Dr Esquenazi was lead author of the 2012 Best Paper, which reported on the successful use of the ReWalk powered exoskeleton to restore walking ability to patients with thoracic-level spinal cord injury. The award was presented at a ceremony during the 2013 AAP Annual Meeting, held last week in New Orleans.

Award Honors Some of the Year’s Best Papers from AJPM&R

The award-winning paper, “The ReWalk Powered Exoskeleton to Restore Ambulatory Function to Individuals with Thoracic-Level Motor-Complete Spinal Cord Injury,” appeared in the November, 2012, issue of AJPM&R.  Dr Esquenazi’s coauthors were Mukul Talaty, PhD, Andrew Packel, PT, NCS, and Michael Saulino, MD, PhD.

Video Shows Patient Using ReWalk Exoskeleton 

Dr Esquenazi and coauthors reported their initial experience with the ReWalk powered exoskeleton in twelve patients with SCI, including the intensive training regimen required.  After fitting and training with ReWalk, all patients learned to walk independently. A video showing a patient using the ReWalk exoskeleton can be viewed on the AJPM&R website.

In addition, Siera Goodnight, MPH, was named winner of the 2012 Ernest W. Johnson Excellence in Research Writing Award for the best paper on which the first author was in-training when the paper was written.  Ms Goodnight’s paper, “Construct Validity of Language Independent Functional Evaluation as Used by Spanish-Speaking Clinicians to Evaluate Persons with Developmental Delays,” was published in the February, 2012, issue of AJPM&R.  Her coauthors were Tony Boggess, DO, Carlos Quintero, MD, Diana Mejia, Juan Felipe Amezquita, Karen S.J. Yamakawa, MS, and Andrew J. Haig, MD.

The AAP Excellence in Research Writing Award recognizes the lead author of the best paper published in AJPM&R each year.  Winners are selected by a committee from the Editorial Board, appointed by the Editor.

The committee also presented Honorable Mention awards for two additional papers published in AJPM&R:  “Development of an Objective Test of Upper-Limb Function in Tetraplegia: The Capabilities of Upper Extremity Test” by Ralph J. Marino, MD, MS, Mary Patrick, RN, MSN, Whitney Albright, MS, OTR/L, Benjamin E. Leiby, PhD, MJ Mulcahey, OTR/L, PhD, Mary Schmidt-Read, PT, DPT, and Stephen B. Kern, OTR/L, PhD (June, 2012); and “Skeletal Muscle Plasticity after Hemorrhagic Stroke in Rats: Influence of Spontaneous Physical Activity” (November, 2012) by LeAnn Snow, MD, PhD, Walter C. Low, PhD, and LaDora V. Thompson, PhD.

About AJPM&R

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation focuses on the practice, research and educational aspects of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Monthly issues keep physiatrists up-to-date on the optimal functional restoration of patients with disabilities, physical treatment of neuromuscular impairments, the development of new rehabilitative technologies, and the use of electrodiagnostic studies. The Journal publishes cutting-edge basic and clinical research, clinical case reports and in-depth topical reviews of interest to rehabilitation professionals.

About the Association of Academic Physiatrists

The AAP was founded in 1967 to serve as the national organization of physiatrists who are affiliated with medical schools. The AAP is a member organization of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  The objectives of the Association are to promote the advancement of teaching and research in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation within an academic environment. The organization acts as a sounding board and forum for the exchange of ideas and information relative to all phases of the art and science of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Philadelphia, Pa. (February 12, 2013) – The field of surgery lost a giant last year with the death of Joseph E. Murray, MD, Nobel laureate in medicine and biology and a pioneer in both transplantation and craniofacial surgery. A special tribute to Dr. Murray appears in the January issue of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Mutaz Habal, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, shares an editorial celebrating the career and contributions of Dr. Murray as a mentor, colleague, and friend. Dr. Habal’s is one of several tributes included in the special January issue, which also features updates on new research developments and clinical problems of interest to plastic, reconstructive, and craniofacial surgeons.

Memories of Dr. Murray by a Colleague and Friend

Dr. Murray died last November at age 93. His place in history is assured as the surgeon who performed the first successful human kidney transplant, between a pair of identical twins, in 1954. Dr. Murray went on to perform groundbreaking research in transplantation biology and tissue and organ rejection.

Dr. Murray was also instrumental in developing immunosuppressive drugs that led to the development of modern organ transplantation. In 1990, he shared the shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Dr. E. Donnall Thomas “for their discoveries concerning organ and cell transplantation in the treatment of human disease.” (Dr. Thomas, a pioneer in bone marrow transplantation, also died last year.)

At a time when transplantation surgery is a specialty in its own right, it may be surprising to learn that Dr Murray’s specialty was plastic surgery. His interest in transplantation developed from his experience with skin grafting as a military surgeon treating seriously burned patients.

In his editorial, Dr. Habal recalls his first encounter Dr. Murray during a lecture question-and-answer period more than four decades ago. Dr. Habal went on to train with Dr. Murray in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It was a time of groundbreaking contributions to craniofacial surgery—including the first mid-face advancement surgery, and the correction of hypertelorism. Dr. Murray inspired all the young surgeons who became the spear head of the development of the field of craniofacial surgery with his work on composite transplantation with Dr. John Woods, which was the grounds for the development of face transplant at the same medical institution. This was well discussed as the new frontier in plastic surgery.

“This special issue of the journal should serve as an inspiration to the young and newcomers of the specialty as a model for the advancement of their careers,” Dr. Habal writes. “Dr. Murray taught us all that the patient comes first, and self-promotion is out of the formula of patient care.”

New Research on Wound Healing, and Two Unusual Injuries

The special issue includes a number of other tributes to Dr. Murray—including one by Elof Eriksson, MD, PhD, who succeeded Dr. Murray as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Along with his colleagues Johan P.E. Junker, PhD, and E.-J. Caterson, MD, PhD, Dr. Eriksson is coauthor of an update on the microenvironment of wound healing. They report on recent research showing that a “wet, incubator-like environment provides the fastest healing with fewest aberrations and least scar formation.”

The researchers have created a “wound chamber” that creates a wet environment, promoting survival and proliferation of transplanted cells and tissues. Dr. Eriksson and colleagues conclude, “With the addition of various active molecules and cells, it also provides a platform technology for regeneration in vivo.”

The special issue also present brief reports on unusual wounds of special interest to plastic, reconstructive, and craniofacial surgeons. One report describes “conductive contact burns” as a serious injury caused by overexposure to Korean-style hot dry saunas. Another suggests that titanium miniplates used in reconstructive surgery may be a risk factor for osteonecrosis in elderly patients taking bisphosphonate drugs for osteoporosis.

Dr. Habal comments, “We believe the tributes to Dr. Murray, along with the cutting-edge research and practical clinical information presented in our special issue, are a fitting memorial to a surgeon-scientist who contributed so much to the fields of plastic, transplantation, and craniofacial surgery—thus affecting the lives of countless patients, now and in the future.”

About The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Mutaz B. Habal, MD, serves as a forum of communication for all those involved in craniofacial and maxillofacial surgery. Coverage ranges from practical aspects of craniofacial surgery to the basic science that underlies surgical practice. Affiliates include 14 major specialty societies around the world, including the American Association of Pediatric Plastic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons, the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Argentine Society of Plastic Surgery Section of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, the Asian Pacific Craniofacial Association, the Association of Military Plastic Surgeons of the U.S., the Brazilian Society of Craniofacial Surgeons, the European Society of Craniofacial Surgery, the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery, the Japanese Society of Craniofacial Surgery, the Korean Society of Craniofacial Surgery, the Thai Cleft and Craniofacial Association, and the World Craniofacial Foundation.

About Lippincott Williams & WilkinsLippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Philadelphia, PA (February 6, 2013) – Elevating the nursing practice and promoting innovation in quality of patient care is the goal of Nursing2013 Symposium: The Conference for Clinical Excellence, which will be held March 19-22, 2013, at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The conference is sponsored by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, publisher of Nursing2013, and part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

The meeting is designed for nurses in direct care positions as well as aspiring new leaders. Nurses will attend a sweeping variety of sessions taught by the country’s premier experts on such topics as heart failure, trauma, pain management, diabetes, and healthy work environments.  

Symposium attendees will also earn contact hours, network with colleagues, and meet with vendors and industry representatives in the exhibit hall.

“We’ve designed a program that includes everything from core content to the latest healthcare innovations,” said Nursing2013 Editor-in-Chief Linda Laskowski-Jones, RN, MS, ACNS-BC, CEN, FAWM. “There’s been a wave of major changes in health care, so we want each nurse to leave the Symposium feeling energized and prepared to meet the challenges.”

For complete program and registration information, visit the Nursing2013 Symposium Web site at Nursing2013 Symposium.

Program Highlights

The Symposium launches on Tuesday, March 19, with four preconference workshops including the Med-Surg Certification Review Course, Pharmacology: Simplified, Not Mystified, 12-Lead ECG Interpretation, and Adult Physical Assessment. Later that day, Jeff Doucette, MS, RN, CEN, FACHE, NEA-BC, Vice President and CNO of Mary Immaculate Hospital, delivers the Opening Address, “Leading from Where You Are: Creating a Culture that Inspires.”

Wednesday, March 20, will begin with the ‘Nurse of the Year Award’ presentation, followed by keynote speaker Charles Denham, MD, Founder and Chairman, Texas Medical Institute of Technology. Dr. Denham will explore high performance leadership in his session, “A Lifesaver for Lifesavers: How to Survive the Rough Seas of Patient Safety and Value-Based Purchasing Demands.”

Breakout sessions follow and will continue through Thursday, March 21. Topics include patient safety, kidney failure, sleep apnea, caring for the oncology patient, writing for professional publications, workplace conflict, and much more. Experts will also present general sessions on patient advocacy, achieving a healthy lifestyle, and end-of-life issues.

On Friday, March 22, Laskowski-Jones will deliver the closing session on “Developing the Leader in You: A Plan for Success.”

Registration Information

Complete information and online registration is available at www.nursingsymposium.com. For additional information, contact Wolters Kluwer Health at 1-800-346-7844, ext. 7798 or 7793.

Continuing Nursing Education

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW), publisher of Nursing2013, will award a maximum of 25 contact hours for this continuing nursing education activity.

LWW is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This activity is also provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 11749 for 25 contact hours. LWW is also an approved provider by the District of Columbia and Florida #50-1223. Certificates are is valid in all states.

The ANCC’s accreditation status of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Department of Continuing Education refers only to its continuing nursing educational activities and does not imply Commission on Accreditation approval or endorsement of any commercial product.

Members of the press are invited to attend the conference and interview speakers and exhibitors. A complimentary one-day pass will be granted and an editorial production timeline will be requested. For more information about Nursing2013 Symposium, contact Karyn Cousart at (800) 346-7844, ext. 7750 or email at karyn.cousart@wolterskluwer.com.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher for healthcare professionals and students with nearly 300 periodicals and 1,500 books in more than 100 disciplines publishing under the LWW brand, as well as content-based sites and online corporate and customer services.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health and pharmacy. Major brands include traditional publishers of medical and drug reference tools, journals, and textbooks, such as Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; and electronic information providers, such as Ovid^®, UpToDate^®, Medi-Span^®, Facts & Comparisons^® and ProVation^® Medical.

Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company focused on professionals with annual revenues (2009) of €3.4 billion ($4.8 billion), approximately 19,300 employees worldwide and operations in over 40 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Visit our website, YouTube or follow @Wolters_Kluwer on Twitter for more information about our market positions, customers, brands, and organization.

About Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc.

Conference management services are provided by Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc., a health care management, marketing, and publishing corporation located in Pitman, NJ (www.ajj.com).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Philadelphia, Pa. (January 22, 2013) –  The most comprehensive review of new legal and regulatory issues affecting advanced nursing practice across the United States is now available in the “25th Annual Legislative Update,” presented exclusively by The Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Healthcare.  The Nurse Practitioner is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Compiled by Susanne J. Phillips, MSN, FNP-BC, the annual supplement presents a comprehensive review of the legislative proceedings, bills, and laws pertaining to advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) practice in every state.  The 25th Annual Legislative Update is now freely available on the journal website

Progress in Evidence-Based Reforms Improving Access to APRN Care

The 25th Annual Legislative Update incorporates current information provided by state nursing boards and APRN associations about the “hot topics” affecting APRN practice in their states.  “Despite attempts by medical boards to limit current practice authority, APRNs succeeded in improving access to APRN care in several states,” writes Phillips. 

The special edition provides an essential update on recent legislative and regulatory activity promoting access to APRN care, prompted by decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrating the quality and safety of APRN practice.  Efforts are ongoing to standardize laws and regulations governing APRN practice across states, and to establish effective consumer protections.

Yet legislation continues to be “vehemently opposed” in many states, according to Phillips.  She discusses steps APRNs can take to “empower legislators to move beyond the outdated, evidence-lacking arguments that APRNs are not educated enough, safe enough, or credentialed enough to care for the nation’s residents.”

This year’s update presents a rundown of the latest developments in the areas of legal authority, reimbursement, and prescriptive authority for all 50 states.  It also includes a table summarizing practice authority for nurse practitioners in every state and the District of Columbia, along with updated statistics and the total number of APRNs reported by state boards of nursing.

Nurses Encouraged to Work Together to Meet Challenges

The past year has seen several important improvements in legal authorization of APRN practice, including passage of legislation and promulgation of regulations in 17 states.  In addition, eight states reported statutory or regulatory activity leading to improvements in prescriptive authority.

But challenges remain, including reports of defeated bills and unsuccessful regulatory reform efforts in five states.  In addition, two states—Kentucky and Missouri—passed legislation limiting APRN practice in specific ways.   Phillips urges APRNs and others interested in ensuring access to evidence-based healthcare to support state APRN organizations.

Nurses are also encouraged to check out the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP, to see what steps are being taken and participate in efforts to improve nursing practice.  Phillips adds, “This is a great way for all of the APRN organizations to work together to implement the recommendations and improve practice in your state.”

About The Nurse Practitioner

The Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Healthcare is the leading monthly source for clinical, practical, cutting-edge information for advanced practice nurses and other primary care clinicians. Each issue presents peer-reviewed articles that range from clinical topics and research to political and practice issues. In addition, The Nurse Practitioner provides regular features, columns, continuing education and pharmacology credits, staff development education, and more.  Its mission is to meet the needs of the nurse practitioner (and other advanced practice nurses and clinicians) by providing practical, cutting-edge clinical and professional information.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals, and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence, and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Philadelphia, Pa. (December 13, 2012) – Analysis of media portrayals of nursing homes finds that negative stories outnumber positive stories by five to one, reports a study in the December issue of Medical Care.  The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Negative news coverage of nursing homes may shape public perceptions and consumer care choices, suggest Edward Alan Miller, PhD, MPA, of University of Massachusetts Boston and Denise A. Tyler, PhD, of Brown University.  They write, “Our findings suggest that negative reporting predominates and its impact on public perceptions and government decision making may be reinforced by its prominence and focus on industry interests/behavior.”

News Stories Paint Negative Picture of Nursing Homes

Drs Miller and Tyler performed a database search to identify more than 1,500 articles related to nursing homes, published in four major American newspapers between 1999 and 2008.  Using a standardized approach, they categorized the tone of each news story as positive, negative, or neutral.  The characteristics of articles in the three categories were analyzed as well.

“Most articles were negative or neutral; comparatively few were positive,” Drs Miller and Tyler write.  Overall, 49.2 percent of articles were classified as negative and 10.5 percent as positive.  The remaining 40.3 percent were categorized as neutral in tone.

There were some prominent differences in the content of positive versus negative or neutral articles.  Positive articles were more likely to discuss the quality of nursing home care, while negative articles were often about cases involving negligence or fraud.

“Negative articles were more likely to focus on the nursing home industry; positive articles on the broader community and residents/families,” Drs Miller and Tyler write.  Many of the neutral articles covered financing and business/property issues.

Negative News More Likely to Make the Front Page

Negative articles involving negligence/fraud were more likely to be found on the front page, compared to positive or neutral articles.  “Editorial decisions about the placement of such articles make sense from a business perspective to the extent that negative, sensationalistic coverage sells newspapers,” according to the authors.

Other negative stores were related to natural disasters—particularly to several high-profile incidents in which nursing home residents endangered by Gulf Coast hurricanes.  Many of the positive stories were related to local quality-improvement initiatives—particularly ongoing “culture change” efforts seeking to make nursing homes more home-like environments.

The results draw attention to the overall negative depictions of nursing homes found in U.S. newspapers.  Such negative coverage has had a significant impact on public perceptions of nursing homes and the nursing home industry, Drs Miller and Tyler believe.

They also think that negative media coverage has probably influenced consumer behavior—especially at a time of increasing competition from “alternative care sources with more robust reputations,” such as home- and community-based care and assisted living.  Drs Miller and Tyler suggest that nursing homes and the nursing home industry may want to develop “more effective media strategies,” highlighting the culture change movement and other innovations to improve care and quality of life for nursing home residents.

About Medical Care

Rated as one of the top ten journals in health care administration, Medical Care is devoted to all aspects of the administration and delivery of health care.  This scholarly journal publishes original, peer-reviewed papers documenting the most current developments in the rapidly changing field of health care.  Medical Care provides timely reports on the findings of original investigations into issues related to the research, planning, organization, financing, provision, and evaluation of health services.  In addition, numerous special supplementary issues that focus on specialized topics are produced with each volume.  Medical Care is the official journal of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

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New York, NY (December 10, 2012) – Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health, is pleased to announce that it has won awards in three categories at the 2012 FOLIO: Eddie & Ozzie Awards. Sponsored by FOLIO: Magazine, the Eddie & Ozzie awards represent one of the industry’s largest, most prestigious awards competitions for magazine and digital editorial and design excellence.

“Congratulations to all the editorial teams for their outstanding contributions and commitment to producing some of the publishing industry’s most outstanding work,” said Jayne Marks, Vice President Publishing, Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research.

The LWW winners were among the 355 finalists narrowed down from more than 2,000 entries. Finalists received gold, silver or bronze awards. Click here to view the complete list of 2012 Eddie Awards winners, including the following LWW titles:

• Neurology Now, (an official publication of the American Academy of Neurology), April 2012 issue – Bronze Winner, Category: Best App, Business to Business
• Nursing2011,  July 2011 issue – Silver Winner, Category: Full Issue, Business to Business, Healthcare/Medical/Nursing
• The Nurse Practitioner, November 2011 issue – Bronze Winner, Category: Full Issue, Business to Business, Healthcare/Medical/Nursing
• AJN: American Journal of Nursing, “Deactivation of ICDs at the End of Life”, October 2011 issue – Category: Single Article, Business to Business, Healthcare/Medical/Nursing

The annual Eddie and Ozzie awards competition is the largest of its kind for magazine publishers and is open to national and regional magazines in various categories, including consumer, B-to-B, society and nonprofit associations. The Eddies honor the best in editorial; the Ozzies, the best in design. Magazines are judged on how well they fulfill their stated mission, the quality of their content, and their overall design and production.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW)

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

New York, NY (December 3, 2012) – Wolters Kluwer Health today announced its renewed commitment to the Nestlé Foundation’s enLINK initiative, which supports the research of healthcare professionals in low-income countries to address malnutrition. In 2004, the Foundation and Ovid, part of Wolters Kluwer Health and a global provider of medical and scientific resources, collaborated to develop the enLINK electronic library, which provides students, researchers, and healthcare workers with easy access to important electronic medical and nutrition resources. With this renewed partnership, resources will be more readily accessible through OvidSP, Ovid’s medical research platform.

“Investing in any activity that promotes increased access to information has a tremendous impact; and as an organization dedicated to reducing problems of nutrition all over the world, the Nestlé Foundation initially chose Ovid to develop enLINK because of its comprehensive medical content and sophisticated technology,” commented Prof. Dr. Paolo M. Suter, the Nestle Foundation. “The resources Ovid has provided over the past eight years have been instrumental to many human nutrition research programs in the low-income countries we serve, and we’re pleased to continue our partnership with Ovid and enhance the service by offering streamlined access to the content via the OvidSP solution.”

“We’re delighted to continue our support for the Nestle Foundation’s enLINK initiative and are committed to providing important access to medical journal resources that researchers can use to educate, diagnose, and treat problems of nutrition and nutrition deficiencies,” said Jayne Marks, Vice President, Publishing at Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research. “Online access to medical resources is particularly critical for researchers and practitioners in low-income nations and we’re proud to provide our OvidSP solution of premium medical journals to support the Foundation’s efforts at correcting nutritional imbalances.”

enLINK users will have access via OvidSP to ejournal and book content to support a variety of research topics, including clinical nutrition and practice; maternal and child nutrition; breastfeeding and complementary feeding; macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies and imbalances; interactions between infection and nutrition; and nutrition education and health promotion. Plus, users can take advantage of OvidSP’s search, alerting, and results management tools to stay current on their research activity. 

About the Nestlé Foundation
The Nestlé Foundation (http://nestlefoundation.org) for the Study of Problems of Nutrition in the World was established in 1966 by the Nestlé Company on the occasion of its centenary. It operates as an independent organization with an office in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Nestlé Foundation initiates and supports research in human nutrition with public health relevance in low and lower middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank.

About Wolters Kluwer Health

Wolters Kluwer Health (Philadelphia, PA) is a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Serving more than 150 countries and territories worldwide, Wolters Kluwer Health’s customers include professionals, institutions and students in medicine, nursing, allied health and pharmacy. Major brands include Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Ovid^®, Medknow, UpToDate^®, Medi-Span^®, Facts & Comparisons^®, Pharmacy OneSource^®, Lexicomp^® and ProVation^® Medical.

Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company. Wolters Kluwer had 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion), employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations in over 40 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

New York, NY (November 28, 2012) – Wolters Kluwer Health is pleased to announce that the Technical Services team for its Ovid and LWW journals business recently received the coveted NorthFace ScoreBoard Award^SM from Omega Management Group Corp for achieving excellence in customer service and support in 2011. A pioneer in innovative customer experience management (CEM) strategies, Omega initiated the award in 2000 to recognize world-class customer service organizations based exclusively on customer ratings. Earlier in the year, Wolters Kluwer Technical Services was awarded both a Top 100 Center of Excellence designation and a Center of Excellence certification from Benchmark Portal.

“This award, our third customer satisfaction recognition this year, solidifies our position as a best-in-class support organization dedicated to providing superior customer service and products,” said Neil Schmidt, Vice President and General Manager, Global Operations with Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research.  “Our Technical Services team excels in meeting and exceeding our customer needs and is a key part of our long-term customer partnerships. I’m pleased the team continues to be recognized for their unmatched level of service.”

“The NorthFace ScoreBoard Award recognizes organizations who not only offer exemplary customer service, but who also center their existence on a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations,” said John Alexander Maraganis, president & CEO of Omega. “As a first time award recipient, Wolters Kluwer Health received remarkable scores from its customers, illustrating great depth of satisfaction and loyalty for the Wolters Kluwer Health business.”

As part of the NorthFace ScoreBoard Award Audit Program, Omega reviews and rates a company’s entire customer service process on a quarterly basis, including areas such as technical support, customer services, training, and other aspects. Omega’s ratings are based on survey responses from the company’s customers. Companies that achieve a customer satisfaction rating of 4.0 or above—out of a possible 5.0—over a 12-month period receive the award. Wolters Kluwer achieved a top score of 4.8 to be considered in best in class.

“Due to its unique ‘customer-only vote’ criteria, the NorthFace ScoreBoard Award has been viewed from its inception as the only objective benchmark for excellence in customer service,” Maraganis said.  “Our research indicates that companies that consistently achieve a 4.0 rating or above, which we call the ‘Loyalty Zone,’ are succeeding in achieving beneficial, long-term customer relationships, and this significantly raises the bar on their competitors.”

About Wolters Kluwer Health

Wolters Kluwer Health (Philadelphia, PA) is a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Serving more than 150 countries and territories worldwide, Wolters Kluwer Health’s customers include professionals, institutions and students in medicine, nursing, allied health and pharmacy. Major brands include traditional publishers of medical and drug reference tools, journals and textbooks, such as Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; and electronic information providers, such as Ovid®, UpToDate®, Medi-Span®, Medknow, Facts & Comparisons®, Pharmacy OneSource® and ProVation® Medical.

Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company. Wolters Kluwer has 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion), employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations in over 40 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. 

All trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Dr Henly is Professor of Nursing at University of Minnesota.  She assumes the position of Editor effective with the January, 2013, issue of Nursing Research.

Dr Henly served as Associate Editor under outgoing Molly C. Dougherty, PhD, RN, FAAN, and as a Guest Editor on last year’s special Nursing Research supplement on Health Trajectory Research.  She expresses her gratitude to Dr Dougherty and the other “astute and forward-thinking editors” who have led Nursing Research since its first issue in 1952.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to serve as editor at a time of fast-paced change in nursing science,” Dr Henly commented. “The scope of nursing research is expanding to incorporate basic, clinical and translation sciences. Advances in scientific knowledge and methods support true integration of biological and psychosocial factors, in context, in the formulation of research questions and the modeling and analysis of data.”

Asked how she sees the future direction of Nursing Research, Dr Henly said, “Our priority is to continue to publish the highest quality, innovative and influential scientific papers in nursing research that can contribute to betterment of the health and well-being of the world’s people.

“In addition, we view the journal and adjunct e-sites as important forums for inquiry and dialogue about issues and priorities shaping the future of the science, and for advancement of the methods of nursing science,” Dr Henly added.  She also pointed to the emerging use of social media in scientific communication, “offering opportunities for development and assessment of creative, novel means for dissemination and critique of new findings.”

About Nursing Research

Celebrating over 60 years as the most sought-after nursing resource, Nursing Research offers more depth, more detail, more of what today’s nurses demand. The journal covers key issues such as health promotion, human responses to illness, acute care nursing research, symptom management, cost-effectiveness, vulnerable populations, health services, and community-based nursing studies. Each issue highlights the latest research techniques, quantitative and qualitative studies, and new state-of-the-art methodological strategies, including information not yet found in textbooks.  Nursing Research is the official journal of the Eastern Nursing Research Society and the Western Institute of Nursing.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and Wolters Kluwer Health
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Philadelphia, Pa. (November 19, 2012) – Portable bed rails marketed to “make any bed safer” actually increase the risk of injury and death, according to an article in the November 15 issue of Biomedical Safety & Standards (BS&S).  A newsletter for medical device safety professionals, BS&S is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Two consumer watchdog groups have requested the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to order one manufacturer to stop making false advertising claims regarding the safety of its portable bed rail.  A front-page feature in BS&S reports on the request and provides background on the safety concerns related to the use of such products.

Bed Rails Linked to Deaths—Request to Stop False Advertising

In September, two groups sent a formal letter to the FTC requesting that one manufacturer be stopped from making false safety claims for its portable bedrails.  Last year, one of the groups petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban marketing and order a recall of specific bed rail models; to assess the design and use of similar bed handle or bed rail devices; and to investigate the risk of life-threatening injury or death from entrapment, strangulation, or positional asphyxia and ban other devices as appropriate.

The request cites more than 525 deaths associated with bed rail use that have been filed with the FDA, along with more than 155 deaths reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  There are multiple “entrapment zones” with the use of a bed rail, each with a risk of causing death by asphyxiation. This entrapment risk can be a fundamental feature of the design of the rail openings or may arise from how the bed rail attaches to the bed.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer continues to make safety clams, such as that its product “makes any bed a safer bed.”  In the petitions, the FTC is asked to order the manufacturer to stop making these unproved safety claims. Other portable bed rails on the market present similar safety issues.

Previous CPSC standards addressing bed rails for children and toddlers have led to sharp reductions in injuries and deaths in young children. However, the standards don’t apply to products intended for adults—especially older adults, for whom falls are a common and potentially catastrophic event.

There’s no evidence that side rails safely prevent falls, whereas other measures—such as lowering the bed and using anti-slip matting—are effective. “A fall with a bed rail in place is more dangerous than a fall without a rail, because of the change in trajectory of the fall,” according to the article in BS&S.

Although hundreds of deaths have been reported, it is likely that the true number of incidents is substantially higher.  Home users and even some health care professionals may be unaware that such events should be reported to the FDA or CPSC.  (Or if they are aware, they may not be motivated to report.) The BS&S feature article concludes, “Given portable bed rails are often sold directly to consumers and through medical supply stores, consumer groups think the CPSC and the FDA, both of which have been petitioned for rulemaking repeatedly in these matters, should be taking action to regulate, force recalls, and effectively ban marketing and sales of the dangerous devices.

About Biomedical Safety & Standards

Biomedical Safety & Standards has been a key resource for reliable information in the areas of medical safety and standards for more than three decades. The newsletter updates biomedical technicians and clinical engineers on the latest developments in patient safety, standards, regulations, incidents, device recalls, and professional issues. Bi-weekly issues cover everything needed to stay current on technology, safety and risk policies, new laws and standards, and equipment maintenance. Regular features include reports on safety, hazards, and risk management; updates on class I and II FDA recalls and field corrections; briefings on the latest requirements for medical equipment and/or facilities; legal issues surrounding medical device safety; the latest news from government agencies; and new educational resources.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com