Leading medical instruments and supplies company
Covidien plc.
(
COV
) has extended its support for the recently announced Sentinel
Event Alert issued by The Joint Commission regarding "safe use of
opioids in hospitals." Opioids are drugs given to patients as pain
killers, which have adverse side effects such as respiratory
complications.
The Joint Commission publishes Sentinel Event Alert for its
accredited hospitals and health care professionals, in which it
recognizes specific types of sentinel events, explains their cause
and recommends preventive measures. This particular issue provides
a number of suggestions that can be taken to avoid the risks
associated with opioid use among hospital in-patients.
According to the publication, hospitals need to accurately
ascertain the pain level in patients and constantly supervise
patient's ventilation and oxygenation utilizing capnography and
pulse oxymetry devices.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the
Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) also recommend similar
guidelines pertaining to constant post-operative supervision of
oxygenation and/or ventilation of patients receiving opioids.
Covidien has a history of developing and manufacturing
high-quality products in a cost-effective manner. The company
boasts of a well-diversified product and technology portfolio.
Through this alliance, Covidien plans to promote its leading
capnography devices product portfolio from its Respiratory and
Monitoring Solutions business. These products can diagnose
respiratory distress and hypoventilation at an early stage, thereby
enhancing physician efficiency and patient safety. Covidien offers
state-of-the-art respiratory products such as the Integrated
Pulmonary Index and the latest Nellcor pulse oximetry
solutions.
Covidien is well placed to achieve its long-term revenue and
earnings growth targets based on its attractive fundamentals,
effective execution, new product cycle, synergies of acquisitions
and expansion into emerging markets. Moreover, its share buyback
initiative is accretive to earnings.
However, sustained pricing/procedure volume pressure,
fluctuating foreign exchange rates, a sluggish U.S. and European
economy represent major headwinds. Covidien's larger Medical Device
unit overlaps with the business of its competitors like
Johnson & Johnson
(
JNJ
),
Becton Dickinson
(
BDX
) and
C.R. Bard
(
BCR
). We currently have a Neutral recommendation on the stock, which
carries a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold).
BARD C R INC (BCR): Free Stock Analysis Report
BECTON DICKINSO (BDX): Free Stock Analysis
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COVIDIEN PLC (COV): Free Stock Analysis Report
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