New announcement of some significance that may be of interest to HC contributors. I don't know why it did not auto post to HC. The significance is that this is another area where the USCOM device is becoming embedded in mainstream hospital practice - this must have some effect on sales demand.
I remember a quote that might be relevant (can't remember author - someone might help. "There is nothing more powerful than an idea that has found its time."
POST USCOM Technology Included in New Sepsis Guidelines for Children Monday, 9 February 2009: Uscom (ASX Code: UCM) today announced the release of global clinical guidelines for management of septic shock (severe infection) in neonates, infants and children which includes non-invasive USCOM measurements as a standard of care. Presented by the American College of Critical Care Medicine at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting in Nashville, these guidelines are a consensus statement of best practice authored by 53 world experts.
Sepsis occurs in adults and children and is the severe complication of infections characterised by complex abnormalities of the circulation. Sepsis is responsible for up to 25% of all Intensive Care Unit bed utilisation and has an approximately 10% mortality in children. In excess of $16.7bn per annum is spent in the US alone on management of sepsis, with each hospital acquired case estimated to add approximately US$50,000 to hospital costs. Many of these hospital acquired infections are a result of invasive management, so the use of the non-invasive USCOM will further reduce the incidence and cost of this pervasive disease.
Mr Rob Phillips, Executive Chairman and Director of Clinical Science said “This recognition of our device as a part of standard of care is satisfying for everyone who has worked with and invested in Uscom. Haemodynamics is what we do, and these children need expert haemodynamic management if they are to survive. These guidelines confirm that USCOM measurements are part of this expert management. Infection is a huge and growing issue in hospitals worldwide and USCOM contributes by improving management and, by being non-invasive, reducing the incidence of hospital acquired sepsis.”
Mr Paul Butler, the Uscom CEO said “This is a milestone for USCOM. We identified pediatrics as a discipline in which we would change clinical practice and stated explicitly that our goal was to become a standard of care in pediatric sepsis. The inclusion of Uscom Technology in the sepsis guidelines shows that we have achieved this goal. The guidelines will directly support our marketing partners, Spacelabs Healthcare, as they move our technology into the US market, and further supports our case for worldwide re-imbursement.”
Reference: Brierley J, Carcillo JA, Choong K, et al. Clinical Practice Parameters for Hemodynamic Support of Pediatric and Neonatal Septic Shock: 2007 Update from the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Crit Care Med 2009;37(2):666-688
MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT UscomLimited Level 7, 8-10 Loftus Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Phone: 61-2-9247 4144 Fax: 61-2-9247 8157 ABN: 35 091 028 090 www.uscom.com.au
About Uscom Uscom Limited is an Australian medical device company, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange since December 2003. Uscom has developed a device for the safe and accurate measurement of cardiac output, a non-invasive alternative to the current invasive methods. Uscom offers a completely safe, painless and quick method of accurately measuring how well the heart is pumping. With its real-time beat-to-beat information across multiple parameters of cardiac function and advanced serial measurement capabilities, clinicians can accurately quantify the impact of therapy. The device is ideally suited to the Emergency Care setting where it is critical to monitor changes in cardiac output as fluids are applied.
The Company has secured regulatory approval for sale of the Uscom Monitor in Australia, Europe and a number of Asian markets, including Japan, China and Taiwan. Uscom also has a CE Mark certification for Europe and a license from the State Food & Drug Administration for China. The Company received the necessary regulatory clearance for the United States market in February 2005 with the receipt of a 510K Pre Market Notification from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
UCM Price at posting:
56.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
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