For Immediate Release
Medline Introduces Revolutionary Wound Measurement Software
PictZar® Will Help Clinicians Accurately Track Wound Progress and Promote Better Care
Monday, February 05, 2007 —
Mundelein, Ill. -- Medline Industries Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies announced the release today of PictZar®, a revolutionary new medical software program to help clinicians more accurately measure and track the progress of wound healing to promote better care.
Research indicates that clinicians able to accurately track the rate of wound healing can actually promote a better outcome. "With accurate measurements and documentation, a clinician is able to more quickly and accurately identify when a wound is not responding appropriately to a specific course of treatment and then change course accordingly," said Medline Vice President of Clinical Education Margaret Falconio-West, RN, APN/CNS, BSN, CGRN, ET, CWOCN, DAPWCA.
PictZar is a user friendly software program that will virtually eliminate the potential for human error in wound measurement and progress tracking. The clinician simply takes a digital image of the wound and a ruler. Instead of using the ruler to measure the wound, (which can be extremely difficult if the wound is an odd shape) the ruler becomes a calibration tool. The clinician then loads the image of the wound and ruler onto a computer. With a few simple clicks of the mouse PictZar calibrates to that ruler accurately calculating and recording the length, width, area and circumference of the wound.
"This software will be an enormous asset for health care facilities and their patients. Accurately tracking chronic wounds allows for better diagnosis and improved outcomes," said Medline Dermal Management Systems President Jonathan Primer. "In addition, PictZar will help facilities comply with CMS guidelines on wound care and help prevent citations."
CMS requires clinicians to clearly document the assessment and treatment of a wound. PictZar will help provide critical documentation as it tracks wound progress by calculating the change in the area of the wound. The program then produces charts and graphs to demonstrate the change. PictZar can compile wound measurement reports in Excel and Microsoft Word.
About Medline
Medline, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, IL, Medline has more than 800 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.
Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 250 major hospitals and health care systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities, and on-staff clinicians.
Medline has a growing network of 34 distribution centers around the country, as well as an expanding, dedicated transportation fleet with over 160 vehicles in a variety of sizes to fit customers' specific delivery needs. The fleet is equipped with the latest navigation devices for enhanced order tracking and communication.