year to be featured in Premier's Innovation Celebration, which recognizes ground-breaking innovations that represent significant advancements in healthcare as well as industry suppliers who are committed to improving patient outcomes.

Kimberly-Clark's KimVent Multi-Access Port Closed Suction System, available in fall 2010, is designed for patients who require mechanical ventilation. Closed suction systems remove the patient's airway secretions while maintaining ventilation and oxygen therapy. The KimVent Multi-Access Port system allows clinicians to perform numerous additional medical procedures such as sampling airway secretions or administering medicine via metered-dose inhaler, for example without disconnecting the suction catheter and while maintaining a closed ventilator circuit. Keeping the ventilator circuit closed is considered a best practice for preventing microbial contamination and reducing risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP⁾¹ a serious and prevalent hospital-acquired infection affecting up to 28 percent of all ventilated patients with a mortality rate as high as 33 percent.²

"Clinicians have expressed to us their need for better solutions as they develop and implement their own best practice protocols for ventilated patients," says Joanne Bauer, president of Kimberly-Clark Health Care. "Our new KimVent Multi-Access Port system is the latest innovation in our comprehensive VAP platform designed to help healthcare professionals protect their patients from VAP."

Premier's annual Innovation Celebration is a hallmark industry event, which selects product innovations based on uniqueness, as well as solutions that have an impact on an unmet medical need.

"Healthcare providers need to be up-to-date on the latest concepts and developments regarding new devices, products and therapies, which can impact the cost and quality of care," says Mike Alkire, president of Premier Purchasing Partners. "These suppliers are committed to innovation that leads to improved quality and reduced costs, and we're pleased to showcase their efforts to our alliance members."

References:

1. Hess DR, Kallstrom TJ, Mottram CD, Myers TR, Sorenson HM, Vines DL; American Association for Respiratory Care.

Care of the ventilator circuit and its relation to ventilator-associated pneumonia. Respir Care. 2003 Sep;48(9):869-79.

2. CDC Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care-Associated Pneumonia, 2003. March 26, 2004 / 53(RR03);1-36.