Early warning system helps improve care

The EWSS grades parameters
such as heart rate, respiratory rate,
blood pressure and CNS response
and incorporates areas to record pain
using a visual analogue scale or
a numeric scoring system

Fort Dodge has unveiled an initiative to help practices improve peri-operative care and the management of hospitalised cases. Its Early Warning Scoring System (EWSS) kit contains anaesthesia and observation charts for the effective clinical monitoring of cats and dogs.

EWSS observation charts are widely used in the NHS but this is believed to be the first time that such a system has been developed specifically for use in veterinary practices. They have been designed by Mike Davies, BVetMed CertVR CertSAO FRCVS, technical services manager at Fort Dodge, and are intended to help veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons identify patients whose condition is deteriorating, before they reach a critical state.

Mike Davies speaks around the country on preventive medicine and geriatrics and his experience of working closely with practices is that many do not have good protocols in place for nurse monitoring of patients. The EWSS grades parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and CNS response and the charts incorporate areas in which the practice can record pain using a visual analogue scale or a numeric scoring system.

The company has also launched Dorbene vet, containing the alpha-2 agonist, medetomidine hydrochloride, which it claims provides fast-acting sedation and analgesia for dogs and cats. A dosing guide for Dorbene vet is included in the EWSS.

For further information, telephone 01489 781711.

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