A Medical Device Daily

Noninvasive Medical Technologies (NMT; Las Vegas), a provider of medical assessment and communications solutions for military and civilian medical use, reported that it has been awarded a sole-source contract by the U.S. Air Force, valued at nearly $2.4 million, for continued development of the Multiple Casualty Assessment and Management System.

Chairman/CEO Ronald McCaughan said, "Our company was originally challenged by the U.S. Air Force to develop a casualty assessment and management solution back in early 2006. This most recent award represents the fourth contract we have received from the Department of Defense and the third as a prime contractor with sole-source provider designation. It serves as a testament to [our] engineering capabilities and to our team's proven ability to successfully meet and exceed crucial research and development milestones set for us by our Department of Defense partners."

The Multiple Casualty Assessment and Management System is a comprehensive, turnkey solution that incorporates NMT's patent-pending Etag a non-contact hemodynamic monitoring device with wireless communication, display technology and advanced tactile sensors to simultaneously detect and monitor multiple casualties within 300 yards of a medic or first-response team.

Remotely activated, the system monitors each individual casualty from point of wounding to casualty evacuation, and produces a necessary data record for follow-on casualty management. It also provides a real time communications link with a rear tactical command center, enhancing command's battlefield situational awareness and supplying meaningful ground intelligence for required logistical response and follow-on care.

In other contracts/agreements news, Goodroe Healthcare Solutions (Atlanta) said the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has approved a two-year gainsharing project for cardiac catheterization lab and special procedures lab patients. The project helps hospitals share cost savings with physicians who help them achieve greater operational efficiencies. Goodroe said its gainsharing model is used in clinical areas where physicians control the majority of costs, such as cardiac catheterization procedures, open heart surgery and orthopedic and spine procedures. The company said it has used its approved gainsharing methodology to identify nearly $75 million in savings for hospitals while ensuring that the quality of care is not compromised.