FEATURE ARTICLES

At MEDICA 2006, the whole spectrum of medical innovation will be to the fore. WILHELM NIEDERÖKER, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH looks ahead to the event in Düsseldorf, the 38th World Forum for Medicine encompassing the International Trade Fair and Congress (15-18 November).

Connecting medical equipment to a network can achieve advantages in areas including security, efficiency, and apparatus downtime reduction, emphasies hardware and software solutions provider Lantronix.

Today, clinical equipment must be high-performing and long-lasting. A multi-function anaesthesia delivery system has been developed to meet a set of particularly demanding needs.

Immunological laboratory tests for antibodies play an important part in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of neuromuscular diseases, reports Dr JOHN WINER, consultant neurologist.

With UK pathology services potentially at the dawn of a new era, The Clinical Services Journal reports on a recent one-day Conventus “Modernisation Update” which provided much important information and insight.

RAM SINGH, managing director of Amity UK, examines the importance of using high quality disinfectant products, employing strict cleaning procedures, and better supporting hospital workers involved in cleaning.

A surgical instrument reprocessing service recently established by Vernon-Carus is already proving its value.

The global market for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and systems in healthcare will rise rapidly from $90 million in 2006 to $2.1 billion ten years from now. Dr PETER HARROP FIEE of IDTechEx summarises new research from the IDTechEx report RFID in Healthcare 2006-2016.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon MATTHEW S HENDERSON FRCS (Trauma and Orthopaedics), MBChB, describes how the The S-MARTTM sterile exsanguinating tourniquet from Summit Medical shows significant potential for improving efficiency in ankle surgery at Gloucester Royal Hospital.

A suite of operating theatres without walls has been created at the Broadgreen Hospital and Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool, and playing a major role in the facility are four Howorth Exflow ultra-clean ventilation (UCV) systems. Report by GRAHAM BROMLEY and ROBERT BROGDEN.

How development of products and services for the perioperative environment continues at a considerable pace will be evident at the exhibition running alongside this year’s Association for Perioperative Practice Congress in Harrogate (9-12 October).

The 42nd Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Annual Congress and Exhibition (9 to 12 October 2006, Harrogate International Centre) will be bringing to the fore the latest developments in perioperative care.

A guide, sponsored by an educational grant from M"lnlycke Health Care, has been developed by an independent working party in order to encourage best practice in the procurement of products and services used in operating theatres.

A high level of consideration must be given to bariatric patients and those physically involved in their healthcare, stresses LORRAINE THURSBY RGN, ENB N49, N18, 870, 998 Dip HE (Research), manual handling coordinator, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Nuneaton.

With the aid of high definition professional camera equipment, Basingstoke-based professor BILL HEALD OBE FRCS, is able to record images of his pioneering surgical procedures and replay them to surgeons around the world who can then benefit from his expertise.

The roles of Advanced and Assistant Practitioners in Critical Care Services have been developed to provide significant benefits. Authors involved in the preparation of this article include ROBERT STANDFIELD, Lead Workforce Designer; SARAH COPLEY, Workforce Designer; and DIANE SWAIN, Project Manager with Critical Care – all from the National Practitioner Programme.

Dealing with the consequences of mass fatality incidents is an exacting task for a professional group supported by the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technologists. ALISON ANDERSON reports.

A conference and exhibition dedicated to advancing the design and maintenance of healthcare facilities has much to interest professionals involved in infection control, says COLIN WILLIAMS.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) continues to need extensive further research, a recent symposium held in London confirmed. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

Issues concerning the prevention of surgical site infection and the utilisation of re-usable or single use drapes and gowns are examined by DIANE GILMOUR PGCEA, BN, DANS, Dip Infection Control, RGN.