Leading Health Systems to Reveal Best Practices for Barcode Point-of-Care Systems to Enhance Patient Safety at 2009 unSUMMIT Con

TAMPA, Fla., Jan 07, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Experts from two dozen leading U.S. health systems will share advice for the successful selection and deployment of barcode point-of-care (BPOC) systems to enhance patient safety at TerraPharma's 2009 Annual unSUMMIT for Bedside Barcoding Conference, May 6-8, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. More than 400 hospital-based healthcare professionals, including nurse managers, directors of pharmacy, clinical informaticists, directors of information systems, and senior hospital executives are expected to attend the comprehensive BPOC event.
The unSUMMIT Conference is an educational event that facilitates peer-to-peer exchange and offers hospitals an opportunity to evaluate BPOC systems and associated technologies. BPOC is well-supported by industry organizations such as The American Society of Health System Pharmacists, which has recommended barcoding technology as a highly effective means for improving the safety and accuracy of medication administration. The conference will feature presentations from several early BPOC adopters including Bon Secours Health System, Marriottsville, Md.; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.; Hospital Corporation of America, Nashville, Tenn.; Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital; Methodist Health System, Dallas, Texas; Miami (Fla.) Children's Hospital; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. The conference agenda may be viewed by clicking here

"Although barcode point-of-care systems have been in use for over 20 years, only 24% of U.S. hospitals have implemented this vital technology for safe and efficacious medication administration," said Mark Neuenschwander, co-founder of The unSUMMIT Conference and Partner of TerraPharma, LLC, a patient safety advocacy organization. "Our vision is to empower attendees with the knowledge and tools to make an immediate, positive impact on patient care at their respective healthcare organizations."

The conference will also feature keynote speeches from:

-- John Nance, a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran of Vietnam and Operations Desert Storm / Desert Shield, and a Lt. Colonel in the USAF Reserve. Well-known for his involvement in Air Force human factors flight safety education, Nance will outline a vision for patient safety using the lessons learned from the recent revolution in aviation safety. Nance is an Aviation Analyst for ABC World News, Aviation Editor for Good Morning America, an attorney and a best-selling author.

-- Lenville O'Donnell, an independent documentary filmmaker, will share the exploits of the historic 1958 University of Washington men's rowing crew, the first American team to compete in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The lessons from the UW team's unexpected victory will demonstrate the power of pulling together against insurmountable odds and inspire conference attendees to unite the disparate members of their organization to make a difference in patient safety.

Pharmacists and nurses attending The unSUMMIT Conference sessions are eligible to earn up to a scheduled 15.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credits, and lab technicians up to three hours. Approximately 50 companies providing BPOC software and services will exhibit at the conference. Hospitals which belong to Novation, Premier, Inc., or MedAssets are eligible for registration discounts through The unSUMMIT Alliance program, with additional early registration discounts through February 28th.

Media may register online for one free media pass per organization via the standard online registration at http://www.unsummit.com. For media questions, please contact Jodi Amendola at jamendola@acmarketingpr.com.

Added Neuenschwander, "A 2006 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that the implementation of barcode technology at the point of care resulted in a 56 percent reduction in incorrect medications, 71 percent reduction in incorrect dose/strength and 90 percent reduction in the wrong dosage form. What are hospitals waiting for? Education. Tools. And that's what The unSUMMIT Conference delivers - clear guidance and practical next steps, as well as a network of peers to support BPOC deployment."

About TerraPharma Project LLC

The TerraPharma Project, LLC (TTP), Bellevue, Wash., is a peer-to-peer education exchange fueled by the conviction that barcode point-of-care (BPOC) technology is low-hanging fruit that delivers high returns for patient safety. Committed to promoting the adoption of BPOC in hospitals across the nation, TTP produces The unSUMMIT Conference and the online Point of Care forum. For more information, visit http://www.unsummit.com.

SOURCE: TerraPharma Project LLC

Amendola Communications for TerraPharma Project LLC Jodi Amendola 480-664-8412 ext. 11 jamendola@acmarketingpr.com