University Healthsystem Consortium Announces Mitretek Systems As Preferred Technology Provider For Product Recall Management
Mitretek Systems has entered into an agreement with the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) to improve patient safety through the Risk and Safety Management Alert System (RASMAS) for its member hospitals. RASMAS is a web-based subscription service that provides comprehensive notification, distribution, and management of product alerts and recalls for healthcare organizations
FALLS CHURCH, VA (PRWEB) February 18, 2005
Mitretek Systems has entered into an agreement with the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) to improve patient safety through the Risk and Safety Management Alert System (RASMAS) for its member hospitals. RASMAS is a web-based subscription service that provides comprehensive notification, distribution, and management of product alerts and recalls for healthcare organizations
RASMAS was developed by Mitretek Systems in collaboration with UHC member Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS). JHHS experienced first-hand one of the many points of failure in manual recall management process in use in most hospitals today. Two patient fatalities occurred from a misrouted product recall notification for a device that could not be properly sterilized due to a design flaw. Over 400 additional patients were unknowingly exposed through continued use of the defective device.
Product alert management is conducted manually in most U. S. hospitals and involves many more products than medical supplies and medications. All RASMAS subscribers, like JHHS, have experienced a significant decrease in the number of days to respond to an alert, reducing the time in which patients could be harmed by a defective product. By providing health care organizations with an electronic, profile driven alert system, RASMAS helps ensure that alerts are processed quickly and properly, promoting patient safety.
“UHC is very pleased to offer its members the opportunity to utilize this important service,” said Dana Veal, UHC’s Assistant Director of Contract Services. “We share the same vision as Mitretek: to help hospitals increase patient safety, improve clinical effectiveness and heighten operational efficiency.”
In its first year of production, RASMAS has been adopted by more than 90 subscribing healthcare organizations across the nation. In addition, RASMAS has been endorsed by the American Hospital Association and in November 2004, was awarded he Best New Advancement in Patient Safety and Disclosures Award from the Health Care Research and Innovations Congress (HCRIC) for its innovative work in the advancement of patient safety.
For more information please visit the RASMAS web site at http://info. rasmas. mitretek. org (http://info. rasmas. mitretek. org) or call (877) 727-6276.
About Mitretek Systems
Mitretek Systems is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), scientific research and engineering corporation that operates in the public interest. Our expertise in conjunction with our objectivity and independence allows us to effectively address challenges of national significance. Within the healthcare arena, Mitretek performs information technology and operations consulting, evaluation and design as well as strategic, clinical services and facilities planning. For more information about Mitretek, contact Corporation Communications, (703) 610-1953 or corpcomm@mitretek. org.
About University HealthSystem Consortium
University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) is a national alliance of academic health centers and their affiliate hospitals. UHC helps member hospitals pool resources and share knowledge to solve problems, improve performance and succeed in their local markets. Specific programs and services include supply chain optimization; comparative clinical, operational, and faculty practice information; patient safety resources; benchmarking collaboratives; strategic research; publications; and education. For more information about UHC, visit www. uhc. edu or call (630) 954.1700.
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