• Allscripts (Chicago) said that Blessing Health System (Quincy, Illinois) has selected Allscripts as their electronic health record (EHR) and practice management (PM) provider to automate and connect clinical and administrative processes for more than 60 employed and independent physicians. Blessing Health System operates two hospitals and a variety of other healthcare services, including Blessing Physician Services (BPS), a multi-specialty group of 40 physicians who serve patients from Western Illinois, Northeast Missouri and Southeast Iowa. Blessing Health System will provide the Allscripts solutions to their employed physicians in their physician services group as well as to another 21 independent faculty physicians and medical residents of the Quincy Family Practice Center, a teaching facility of the Southern Illinois University Medical School. EHR provides physicians at Blessing Physician with instant access to patient information when and where they need it — at the hospital, in their offices, or while on-call at home. The web-based solution automates everyday clinical tasks such as prescribing and refilling medications, ordering and reviewing tests, and documenting patient care. Allscripts makes clinical software and information solutions for physicians.

• AHA Solutions (Chicago), a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association (AHA), reported an exclusive endorsement of AeroScout’s Wi-Fi based Active RFID (radio frequency identification) tracking system, which helps hospitals track and manage the location, movement and status of patients, caregivers and vital hospital equipment, allowing hospitals to improve patient care and patient experience as well as reduce costs. AHA Solutions identified tracking systems as an integral element of a new platform of products and services geared to improve operational efficiencies related to patient flow and patient centered care. AeroScout was chosen for endorsement by AHA Solutions after an extensive review and market analysis of the vendors and technologies for RFID and location tracking. AeroScout is an active RFID asset tracking and location solutions over standard Wi-Fi networks.

• ConvaTec (Skillman, New Jersey) reported the U.S. availability of the ConvaTec moldable technology line of ostomy skin barriers, designed to increase convenience while offering improved protection of the skin surrounding the stoma. The skin barriers are available on the company’s SUR-FIT Natura ostomy system. According to a study of more than 200 people living with an ostomy, 45% of ostomy patients suffer from a peristomal skin disorder, of which 77% could be related to contact with stoma effluent. A close fitting skin barrier reduces the chance of waste coming into contact with the skin, which may result in skin breakdown. Traditional ostomy barriers allow for gaps which can compromise skin protection. The design of ConvaTec skin barriers allows for a snug, comfortable fit across a wide variety of stoma shapes and sizes. The elastic materials of the adhesive allow the barrier to gently expand and contract along with the stoma as it changes size throughout the day. ConvaTec makes ostomy and wound care products.