TMCnet News
Welch Allyn and EarlySense Enter into Strategic Collaboration AgreementFeb 04, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Welch Allyn, a medical diagnostic device company that specializes in helping clinicians improve patient outcomes, and EarlySense, a provider of Proactive Patient Care Solutions, announced that the companies have entered into a strategic collaboration and distribution agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Welch Allyn will distribute the EarlySense System to hospitals across the United States. In a release, the companies said that the EarlySense System offers clinicians the ability to identify early warning signs of patient safety risk and deterioration, thus enabling clinicians to achieve better outcomes and fewer adverse events. Without ever physically touching the patient, the system measures heart rate, respiration rate, patient movement while in bed, and patient bed entries and exits, using a sensor that is placed under the mattress of a bed. Welch Allyn President & CEO Steve Meyer said, "EarlySense technology assists clinicians in early detection of patient deterioration to help medical teams save lives and reduce costs. The opportunity to partner with EarlySense enables Welch Allyn to continue providing its customers with proven solutions that answer the growing clinical, economic and regulatory needs to reduce adverse clinical events and improve patient safety. We view this relationship as an important advancement that brings better, more cost-effective care to previously unmonitored beds." The EarlySense technology is designed to monitor patients on medical surgical floors who typically have their vital signs taken only once every four hours. In the event of a change in a patient's status, the system immediately and simultaneously provides alerts to the clinical staff via the bedside monitor, the central nursing station, hallway displays, and directly to their pagers or in-house telephones. EarlySense CEO Avner Halperin said, "It is an exciting day for all EarlySense employees and shareholders. For nearly 100 years Welch Allyn has been providing innovative solutions that advance frontline patient care. As a leading patient vital signs solutions provider within the medical /surgical floors of hospitals across the United States, we believe our work with Welch Allyn will accelerate adoption of EarlySense's technology. Welch Allyn has a tremendous reputation in the US Healthcare markets. EarlySense's technology and expertise in systems-based products and solutions coupled with Welch Allyn's sales, marketing, implementation and support strength, puts EarlySense's contact-free patient monitoring solution on a clear path to becoming the standard of care, giving medical teams the tools to improve outcomes, prevent adverse events and leave no patients behind. Together, Welch Allyn and EarlySense are targeting more than one million acute care beds that clinicians widely agree can be made much safer with smart, continuous monitoring." ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |