ROSWELL, Ga. and NEW ORLEANS, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Health Care today announced the availability of the new KIMGUARD* One-Step* Quick Check* Sterilization Wrap at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses 59th Annual Congress (AORN)(booth #4000). The new sterilization wrap provides users with rapid visual reassurance that the wrap is free from tears, cuts and holes, and confirms that sterility is intact. Kimberly-Clark Health Care will also provide comprehensive support for customers who have expressed an interest in, and are committed to, wrap recycling through a new program called Blue ReNew*.

As part of Kimberly-Clark Health Care's ongoing commitment to providing leading clinical education, sessions to review the critical traits of quality surgical fabrics will be held throughout the Congress. In addition, Kimberly-Clark Health Care announced the new MicroCool* Challenge to surgical teams to a two week trial of MicroCool* Breathable High Performance Gowns.  To learn more about these exciting announcements, visit booth #4000.

Quick Check* for Confidence

Kimberly-Clark* KIMGUARD* One-Step* Quick Check* Sterilization Wrap securely joins a blue wrap layer with a white layer so users can quickly and easily identify if sterility has been breached without adding additional steps to the inspection process.  Quick Check* also features PowerGuard* Technology to provide superior protection against contamination, making it one of the best microbial barriers available. This is in addition to the benefits long-offered by KIMGUARD* One-Step* Sterilization Wrap, which delivers the protection of double-wrapping in a single step, ultimately saving valuable time in the operating room (OR).   

"The addition of Quick Check* Sterilization Wrap to the Kimberly-Clark Health Care sterilization wrap product line speaks to our long-standing heritage of providing innovative products to meet and exceed our customers' needs," said Kelly Holt, Global Product Manager, Kimberly-Clark Health Care. "Quick Check* allows for improved confidence in ensuring sterility, which is critical to safe and efficient procedures in the OR."

Managing Wrap Waste

Since 2010, Kimberly-Clark has been conducting a pilot program to understand the needs of hospitals around recycling sterilization wrap. The company is introducing a new program called Blue ReNew* to bring interested hospitals a systematized approach to wrap recycling.

According to Jane Hart, Sustainability Leader for Kimberly-Clark Health Care, "Blue ReNew* is designed to help hospitals organize the process of recycling their wrap into five achievable stages and the program can be customized to meet the specific needs of each facility.  The Kimberly-Clark Blue ReNew* Team will work with hospitals to identify key recycling partners, train OR teams and measure results to achieve a sustainable wrap recycling program."

Clinical Education

In line with Kimberly-Clark Health Care's commitment to cutting edge clinical education, Kathy Stoessel, R.N., Senior Manager, Clinical Education, Kimberly-Clark Health Care, will present "It'll All Come Out in the Wash: Evaluating The Performance of Surgical Fabrics," during the following times at booth #4000:

The perioperative nurse must understand the differences between multi-use and single-use surgical fabrics in order to provide a safe environment of care for both patients and staff members. This educational program will review the critical traits of quality surgical fabrics, including a discussion of their clinical significance in the perioperative practice setting, with a focus on linting and barrier protection and the importance of test data that should be used in evaluating surgical fabrics. Finally, the differences in the essential qualities of multi-use and single-use barrier fabrics will be discussed.

MicroCool* Challenge

Kimberly-Clark Health Care is challenging surgical teams across North America to a two week trial of MicroCool* Breathable High Performance Gowns, rated AAMI level 4 (per Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation standard).  In addition to providing the highest AAMI level of liquid barrier protection, as well as critical lint, abrasion, flame and microbial resistance, the new MicroCool* gown features advanced microporous fabric that keeps the wearer cool and comfortable, even in the most demanding surgeries.

As part of the MicroCool* Challenge, Kimberly-Clark will be supporting teams from participating hospitals in charity Road Races throughout 2012, beginning with the AORN Foundation 5K Run at the 2012 AORN Congress.

Kimberly-Clark in the Healthcare Environment

Around the world, medical professionals turn to Kimberly-Clark for a wide portfolio of solutions that improve the health, hygiene and well-being of patients and hospital staff. As part of their healing mission, caregivers rely on Kimberly-Clark to deliver clinical solutions and educational resources that they can depend on to prevent, diagnose and manage a wide variety of healthcare-associated infections. As a global enterprise with more than $1 billion in annual sales, Kimberly-Clark Health Care holds the No. 1 and No. 2 market share positions in several categories including; infection control solutions, surgical solutions, pain management and digestive health. Throughout the care continuum, patients and staff alike trust Kimberly-Clark medical supplies and devices, KLEENEX tissues, Kimberly-Clark Professional skin care products and SCOTT towels for day-to-day needs. For more information, please visit http://www.kchealthcare.com

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Health Care