Video Feed Alert
Hospital Corporation of America, the nation's largest hospital system,
is testing new procedures to place bar-coded tags on babies' ankles to
ensure they receive the proper medical care and ensure that the right
baby goes home with the right family. The system, which matches the
right medications with the right baby, was recently tested at OU Medical
Center in Oklahoma City and will soon be available at 124 hospitals
owned by HCA. Putting barcodes on babies is a challenge because regular
armbands are uncomfortable, difficult to scan and slip off babies' tiny
arms and legs. The newly developed tags use soft foam bands that fit
snugly, yet comfortably, around babies' ankles, and include a luggage
tag-like barcode.
Video feed includes interviews with HCA's Medical Director, Dr. Frank
Houser, nurses using the product, and families of babies in the test
explaining the system. Also includes B-roll of neonatal intensive care
unit at OU Medical Center.
Details:
Date May 18, 2005
Times 9:45 - 10:15 a.m. EDT and 3:45 - 4:15 p.m. EDT
Satellite Galaxy 11 Transponder K16
Frequency: V 91 degrees West
Note: There will be multiple feeds during each time
Tape copies of this feed available on Beta SP by calling Theresa Green
(405) 771-2287
Also see suggested script below.
Enhancing Safety For Tiniest Patients
Video News Release Script
Anchor on Camera Suggested Anchor Lead:
The bar codes stores use to scan
your merchandise aren't just for
shopping any more.
Today, bar codes also play an
important role in hospitals.
In fact, the nation's largest
hospital corporation is introducing
bar coded wrist bands for patients.
It's part of an elaborate electronic
system that helps ensure patients get
the right medications at the right
time and in the right formulations.
Now, Hospital Corporation of America
- or HCA - is also pioneering a brand
new wrist band specially designed for
the tiniest newborns in hopes of
further enhancing patient safety.
Theresa Green has that story.
Taped Report Begins: Package Script:
Locator: OU Medical Center At only four days old, Takoda
Oklahoma City Stumblingbear is already a pioneer.
He's one of the first infants in the
nation to sport one of these little
numbers.
It's a bar coded identification band
specially designed for babies born
prematurely, like Takoda.
And it's being tested for the first
time at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma
City.
Super: D'Anna Stumblingbear SOT (D'Anna Stumblingbear - tc 9:57)
Takoda's Mother "They showed me what the new
bracelets looked like and how they
identify with the mother and baby - so
I was really happy."
The bar coded portion of the band is
also part of the hospitals' Electronic
Medication Administration System - a
system designed to make sure the right
patient gets the right medication at
the right time - and in the right
dose and formulation.
OU Medical Center's parent company,
Hospital Corporation of America, or
HCA, is introducing the medication
scanning system in all of its
hospitals.
Super: Dr. Frank Houser SOT (Dr. Houser, HCA - tc 12:41)
HCA Medical Director "It's important to HCA because last
year we gave 51 million doses using
this technology and we prevented over
a million errors."
However, they found the bar coded
bands used so effectively in adult
patients didn't translate well in the
neo-natal intensive care unit. The
bands were often too big for these
tiny babies, too abrasive for their
very sensitive skin and often in the
way.
Super: Tina Launer, RN SOT (Tina Launer, RN - tc 1:03:42)
OU Medical Center "It wouldn't be long before we in the
nursery would remove them either to
start an IV or to protect the baby's
skin."
The new bands, designed for HCA,
feature a soft material, a bar coded
tag and a velcro fastening system.
Super: Kristin Glover, RN SOT (Kristin Glover, RN - tc 5:51)
OU Medical Center "I love it so far. It's less damaging
to the skin and you don't have to
worry about losing it, taping it to
the bedside - there's always
identification on the baby and so it's
safer."
HCA has just concluded a pilot
program at OU Medical Center, testing
the effectiveness of the new
identification system.
SOT (Dr. Houser - tc 01:07:30)
"Our intent is to use this pilot as a
first step to make sure we have all
the pieces right to the puzzle and
then we'll roll it out to protect all
babies throughout our hospitals
throughout the country."
HCA estimates there are some 220-
thousand babies born each year in its
125 obstetrics units nationwide.
(Ray-shon-dah Fair-ee-ay) This year, Rayshonda Farria's son
Jackson is one of them.
Born nine weeks early and weighing
only two and a half pounds, Jackson
has already gained almost a pound -
And thanks to the new identification
band design, his own personal bar code
can grow with him.
Super: Rayshonda Farria SOT (Rayshonda Farria - tc 17:00)
Jackson's Mother "It definitely gives you peace of mind
to let you know they will always be
able to identify the baby and if
anything were to go wrong, they'd know
(B-roll end of bite) exactly what baby it was. It really
does give you peace of mind."
This is Theresa Green reporting.
Anchor on Camera: Suggested Anchor Tag:
Results of the pilot program are
being evaluated now.
HCA says the new identification
system could be rolled out in all of
its obstetrics units nationwide this
year.
(Extra Sound Bites)
(Benefits of new ID system)
Dr. Frank Houser "It assures that the baby is getting
Medical Director, HCA the appropriate and correctly dosed
medication, that the baby is easily
(2:29) identified through the arm band and
that identification is matched with
the mother."
"Our belief is that this tremendously
enhances patient safety in our
(5:40) hospitals both in the adult units as
well as our children's units."
(Cost effective?)
"Our belief is we - HCA - can't afford
not to do this. It's clearly a
(13:40) manifestation of our patient-first
philosophy."
(How do you like the new system?)
Super: Tina Launer, RN "It's really nice because you can
OU Medical Center always find the identification on the
baby and you can move it from wrist to
(00:25) ankle if you need to start an IV or
many of the things we need to do with
the baby."
"The consistency is the main part of
it ... just to make sure you always
have something to identify the baby to
make sure you are giving the right
(3:02) medication. And the bar code, if there
are two babies with the same name, it
won't allow you to give the wrong
medication to a patient."
Super: Kristin Glover, RN "I love it so far. It's less damaging
OU Medical Center to the skin and you don't worry about
losing it, taping it to the bedside.
(5:51) There's always identification on the
baby and so it's safer."
Super: Rayshonda Farria "I think it's absolutely wonderful.
Jackson's Mother It's safer for the babies, easier for
(16:41) the nurses and doctors. I think it's
wonderful."
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding HCA's business
which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal
year.
HCA Contact:
Jeff Prescott
(615) 344-5708
OU Medical Center Contact:
Allen Poston
(405) 271-7900 x4