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Medical Indicators Named One of the ‘20 Innovative Companies Everyone Should Know in 2021’ by Global Business Leaders Magazine
Medical Indicators, Inc., the largest manufacturer of clinically-accurate single-use thermometers in the world, was recently named one of Global Business Leaders Magazine’s 20 Innovative Companies Everyone Should Know in 2021. The annual list highlights businesses from around the world with a clear vision and keen interest in making the world a better place in unique ways.
The 2-page feature includes a Q&A with Medical Indicators’ CEO, Joel Welde, in which he discusses the journey the company has taken over the past four decades. “Since day one, Medical Indicators has been innovating – not only in what we create, but how we create it,” said Welde. “We’ve developed a line of American-made single-use thermometers that not only provide the most accurate temperature reading available on the market today, but one that also significantly reduces the risk of spreading infections.”
Medical Indicators was founded in the early 1980’s, and since then, has increased production capabilities and expanded its product offerings to meet the needs of its growing customer base. “Our continued growth and success have enabled Medical Indicators to become a global leader in the single-use medical device arena,” said Welde. “We now supply hospitals, Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, and teaching institutions in more than 30 countries around the world with our single-use thermometers that offer highly accurate readings and maximum infection control.”
Medical Indicators’ thermometers, including NexTemp®, NexTemp® Ultra, TempaDOT®, and TraxIt®, feature an innovative and proprietary chemistry system that utilizes heat-sensitive crystals to measure core body temperature. It’s through this chemistry system that Medical Indicators’ thermometers are able to provide clinically-accurate readings. And their disposability means that once a temperature is taken, the thermometer and all of the germs are discarded along with it – virtually eliminating the risk of spreading germs and illnesses.
Taiwan Bans the Use of Infrared Thermometers as COVID Cases Surge Around the World
Although many in the US are fully vaccinated and have seemingly put the pandemic in the past, COVID-19 numbers are steadily rising for the first time in months. The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the US is grappling with a renewed surge of cases in what many are calling the “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” Health experts also attribute the increase to relaxed restrictions on gatherings and mask mandates, as well as a rise in the highly contagious Delta variant.
The increase in COVID cases is not an isolated issue here in America. Numbers are also rising around the world with hot spots in Israel, Cuba, Spain, Japan, and the UK. Due to the rise in cases, many countries are tightening restrictions and cracking down on ineffective tools used to detect and treat the virus, namely thermometers.
According to an article in the Taiwan Times, “companies that sell thermometers that measure skin temperature and claim they can detect fever are breaking the law and would face fines of up to $892,953 (USD), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said last week.” Instead, officials recommend using government-approved thermometers, such as oral, axillary, and rectal thermometers.
Infrared and thermo-scanners are only allowed to be used as a reference because the devices are not approved for medical use. Taiwan FDA Medical Devices & Cosmetics Division Specialist, Lin Hsin-hui, stated that “…temperature is easily affected by peripheral circulation or the environment, and varies significantly from true body temperature.” Hsin-hui adds that there are no clinical trials proving that skin temperature is a valid way to determine if someone does or does not have a fever.
As of July 12, 2021, importing, manufacturing, or selling such devices for medical purposes is illegal in Taiwan. Those who choose to ignore the new regulation could face up to three years in jail and fines close to $900,000 (USD). Additionally, companies and individuals claiming that infrareds and other similar devices can be used to check for a fever can be fined $20,000-$900,000 (USD).
The article ends by stating that people who contract COVID-19 develop a fever in the initial stages of the infection, so the Taiwan FDA is urging people to monitor their temperature regularly with a thermometer approved for medical use.
While infrared and thermal imaging devices are not an accurate way to take a temperature, all of Medical Indicators’ thermometers are. Our thermometers are specifically designed for oral, axillary, and rectal use, providing an accurate core body temperature reading each and every time. And their disposability means that once a temperature is taken, you simply discard the thermometer and all of the germs along with it – virtually eliminating the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Learn more about our highly accurate, single-use thermometers and how they can help you today.
Infrared Thermometers and Their Inability to Fight Against COVID-19
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, infrared thermometers have become a popular way to take temperature screenings in high-volume areas. Many businesses, including restaurants, stores, movie theaters and even companies and their corporate office locations, use them as a way to test for a fever in hopes of limiting their exposure to COVID-19. While infrared thermometers may be easy to use, they have unfortunately proven to be wildly inaccurate. Johns Hopkins Medicine issued an article titled Physicians Say Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers Fall Short As COVID-19 Screeners, which explains why these thermometers cannot be used as a trusted source.
Infrared thermometers only measure a person’s skin temperature, rather than measuring core body temperature – which is the key indicator of an infection. External factors, including the weather, the temperature of a room, an individual’s recent physical activity and other environmental variables, will affect the accuracy of the thermometer and the readings they provide. Because these factors can affect the results when using infrared thermometers, it creates a range of possible temperatures leaving a large margin for error. In the study, Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that during the course of a fever infrared thermometers can give misleading readings, so they should not be used as a trusted source to accurately determine if someone does or does not have a temperature.
The report states that more than 46,000 travelers were screened in 2020 with non-contact infrared thermometers and only one person was identified as having COVID-19. In addition to that, approximately 766,000 travelers were screened during January 17th-September 13th, and only one person per 85,000 later tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, 47 out of 278 people with symptoms similar to COVID-19 had a measured temperature meeting the CDC criteria for fever. They explain that this data shows that non-contact infrared thermometers fall short as a screening test for COVID-19.
Although infrared thermometers provide a convenient way to take someone else’s temperature, the many concerns about inaccurate readings are worrisome. These devices could not detect a person’s fever when they do in fact have one, resulting in that person potentially exposing others to their illness. Conversely, these devices can also report a temperature when the person doesn’t actually have one, leading to unnecessary worry, doctors’ visits and an abrupt change in plans.
Especially in light of recent events, it’s imperative that consumers are able to trust the products they use. Medical Indicators’ thermometers not only provide the most accurate temperature reading available on the market today, but their disposability means that once a temperature is taken, you simply throw it away along with all of the germs – and any worry over spreading an infection!
What is Precision Phase Change Technology and How Does It Provide Highly-Accurate Temperature Readings?
All of Medical Indicators’ thermometers, including NexTemp®, NexTemp® Ultra, TraxIt®, and Tempa•DOT®, feature an innovative and proprietary chemistry system known as Precision Phase Change Technology. Our thermometers feature a handle on one end, and a dot matrix utilizing the Precision Phase Change Technology on the other. We use this technology in our thermometers in one of two ways: through either our NexTemp Liquid Crystal Technology™ or TempaDOT®’s Solid Crystal Technology. The NexTemp Liquid Crystal Technology™ is used in our NexTemp® and TraxIt® line of thermometers, while our TempaDOT® thermometers utilize the Solid Crystal Technology.
In both cases, the dot matrix is comprised of heat-sensitive crystals that contain a unique formulation of chemistry to measure and display core body temperature. The chemistry is designed to react, or change color, at a specific temperature point. Each dot has been custom formulated to react and change color at its precise temperature point that is accurate to ±0.2 ºF/±0.1 ºC – which is the highest level of accuracy attainable in any thermometer on the market today. The number of dots that fire is dependent upon a patient’s temperature. The last dot to fire, or change color, will provide the highly-accurate reading. For NexTemp®, NexTemp® Ultra, and TraxIt® thermometers when the dots fire, they will change color from green to black; and with TempaDOT® thermometers the colors will change from tan to blue.
Precision Phase Change Technology is a remarkable innovation that allows Medical Indicators’ thermometers to provide users with peace of mind knowing they are safe, reliable and accurate. To further ensure their accuracy and reliability, each thermometer undergoes two-stage precision accuracy testing throughout the manufacturing process that meets rigorous accuracy and quality control standards. We utilize calibrated precision water baths to confirm their accuracy and reliability, and to ensure we meet the requirements of both nationally and internationally-recognized testing standards.
The Importance of Providing Patients with a Great Experience
A positive customer experience is essential to the success of any business, but especially in healthcare settings. Of course patients want the best possible care, but they also want to feel seen, heard and understood. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient experience will likely change this year. Conditions are improving thanks to social distancing, wearing masks and increased vaccinations; but the pandemic has led to the public paying closer attention to the cleanliness and safety of facilities in general, especially hospitals and medical centers. And with the advent of social media and billions of people around the world sharing every aspect of their lives with friends, family and even strangers, if a facility isn’t taking the proper precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of their patients, there’s a very good chance that information will be shared far and wide.
Social media has become an integral part of everyday life, connecting people and bringing them together even when they’re miles apart. Many people like to share their daily experiences on social media, connecting them with others who have had similar and/or different experiences. An individual may post about how they were unhappy with the care they received at a certain hospital, which in turn could lead to dozens or even hundreds of others supporting their claim of subpar care. Social media has greatly impacted our society and the way we do things. People often jump to Facebook to ask their friends and family for recommendations on a variety of matters because they trust their opinions. And it could take just one negative review from a trusted friend to prevent others from going to that facility or healthcare provider. Furthermore, if they post the reviews to the facility’s social media pages, anyone visiting their page to do research will see these negative reviews, which might make them think twice before going there. Hospitals and medical centers need to work to provide the best patient experience possible to ensure that their patients will be happy with the care they are receiving.
Some things that healthcare providers must consider when providing care to their patients, include:
- Professionalism
- Actively listening to patients and their concerns
- Validating patient’s feelings
- Supporting patients/showing them you care
- Communicating with them, sit down with them and get to know them
When a healthcare provider goes above and beyond for their patients, it makes the patient feel as though they’re actually being heard and cared for. This is crucial in developing positive and long-lasting relationships with patients. Providing patients with the best experience possible is critical, now more than ever. While providing the best medical care is important, building relationships and listening to patient concerns is just as important to ensuring patient satisfaction.
LinkedIn Live with Maness Veteran Medical
Medical Indicators’ SVP of Sales & Business Development, Maurice Donnelly, and MII’s Marketing Manager, Kelly O’Malley, sat down with Johnathan Maness, Founder & CEO of Maness Veteran Medical, earlier this week to discuss our line of innovative, single-use thermometers and how they provide highly accurate readings while also preventing the spread of infections. Maness Veteran Medical is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business working to connect federal buyers with the manufacturers of high-quality, cutting-edge healthcare and medical device supplies.
Earlier this year, Medical Indicators began partnering with Johnathan and his dedicated team to bring our line of clinically-accurate, disposable thermometers to America’s veterans and VA hospitals, the U.S. Department of Defense, and our active military service members. Be sure to watch the full video below, and please contact us for additional information or to answer any questions you may have on how our single-use thermometers can help you and your team today!
What Are Healthcare-Associated Infections and What Can Hospital Systems Do to Prevent Them?
According to the CDC, in any given day, one in 31 hospital patients will contract at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Healthcare-associated infections are infections that patients acquire in a clinical setting, while receiving medical care for another condition. HAIs most commonly transfer from one patient to another because the medical tools used on the first patient were not properly sanitized and disinfected before being used on a second patient. Several critical steps must be taken when working with medical devices, especially reusable devices that are used on multiple patients, in order to prevent the spread of HAIs.
In addition to risking a patient’s health and well-being, hospitals will face severe penalties if they expose patients to hospital-acquired conditions. In 2017, more than 22% of hospitals that were evaluated were penalized by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services because patients developed an HAI at their facility. OBP Medical released an article titled Updates on Medicare Penalties for Hospital-Acquired Conditions explaining the types of infections that are commonly spread in hospitals (e.g., C. diff, pneumonia, MRSA), as well as the penalties associated with such HAIs. When working in this type of environment, it is imperative that every step is taken in order to ensure that patients receive the best and safest care possible.
Staff must sterilize and disinfect all reusable medical devices after each use to aid in the prevention of infection transfer. Although proper cleaning can help, there is an even better way to prevent the spread of HAIs. In lieu of cleaning and disinfecting reusable medical instruments, healthcare facilities can make the switch to disposable medical devices instead. Single-patient medical devices virtually eliminate the spread of healthcare-associated infections because they are used one time, with one patient, and then the device is discarded. They will only reduce the risk if used correctly, so it is crucial that they are used exactly as directed – meaning that it should be used only once, with only one patient, and then discarded immediately after use. Disposable medical devices can aid in making hospitals a safer place for patients, while also eliminating the risk for HAI-related penalties.
There are certain devices, such as disposable thermometers, that can be extremely helpful when it comes to preventing healthcare-associated infections. Medical Indicators understands how important it is for doctors, nurses and patients to use a product that is both safe and accurate. Medical Indicators’ disposable thermometers, including NexTemp®, Tempa•DOT®, and TraxIt®, provide highly-accurate readings, while also eliminating the risk of exposure to healthcare-associated infections.
The National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report: How Can Providers Prevent HAIs?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2019 National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report provides the national- and state-level HAI incidence data for 2019 in the four major healthcare settings: acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals. The report is designed to assess problem areas and provide the information needed in order to implement changes that will increase patient safety and ensure that the best and safest medical care is provided to all.
In the report, the CDC states that on any given day, one in 31 patients in the US acquires at least one HAI, highlighting the need for improvements in patient care in healthcare facilities. Even though progress has been made in recent years, more changes need to be implemented in order to prevent healthcare-associated infections and increase patient safety.
One of the top ways to reduce the spread of HAIs in healthcare settings is through the use of disposable medical devices. Disposable medical devices are instruments that are used by only one person, only one time, and are then disposed of after use. Single-use devices can be a great tool for reducing the risk of transferring germs and infections among patients, therefore reducing the rate of healthcare-associated infections. Because these tools are only used by one patient, and only used one time, they help to reduce the spread of infection by person-to-person contact.
Hospitals opting for disposable medical devices could lead to a significant reduction in the number of healthcare-associated infections. Disposable medical devices not only make it easy to provide patients with the care they need by making it a simple process, but they also greatly reduce the time spent away from patients as there is no need for medical staff to disinfect reusable devices after every use. Eliminating the need to clean reusable devices would allow providers to spend more time focusing on providing the best possible care to all of their patients.
