FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 14, 2016; Burlington, MA, – Adopting a zero tolerance approach to cross-contamination is a clinically imperative goal in today's healthcare arena.

According to Michael Johnson, RN, M.Ed., Service Line Nurse Manager, Endoscopy & Gastroenterology, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, “Preventing cross-contamination is at the forefront of what we do at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. In the Endoscopy Department, equipment is reprocessed between patient uses. We pride ourselves on pristine infection control practices. We use evidenced-based infection control guidelines to ensure our patients receive safe care.”

The Yankee Alliance contract gave Lahey an opportunity to continue its commitment to achieving a zero tolerance cross-contamination equipment reprocessing standard. RAPICIDE ^® OPA/28 High-Level Disinfectant by Crosstex/SPSmedical was presented to the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center Infection Control team and several internal committees as an improved solution to their current high-level disinfection product. A side-by-side comparison was done to compare efficacy, efficiency, and cost savings. RAPICIDE ^® OPA/28 HLD was found to be more effective, more efficient, and a cost savings to the hospital. 

Crosstex/SPSmedical staff worked with Mr. Johnson and the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center operations team to implement RAPICIDE ^® OPA/28 HLD. The conversion process was smooth and successful, with several thousand dollars in annual savings realized by extending the useful life of the high-level disinfection solution from 14 to 28 days per bottle, and reducing reprocessing time from 12 minutes to 10 minutes per cycle.

“A big thank you to our operations team, materials management and our partners, Yankee Alliance and Crosstex/SPSmedical,” said Johnson. “This significant savings was realized because all the partners worked together with great efficiency. We are pleased with the results. It is a great comfort knowing that Yankee Alliance continues to drive significant savings for our hospital with new innovative products.”

About Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, a 335-bed hospital in Burlington, Mass., is a physician-led, non-profit group practice, world-renowned for innovative technology, pioneering medical treatment and leading-edge research. Support staff work together to provide compassionate care and superior patient outcomes. Lahey's multidisciplinary approach allows patient’s access to preeminent physicians from virtually every medical specialty. Approximately 12,000 patients are seen annually in the Endoscopy department. For more information visit www.lahey.org.

About Crosstex/ SPSmedical

Crosstex/SPSmedical serves the healthcare community as a global manufacturer of infection prevention and control products. Crosstex/SPSmedical offers high quality, innovative products, the majority of which are manufactured in the United States in its FDA-registered manufacturing facilities. Sold in more than 100 countries, the range of products distributed include: Secure Fit ^® technology face masks, Sure-Check ^® sterilization pouches, STEAM Plus ^® Class 5 Integrators, in-office and mail-in biological monitoring products and services, sterilization packaging. Find RAPICIDE ^® OPA/28 HLD, and the SANI ^® line of enzymatic detergent and glutaraldehyde under Yankee Alliance contract number YA-NS-121. For more information visit www.opa28.com, www.crosstex.com or www.spsmedical.com.

About Yankee Alliance

Yankee Alliance is a member-driven healthcare group purchasing organization founded in 1984 on a belief in collaboration, that working together can achieve more than working alone. Our mission is twofold: to work with members to reduce supply and operating expenses through aggregation of data, purchasing, ideas and knowledge and to excel in strategic innovations that continually assist members in reducing their cost while recognizing their individual needs. Today, Yankee Alliance remains true to the foundational belief in collaboration and has grown to over 12,600 members in all classes of trades across all 50 states. For more information visit www.yankeealliance.com.

For more information please contact; Amy Campbell, Senior Vice President, Administration, Yankee Alliance, (978) 470-2000 or at acampbell@yankeealliance.com.