Surgeons at Clarian Health Begin Using New Surgical Gloves Containing Aloe Vera

MUNDELEIN, Ill. -- Surgical staff at Clarian Health Partners, the largest health care provider in Indiana, are among the first in the country to begin using a surgeon's glove coated on the inside with aloe vera, a substance that helps moisturize and soften the skin. Recently introduced by Medline Industries, Inc., the exclusive Aloetouch surgical glove was developed to help gently moisturize and soothe health care professionals' hands and at the same time provide unparalleled protection.

Clarian Health Partners, comprised of Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Children's Hospital, is saving more than $110,000 a year (about 15 percent) from their current glove provider by converting to Medline's new Aloetouch glove and Triumph glove lines. Clarian has 110 OR suites in its health system and performs approximately 50,000 procedures a year.

" Many of our surgeons and clinicians wear their gloves for long periods of time during a procedure and these new gloves help soothe their hands and assist in prevention of dermatitis associated with prolonged skin contact to surgical gloves," said Jennifer Spivey RN, CNOR, clinical materiel resource manager for Clarian. "Equally important, the Aloetouch and Triumph gloves provide excellent tactile sensitivity and barrier protection for our health care professionals."

Aloetouch surgical gloves are an extension of the Aloetouch exam glove introduced three years ago to moisturize dried, chapped skin associated with frequent glove changes and handwashing. Today, Aloetouch is one of the fastest growing exam gloves in the healthcare industry with more than a million gloves worn every day.

"Aloetouch surgical gloves were designed with the same concerns in mind as the exam gloves, but the skin problems in the OR can be magnified because surgical gloves are worn for longer periods of time," said James Spann, president of Medline's Operating Room Division. "The response we have gotten from clinicians and other health care workers on the soothing effect of the exam gloves has been overwhelming and that is why we expanded this technology to develop a full line of Aloetouch surgical gloves."

Made from a patented manufacturing process, Aloetouch surgical gloves start with aloe vera, the same substance used in premium skin care products. The aloe is applied to the entire interior surface of the glove, then dried. As the surgeon wears the glove, body heat activates the aloe, coating the hands in a concentration of aloe vera.

Aloetouch surgical gloves come in the following versions: powder-free, latex; powder-free, latex, microthin for procedures requiring extra tactile sensitivity; powder-free, latex orthopedic, which provides extra strength without sacrificing fit, feel and comfort and powder-free, latex-free, which eliminates the harmful effects of latex proteins.

Aloe comes from the Aloe Vera plant and has for centuries been used to moisturize and soothe dry, chapped skin. Extensive research indicates that aloe enhances skin hydration and softens the skin.