Industry Partner Spotlight – From Screening to Therapy — The Dräger Jaundice Management Solution
Infant jaundice (neonatal hyperbilirubinemia) is yellow discoloration of a newborn baby’s skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs because the baby’s blood contains an excess of bilirubin, a yellow pigment of red blood cells. Hyberbilirubinemia occurs in 80% of newborns.1
Effective jaundice screening can decrease readmission rates and length of stay for at-risk infants.2 In August 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a new clinical practice guideline for managing high bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) in newborns over 35 weeks’ gestation.1
FDA-Approved and Meets AAP Standards for Newborn Jaundice Management
The Dräger Jaundice Meter JM-105 is designed to accurately identify at-risk infants as young as 35 weeks gestational age using transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement in alignment with the AAP guideline. Currently, the JM-105 is the only noninvasive bilirubinometer technology device with 510K clearance.
For the treatment of neonatal jaundice, the Dräger BiliLux® is a compact and lightweight LED phototherapy light system. The BiliLux aligns to AAP specific guideline recommendations for surface area coverage, light spectrum and intensity.
Clinical, Workflow and Cost Benefits
The Dräger Jaundice Meter JM-105 combined with the Dräger BiliLux phototherapy light system provides a complete jaundice management system from screening to therapy.
Invasive total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurement for jaundice screening via needle sticks and blood draws may place added stress on fragile newborns and parents, while noninvasive screening through TcB measurement, as provided by the Dräger JM-105, can make it an easier experience for all involved.
Having dependable results in seconds rather than hours with the Dräger JM-105 helps to increase patient safety and expedite decision making.3 The methodology improves efficiency by delivering reliable measurements with significantly fewer steps, which can free up more nursing time for direct infant care.
With expenses front of mind for healthcare organizations today, it’s important to note how the Dräger JM-105 can help decrease the cost of care by reducing the collection of serum bilirubin lab draws and use of expensive and hard to supply consumable parts.4 In contrast, the JM-105 does not require a consumable component, meaning no disposable tip is necessary.
The Dräger BiliLux phototherapy light provides irradiance within the desired light spectrum proven to be the most effective spectrum in reducing unconjugated bilirubin per the AAP guideline.5The BiliLux provides even light distribution across the mattress along with five settings so caregivers can adjust irradiance to maintain prescribed irradiance levels. With the optional BiliLux Radiometer, nurses can instantly measure irradiance and view data trends throughout a baby’s treatment.
Compact and lightweight, the Dräger BiliLux saves space and is available in several different configurations to accommodate workflow needs. The device sound measures at or below 20dBa to help promote a calm and nurturing atmosphere for the baby, parents and caregivers. Its smooth surface and hygienic design, with no ventilation slots or fans, allow easy and fast cleanup.
Customer Service and Ongoing Support
The Dräger Jaundice Meter JM-105, BiliLux phototherapy light system and BiliLux Radiometer are shipped directly from Dräger and calibration verified before shipping.
In addition to hands-on training, Dräger offers online training videos, continuing education, staff competency-tracking capabilities, and 24×7 real-time support from clinicians through its agreement with Intensive Care Online Network (ICON).
Dräger also offers a five-year service agreement for the JM-105, including an annual calibration that takes customers to year six post-product purchase, extended warranties for the BiliLux phototherapy light and radiometer, and radiometer calibration services.
Supply shortages and delays were widespread throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and with increased demands for bilimeters at that time, some healthcare organizations experienced up to 36 weeks in wait time for the devices.
As your Specialist in Critical Care, Dräger committed to developing new solutions within its bilirubinometer production process to reduce client wait times. In November 2022, healthcare systems began to see the benefits of these changes and purchase-to-delivery times have improved immensely. Currently, the wait is 50% less than during the height of the pandemic.
References
- https://nursingcecentral.com/lessons/hyperbilirubinemia-in-pediatrics/
- Blumovich A, Mangel L, Yochpaz S, Mandel D, Marom R. Risk factors for readmission for phototherapy due to jaundice in healthy newborns: a retrospective, observational BMC Pediatr. 2020 May 26;20(1):248. doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02157-y. PMID: 32456623; PMCID: PMC7249410.
- Dräger Jaundice Meter JM-105, https://www.draeger.com/Products/Content/jaundice-meter-jm-105-pi–9068970-en-us.pdf
- McClean S, Baerg K, Smith-Fehr J, Szafron M. Cost savings with transcutaneous screening versus total serumbilirubin measurement for newborn jaundice in hospital and community settings: a cost-minimization CMAJ
- Bhulani et al., Phototherapy to Prevent Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation, Pediatrics, October 2011
To learn more about newborn jaundice management Dräger products, please visit: https://www.draeger.com/en-us_us/Hospital/Neonatal-Care/Jaundice-Treatment or call 1-800-437-2437.
The material presented in this blog represents the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of Synova Associates. Synova Associates does not endorse any specific products or organizations but strives to connect its industry partners with leaders interested in product/educational innovation.
