For Immediate Release

Medline Offers Valuable New Resource For Managing Diabetes In Long-Term Care

Compass Diabetes Program Will Help Educate Staff on Potential Pay for Performance Issue


Thursday, November 02, 2006 —

Mundelein, Ill - Medline Industries Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, announced the release today of a comprehensive education program to address one of the most challenging issues in long-term care. Approximately twenty-six percent of all nursing home residents have diabetes and the costs of caring for the care and complications that arise from these residents with diabetes exceeds $6 billion annually. The complications of diabetes can include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease; dental disease, nervous system disease and even amputation Medline developed this Compass program to help its customers educate their staff to provide the best possible care for their residents. "We wanted to help our customers achieve the best standards of practice for their residents. This education is also vital because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid is currently reviewing the Pay for Performance measures and evaluating avoidable hospital admissions, such as those related to complications from diabetes," said Medline's Vice President of Clinical Education Margaret Falconio-West, R.N., B.S.N., A.P.N., E.T., C.W.O.CN., D.A.P.W.C.A. Medline's Compass Diabetes Resource provides everything a long-term care facility will need to educate its staff and also family members of their residents. It was created by compiling and organizing data acquired through 40 years of working with healthcare professionals. Included in the Compass Resource box is:

  • Director of Nursing (DON) Instruction Manual - a teacher's guide to the Compass Diabetes Resource, which includes four CE training hours;
  • Glucose Monitoring Training Resource Books - three resource books, perfect for placing on treatment carts or in nurses' stations for easy access;
  • Family Education Books - five books provide valuable information for residents' families; and
  • Educational Compact Discs - two discs to educate staff on using the Optium™ Glucose Monitoring System.

For more information on the Compass Diabetes box or for a Product Solutions demonstration, contact your Medline sales representative, call 1-800-MEDLINE

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.