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the devices are used, then filed with the patient record. Failure to do
so would mean a facility loses its CMN and, therefore, the ability to
continue to use the devices post-recall.
"The Stryker Neptune recall is a really big deal because of the highprofile regulatory attention that it's received and the associated
patient safety concerns. How you handle the recall is going to get a lot
of scrutiny," says Jim Keller, vice president of health technology evaluation and safety at ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization that
researches the best approaches to improving patient care. "You
should develop a clear written justification for decisions related to the
recall. If you continue with the short-term use of Stryker products,
what's your justification for doing this? What's your timeline for purchasing replacement products?"
Product affinity
Stryker is the dominant player in fluid carts, by some estimates
controlling as much as 85% of the market. Why such an affinity for
a fluid-sucking machine? Perhaps the feature OR staff love most
about the Neptune is that it's a closed, all-in-one unit with a built-in
vacuum that collects and disposes of fluid waste without operator
assistance, says Ms. Willoughby.
At the end of the procedure, you roll the device to a docking station,
which automatically empties the fluid from the reservoir and then
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