Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/27/2013 -- Vascular PRN, a leading national distributor of pneumatic compression therapy equipment, now carries arterial compression systems.

The systems, used on limbs in danger of requiring amputation, have earned the nickname “the limb savers” for their ability to help restore circulation to the extremities, thus facilitating wound healing and treating and preventing a range of ailments.

Cycles of rapid high-pressure inflation followed by deflation achieve asymmetrical sequential compression of the lower extremities, intermittently evacuating venous blood and allowing replacement with oxygen-rich arterial blood. Additionally, compression induces a dilation of blood vessels as a result of shear stress within the vein.

Arterial compression systems are used to prevent and treat ischemia, peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot ulcers and intermittent claudication. They also may be used in cases of angioplasty/stent failure and graft failure.

Vascular PRN offers the ArterioFlow Model 7500 by Devon Medical Products, the ArterialFlow System by Aircast, and the Bio Arterial Plus by Bio Compression Systems. Each is portable, suitable for in-home use, and user-friendly for enhanced patient compliance.

To learn more about frequently asked questions about DVT, and view the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, or IPC devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

Vascular PRN
601 South Falkenburg Road, Suite 1-4,
Tampa, Florida 33619
Telephone is 800-886-4331
Fax is 800-339-8132

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/vascular-prn-offers-limb-savers-arterial-compression-systems-207264.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2013 -- Vascular PRN, a leading national distributor of pneumatic compression therapy equipment, is now offering solutions for healthcare professionals struggling to fit extra large patients with compression garments.

Lymphedema is a heartbreaking and life-changing condition that can be very difficult to treat. The Mayo Clinic gives the following description of lymphedema:

Lymphedema refers to swelling that generally occurs in one of your arms or legs. Although lymphedema tends to affect just one arm or leg, sometimes both arms or both legs may be swollen.

Lymphedema is caused by a blockage in your lymphatic system, an important part of your immune and circulatory systems. The blockage prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and as the fluid builds up, the swelling continues. Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment.

There&aposs no cure for lymphedema, but it can be controlled. Controlling lymphedema involves diligent care of your affected limb.

Physicians control lymphedema with a variety of methods that depend on many factors. Tight-fitting arm or leg sleeves are often used, as is wrapping with specialized elastic bandages, medication and, quite often, application of pneumatic compression therapy equipment. This is where Vascular PRN comes in. As one of the nation&aposs premier distributors of this equipment to hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, Vascular PRN maintains an extensive inventory of compression pumps and sleeves, including those used to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis, and others designed to prevent limb loss for limbs in danger of requiring amputation.In the case of treatment of lymphedema, some patients have become too large for standard, factory-made sleeves, even in the largest available sizes. Vascular PRN has partnered with a highly specialized company that custom-sews pneumatic garments in any size or shape necessary. Healthcare professionals will be happy to know that there is finally a solution to this often serious problem.

Vascular PRN can be found at http://VascularPRN.com
located at
601 South Falkenburg Road, Suite 1-4,
Tampa, Florida 33619.
Telephone is 800-886-4331 and fax is 800-339-8132.

To learn more about frequently asked questions about DVT, and view the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, or IPC devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/vascular-prn-now-offers-custom-sewn-lymphedema-sleeves-for-extra-large-hard-to-fit-patients-194005.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/03/2012 -- The drug manufacturer Bayer has paid millions of dollars to settle lawsuits involving pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The lawsuits were filed by women who used the company&aposs Yaz or Yasmin birth control pills and subsequently developed blood clots.

“Pulmonary embolism and DVT are very serious conditions,” said Greg Grambor, a DVT expert and owner of Vascular PRN, a distributor of treatment devices. “While the causes vary, the best method of prevention is compression therapy, which can be accomplished with a variety of venous compression devices, designed for maximum patient safety and comfort.”

DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in the veins of the pelvis or the legs. If the clot breaks free and travels through the bloodstream, it becomes an embolism. Some of the plaintiffs in the Bayer case suffered from pulmonary embolism.

Since 2009, Bayer has faced more than 12,000 lawsuits by women who say that the birth control pills caused harmful side effects. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said that the FDA has linked at least 50 deaths to use of Yaz and Yasmin.

At present, Bayer is only settling the cases that allege pulmonary embolism or DVT. The German drug maker has so far agreed to pay more than $400 million to settle about 1,877 of the lawsuits. Experts predict the company may eventually pay out billions of dollars.

In April, the FDA ordered Bayer and other manufacturers of contraceptives to issue stronger warning labels. Pills that contain drospirenone, a synthetic hormone, must carry labels indicating that the risk of blood clots may triple when the drug is used.

The lawsuits have been consolidated in federal court as multidistrict litigation, and the combined case is currently the largest in the federal court system. The case is in pretrial proceedings in the Southern District of Illinois.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/bayer-pays-millions-to-settle-deep-vein-thrombosis-lawsuits-161521.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/23/2012 -- Researchers have found that slightly more than half of hospitalizations for venous thromboembolism were preceded by an infection. Mary Rogers, PhD, a researcher from the University of Michigan, led the study of older adults. She found that after adjusting for other factors, there was an association between infection and nearly three times the risk of hospitalization for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism. The study focused on older adults.

“When nursing home administrators are dealing with a patient who has an infection, they should consider discussing venous compression with the doctor,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, a provider of venous compression equipment. “Venous compression is essential for treating and preventing DVT.”

Blood transfusions are another important, though less common, predictor of the need for hospitalization for venous clots, according to the study, published on the website of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Meanwhile, using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents was almost statistically significant as a risk factor.

Rogers and her colleagues noted that many risk assessment tools do not include infection, and venous thromboembolism risk algorithms should be updated to include the factors identified in the study.

The researchers studied patients 51 and older participating in a Health and Retirement study, linking data from Medicare files, outpatient visits, emergency room stays, and home health care visits, covering a period from 1991 through 2007.

The database linked to 16,781 patients, 399 of whom were hospitalized for the first time for a pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. The majority of the patients were female and white, with a mean age of 76.

Researchers looked at the period of 90 days before the hospitalization, compared to earlier periods of 90 days, to compare what factors were present as a possible trigger for a hospitalization due to venous thromboembolism. Infections, particularly respiratory tract infections, were more prevalent during the pre-hospitalization period than during the control periods. The association was significant, regardless of whether there had been a previous stay in a nursing facility or hospital.

The researchers took note that there is a well-described biological connection between the inflammation caused by infection, and coagulation of the blood.

Other significant predictors of a hospital stay for venous thromboembolism include chemotherapy, major operations, fractures, and immobility defined by any nursing facilty stay or nonsurgical hospitalization.

To learn more about frequently asked questions regarding DVT, and view the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, or IPC devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/infection-can-cause-venous-clots-according-to-vascularprn-154397.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/27/2012 -- Long-term care providers have many tools to help assist in wound care, but are they aware of the latest technology and techniques to help residents? Wound care specialists note that nursing home staffs need to use updated tracking systems and support surfaces to lessen problems that residents face when they are immobile or incontinent.

“One of the latest products is the Skin IQ mattress coverlet that wicks away moisture, controls odors, and decreases friction and shear on a patient’s pressure points,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “Plus the in-use cost-per-day is only about $4.15, not $30 like Low Air Loss mattresses, yet the clinical outcomes are the same.”

Existing pressure ulcers can lessen, and new ones can be prevented, when skin temperature is lowered or stabilized and moisture is removed from the contact points. Resident mattresses, wheelchairs, and other support surfaces need to have therapeutic benefits to prevent wounds and heal ones that occur due to unavoidable factors.

Successful wound care can also be achieved when regulatory requirements are vigilantly adhered to along with the best tracking methods to individually monitor each resident. The treatment of pressure ulcers should include nursing home staff being well versed on computer tracking programs and marking the status of each resident as changes happen.

Resident records should note that wound depth and size decreases along with less drainage. It is equally important to record when wounds are persistent or a wound declines. Complete documentation is a key step to increasing positive patient outcomes. Computer programs can also assist in reminding staff about a resident’s turning schedules and not missing nutritional information that can aid in the patient’s wounds decreasing.

“Nursing homes are under major pressure to reduce their costs,” said Grambor. “The Skin IQ is not only more affordable as a product, but it does more to prevent non-reimbursable pressure ulcers – one of the ‘never events’ – that nursing homes battle every day.”

To learn more about the Skin IQ and how it can help in long-term care settings, visit http://www.vascularprn.com or call 800.886.4331. On the site, visitors will also find out about Vascular PRN’s other products for sale or rent such as SCD boots, lymphedema pumps, and sequential compression devices.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/therapeutic-surfaces-and-technology-helps-ltc-providers-prevent-and-treat-pressure-ulcers-137695.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/20/2012 -- Researchers have busted a long-standing myth about economy class flying –coach is not a riskier area of the plane than first class when it comes to developing a blood clot on a long trip. The report recently was released in Chest, by the American College of Chest Physicians. It shows economy air travel and chances of deep vein thrombosis do not go hand in hand.

The researchers did find that risk factors during long flights include extended time in a window seat without movement, using oral contraceptives, being pregnant, and being old. People who have these risk factors should speak with their doctor before going on a long flight to discuss what they should do to lessen their risk for DVT and a pulmonary embolism.

Getting up during a long flight to walk around and do simple calf exercises is helpful to get blood flowing, the ACCP recommended. “For those especially at risk, they can talk to their doctor about portable sequential compression devices that stimulate blood flow and prevent clot formation,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “The PolyGel Ca5 DVTCare System weighs just 15 ounces and can be used on a long flight as one of the best-in-class products to help with DVT concerns.”

The PolyGel DVTCare System operates for 15 hours of battery power when just used on one leg and 8 hours for both legs. It fits in a small pouch with a strap and can easily go with a person sitting in a car, to a long plane ride, and to their ultimate destination. It has variable pressure settings so the pressure can be adjusted and works even when recharging.

To learn more about the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, or IPC devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/economy-class-blood-clot-myth-busted-137672.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/26/2012 -- Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body. If it breaks loose and travels to other areas of the body such as the lungs, heart, or brain it can cause death or severe damage. When a clot does this, it is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). PEs cause an untimely death in one out of three people, notes the National Blood Clot Alliance. The alliance also reports that almost 80 percent of people are not aware of how life-threatening a blood clot can be.

As a result, March is the month that is dedicated as DVT Awareness Month. “It is critical that people know their risk of DVT and PE,” said Vascular PRN President Greg Grambor. “If you&aposve had a major surgery, long flight, family history of blood clots, or are immobile, just to name a few, you are at risk. There are steps you can take to reduce your risk with a doctor&aposs guidance.”

As part of DVT Awareness Month, individuals and their loved ones should get a physical exam and review their medical history. If there is a risk of blood clots, there are medicines, therapies, and steps that people can take to lessen the chances of DVT and a PE from happening.

“We help medical professionals with intermittent and sequential compression therapy devices,” said Grambor. “These types of vascular pumps can improve the flow of blood in the leg, foot, or calf. These machines can be used in the pre or post-surgery setting and we even have a portable DVTCare system that patients can take with them anywhere.”

The past few years have shown that top athletes, celebrities, teens, and those who thought they were not at risk can be vulnerable to having a blood clot. Blood clots do not just happen to the old and overweight, notes the National Blood Clot Alliance. Knowing the signs of DVT – shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, an unexplained cough – and staying active and in touch with a medical professional to review one&aposs medical status can mean all the difference in staying healthy and preventing a blood clot.

To learn more about frequently asked questions about DVT, and view the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, or IPC devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/dvt-awareness-month-encourages-individuals-to-know-their-risk-level-and-be-proactive-133265.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/19/2012 -- MetLife showed in their latest long-term care study that costs have dramatically increased for facilities and patients. Left unchecked, costs could spiral into the millions. For example, a serious bedsore, also known as a pressure ulcer, could cost upward of $30,000 per patient, the study noted.

“Aggressive actions must be taken to decrease costs and improve a patient&aposs well-being,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “Pressure ulcers, for instance, can send a nursing home resident into the hospital for complications and increase costs all around.”

Nursing home and assisted living facilities can find innovative ways to achieve both goals, Grambor adds. One product to help lower costs is the Skin IQ. It is not only the latest technology for pressure ulcer treatment, it also helps control odor due to excessive moisture or incontinence. Nursing home administrators will appreciate the cost savings of the Skin IQ, which is $4.15 a day in contrast to $30 a day for a Low Air Loss mattress. Wound care nurses and on-call physicians like the Skin IQ for its therapeutic effects as it pulls air down to decrease a patient&aposs pressure points and lessens friction and shear, all while lowering skin temperature and a better water removal rate of 130 MVTR.

“Every patient must be assessed for risk,” said Grambor. “Facilities that can take a proactive approach and monitor a resident&aposs nutrition, sleeping surface, and mobility or turning schedule can greatly lessen the chances of a pressure ulcer. The Skin IQ can help a facility accomplish this for less money.”

To learn more about the Skin IQ and how it can help in long-term care settings or for treatment of pressure ulcers, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. On the site, visitors will also find out about Vascular PRN’s other products for sale or rent such as SCD boots, lymphedema pumps, and sequential compression devices.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/new-therapeutic-surface-can-help-lessen-nursing-home-facility-costs-and-improve-patient-outcomes-131203.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2012 -- Proper product utilization is crucial to lessening pressure ulcers. In the hospital and long-term care setting, it is important for medical professionals to address what is not only clinically efficacious but also reasonably priced. According to McKnight’s Long Term Care News, more than 2.5 million people develop pressure ulcers annually and approximately 60,000 die from complications due to them.

“Proper therapeutic surfaces must be implemented early on when a patient is immobile,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “The latest products offer comfort, odor control, and can give the facility substantial cost savings.”

Vascular PRN recently added in the Skin IQ™ mattress coverlet – a totally new class of therapeutic surface – that gives similar results as a Low Air Loss bed but for a small percentage of the cost. For example, the Skin IQ has an in use cost of about $4.15 a day whereas a LAL bed averages about $30 a day to rent. Facilities that own LAL beds rather than rent them achieve savings on a similar scale when they replace the LAL beds with Skin IQ as those beds reach the end of their useful life.

“Using expensive therapeutic surfaces doesn’t make much sense when facilities are trying to weather the economic downturn and Medicare/Medicaid cutbacks,” said Grambor. “Especially when a Negative Airflow surface like the Skin IQ can give similar clinical results and notable savings.”

Patients who have hyperhidrosis, incontinence, already have pressure ulcers, or are at high risk of developing them are perfect candidates to use the Skin IQ. The mattress coverlet provides powerful pressure ulcer treatment because it pulls air down through the mattress, cools a patient’s contact points, and wicks away moisture. It is used on a simple pressure redistribution mattress that the facility already has on hand, and is good for 60 days of single patient use.

“Not only does it lower costs overall, but this helps to prevent new decubitus ulcers from appearing and becoming part of a facility’s non-reimbursable, never events,” said Grambor.

Best practices to increase positive outcomes for patients also include assessments on admission, on a weekly basis, and as a patient or resident’s mobility changes. Risk scales, turning schedules, and nutritional reviews also play a part in pressure ulcer prevention.

To learn more about the Skin IQ or Vascular PRN’s other products for sale or rent such as SCD boots, lymphedema pumps, and sequential compression devices, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. Vascular PRN has been helping surgery centers and hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, and other institutions for decades throughout the United States.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/new-therapeutic-surface-for-pressure-ulcer-treatment-provides-patient-comfort-and-significant-cost-savings-for-facilities-127645.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/08/2012 -- Major surgical procedures are events where medical staff must be reminded that certain patients can be at higher risk for deep vein thrombosis and venous thromboembolism. Postphlebitic syndrome and pulmonary embolisms can occur in the hours, days, and weeks after a surgery. An article on Medscape recently highlighted how prophylaxis with medication and mechanical devices is critical.

“Each patient must be assessed case-by-case, but the article ‘Deep Venous Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery’ shows that DVT therapy helped reduce DVT by 60 percent,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, a company that fills prescriptions for sequential compression devices and intermittent pneumatic devices for healthcare professionals nationwide.

The authors of the Medscape article showed that passive devices such as TED hose and active devices like IPC devices or venous foot pumps lessened the chance of DVT and did not add the risk of bleeding. Mechanical compression devices helped to improve blood flow and circulating fibrinolysins. Patient compliance and efficacy are the most important factors that medical professionals want out of devices.

“The latest technology is a PolyGel portable device that is only one pound, the size of a small book, and works off battery power,” said Grambor. “In the hours after surgery or for at-home care after leaving the hospital, the PolyGel Ca5 DVTCare System provides the best compliance.”

The PolyGel portable device lasts for 15 hours when used for single leg therapy and 8 hours for both legs. Since it is carried over the shoulder in a compact case, patients can go from their hospital bed, down the hall to physical therapy, and move about their home when healing in the weeks after a surgery. The PolyGel’s two segmented cuffs wrap comfortably around the leg to promote blood flow.

“The PolyGel is super simple to put on the patient and effortless to keep on the patient,” said Grambor. “You don’t have to worry about the patient being hooked up to a power source or what happens when they go to the bathroom.”

And when the PolyGel device needs to be cleaned, it can be done with mild soap and a washcloth, and it can be charged in an outlet once the 8 to 15 hours of use is up. It continues to operate while charging, providing for totally uninterrupted therapy during those critical post surgery hours.

Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs. To learn more about the PolyGel portable device, Sequential Compression Devices, IPC devices, or Lymphedema boots visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/polygel-portable-device-for-dvt-therapy-helps-patients-be-compliant-after-surgery-125450.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2012 -- A recent study in the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Journal shows that patients can develop pressure ulcers when a surgery lasts more than three hours. How the patient is positioned, the table surface, and skin integrity all play a part. In particular, the researchers found that a foam pad and a lower initial Braden score helped to prevent or lessen ulcer development.

“The study showed that the table surface was a key component,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “A big intervention that can help the patient stay comfortable and does more to prevent pressure ulcers is the Skin IQ. It’s the latest negative airflow technology that prevents decubitis ulcers.”

The Skin IQ is also more budget-friendly than low air loss mattresses. The FDA has approved the Skin IQ for longer use, so the Skin IQ coverlet costs about $4.15 per day whereas a Low Air Loss mattress is about $30.00 a day. Perioperative nurses that can utilize a Skin IQ for patients and reposition them during and after surgical procedures will help patients stay comfortable and healthier.

“These strategies are easy to incorporate and relieve or redistribute the patient’s weight and wick away moisture,” said Grambor.

What is so unique about the Skin IQ is that it does have a foam layer, and two more layers of antimicrobial control. It pulls moisture down, cools the patient’s contact points, and performs 30 percent better than a typical medical mattress cover.

To learn more about the Skin IQ and how it can help in hospital settings or for pressure ulcer treatment, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331. On the site, visitors will also find out about Vascular PRN’s other products for sale or rent such as SCD boots, lymphedema pumps, and sequential compression devices. Vascular PRN has been helping surgery centers and hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, and other institutions for decades throughout the United States. The Skin IQ is a registered trademark of KCI.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/long-surgeries-necessitate-better-therapeutic-surfaces-for-patient-skin-integrity-121693.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -01/17/2012 -- Vascular PRN now offers a new product for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) therapy. The Polygel Ca5 DVTCare System is an innovative way to prevent DVT in the lower extremities since it is portable. The lightweight, athrombic pump utilizes sequential compression to stimulate the veins and lessen the risk of blood clots.

“This is a very effective way for patients to continue to get the treatment they need, whether they are taking a walk, riding in a car, or on a long plane ride,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “You can wear it like a shoulder bag, have your calf wraps on, and get therapy for the eight hours of battery time.”

The pump is about the size of a book and it has a variable pressure setting so that the pressure can be adjusted to the doctor’s prescription and patient comfort levels. The system comes with three chamber knee high wraps and is made in the United States.

“Doctors can say goodbye to SCDs that are heavy and can only hang on bed rails,” said Grambor. “These portable DVT systems are just as efficient in achieving blood flow in a patient’s legs.”

In the long-term care setting, the system allows the patient to walk or be taken in a wheelchair on trips for bathing, toileting, dining, and more without interrupting therapy.

The price for the portable Polygel Ca5 DVTCare System is also lower than a standard DVT pump. And after a patient uses up the eight hours of battery time for dual leg therapy, he or she can plug it into an outlet for continued, stationary use. The battery recharges in three hours.

Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs.

Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with their DVT product needs. To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/vascular-prn-offers-new-portable-dvt-pump-to-medical-professionals-118581.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/16/2012 -- New statistics show a big increase in knee replacement surgery since the late 1990s. From 1997 to 2009, knee surgery increased for women ages 45 to 64 by 157 percent and men in the same range by 144 percent. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality attributes this to advances in knee surgery, better implants, and obesity that can cause the joints to be more compromised. Right after knee surgery, patients must be mindful of preventing blood clots as they are immobile while they initially heal.

“Sequential compression devices can be great for many patients who cannot walk or get around much in the first few weeks,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN, which helps healthcare professionals nationwide fill prescriptions for SCDs and IPCs. “Patients should talk to their doctor about their risk for a blood clot, find out if mechanical compression is good for them, and be proactive before the day of the surgery.”

The American Journal of Surgery notes that compression therapy devices can lessen the chances of DVT post-surgery by 60 percent. Many patients get mechanical compression therapy devices along with medicine to help prevent blood clots. Knee and hip surgery carry a higher risk of blood clots, so patients should be prepared when they have these types of surgeries to address any concerns ahead of time.

“Blood vessels can get damaged during surgery and when you are restricted to bed rest, SCDs can help blood flow from the superficial veins to the deep veins,” said Grambor. “The devices are comfortable and there are some choices depending on how portable you want the compression therapy system to be.”

Vascular PRN is known for its full line of sequential mechanical compression devices for the full leg, calf, and foot. To learn more about renting or buying a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or Lymphedema boots visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/big-spike-in-knee-surgeries-calls-for-compression-therapy-devices-to-lessen-risk-of-blood-clots-121692.htm

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/14/2011 -- It takes a renewed commitment by hospital and nursing home care staff to help patients avoid pressure ulcers and wounds. Recent case studies show that best practices must be used when a patient is admitted, and monitoring of ulcers and wounds must be done frequently to ensure a patient’s moisture levels, diet, and mobility concerns are addressed.

“Medical professionals must think proactively when the patient is at risk, not just after a serious ulcer or wound has occurred,” said Greg Grambor, president of Vascular PRN. “There are treatment protocols to help a patient prevent or address these concerns when they are clinically avoidable.”

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel suggests that monitoring, evaluating and revising patients’ diets, repositioning them, knowledge of their hemodynamics, and support surfaces are critical to keeping ulcers and wounds under control. A key part of the medical professional’s role is to document all the steps taken to care for the patient, communicate to the patient and his or her family, and involve them in the decision-making process. Case studies show that a minimum of 35 percent of lawsuits for nursing home or hospitals involves poor documentation that does not sit well with a jury.

“The skin is such an important organ that is sometimes forgotten,” said Grambor. “There are very efficient, affordable products out there for medical professionals to rent or buy to lessen a patient’s risk and decrease their own liability.”

For example, a Skin IQ™ is an electrically powered mattress coverlet that prevents skin breakdown and pressure ulcers as well as a LAL mattress. At $6 a day for the Skin IQ versus a LAL mattress at $30 a day, it also helps to minimize costs. For venous stasis leg ulcers that can be slow to heal, compression pump therapy products can stimulate venous blood flow and increase fibrinolytic activity.

“Everyone on the team needs to be well versed in wound and ulcer care,” said Grambor. “From a CNA to the dietician, and even new staff when turnover occurs, should be able to consult the patient’s file and the facility’s guidelines on preventing and lessening these issues.”

Best practices also include photographing a patient’s wounds or ulcers on admission, keeping accurate records of the patient’s care, and noting his or her compliance with the care given. Tracking how the issues are addressed in the patient file, along with precise staffing records and consistent use of best practices for care can dramatically decrease a facility’s liability.

“Medical professionals should be able to know their patient from head to toe,” said Grambor. “Vascular PRN is here to help you get access to the equipment you need to address ulcers and wounds proactively, and we can make a difference in your patient’s health overnight.”

Vascular PRN has decades of experience helping nursing homes, surgery centers and hospitals, managed care organizations, and other institutions with compression therapy pumps and the new Skin IQ. To learn more about a Sequential Compression Device, SCD boots, or the Skin IQ coverlet, visit http://www.vascularprn.com/ or call 800.886.4331.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/vascular-prn-helps-medical-professionals-address-patient-wound-and-ulcer-concerns-118915.htm