Cool on demand Summer heat is with us a little while longer. Homeowners who install a smart thermostat like Nest can control their electric fans and air conditioners at a set schedule. But the rest of us can use a cheaper solution – a Wi-Fi-connected power outlet, also known as a smart plug. It’s simple, according to The New York Times “Personal Tech.” Leave your fan’s power … [Read more...]
Sepsis Awareness
By Jim Poggi What is sepsis? What level of public awareness is there? Sepsis is a word the medical community is becoming more familiar with every year. And, while statistics point out that 65% of Americans know the word, only 1% of Americans can identify the symptoms. This figure is well below the number of Americans who can identify risk factors associated with heart … [Read more...]
Industry News
Owens & Minor names Mark Zacur as chief procurement officer Owens & Minor Inc (Richmond, VA) announced the hiring of Mark Zacur as SVP, chief procurement officer. Zacur has over 20 years of experience in supplier management, including various leadership roles in healthcare distribution and manufacturing. He has also served as a Board Member of The … [Read more...]
Contracting Executive Profile: Lisa Thakur
IDN Opportunities Lisa Thakur, CPA, MBA, FACHE, FHFMA, Corporate senior vice president, ancillary operations, Scripps Health, San Diego, California Lisa Thakur is responsible for ancillary services and business at Scripps Health, such as home health, laboratory, imaging and other business services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the … [Read more...]
Back Orders and Shortages Erode Customer Trust
HIDA Insights By David Forbes, Program Director, Healthcare Supply Chain Collaborative, Health Industry Distributors Association Industry Workgroups Focus on Finding Solutions When supply and demand are out of alignment, bad things happen. When demand outpaces supply, shortages occur, and patient care is threatened. If supply exceeds demand, products expire and risk of … [Read more...]
HEALTHY REPS
Eat better and skip the supplements A new evidence review suggests that few nutritional supplements or dietary interventions offer any protection against cardiovascular disease or death, and some may actually cause harm. Findings from a meta-analysis were published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend several healthy eating patterns, … [Read more...]
Flu testing: Short term, long term
Repertoire asked three manufacturers of influenza tests to offer their views on testing for the 2019-2020 season and beyond, and the impact on distributor sales reps. They were: Tammi Ranalli, vice president of marketing, North America, Quidel. Quidel offers a continuum of influenza testing solutions from rapid immunoassays to molecular tests: Solana Influenza A+B; Solana … [Read more...]
Flu Season Facts
The 2018-19 flu season was moderate, but the longest lasting season in 10 years. And moderate though it may have been, it still resulted in somewhere between 36,000 and 61,000 deaths in the United States. (The data is still being analyzed.) Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about this past flu season. The 2018-19 influenza season was a … [Read more...]
Flu vaccine: Good to go for upcoming season
Initial delays shouldn’t affect availability Despite some initial delays, supplies of flu vaccine for the 2019-2020 season are expected to be more than adequate to meet demand. Its effectiveness, however, will only be measured at the end of the season, as it must be every flu season. “As of now, it looks like there will be enough flu vaccine available from all … [Read more...]