Testimonials
What are users saying about HotDog patient warming?
“At our Surgery Center we’ve used forced air warming up until three years ago when we changed to the HotDog warming blankets from Augustine Temperature Management. The transition from air to electric blankets was so much easier than I thought it would be. The nurses are far more pleased with the HotDog than they were with the Air Blankets, and they had been reasonably content with the blowers. The transformation took just a few days until all the nurses were sold on the product.
What amazes me most is me how much more effective at warming patients they are. Our patients undergoing conscious sedation for procedures like cataract surgery actually have to have them pulled from their hands they like them so much. Many ask where they buy them for home use.
So from the perspective of patients, staff, anesthesiologists and economics, it’s a hands down home-run for us to have changed from forced air to the HotDog. Switching to the HotDog has made a strong positive impact on our patient care.”
-Dr. Anderson
Anesthesiologist
California
“Our unit has had a significant reduction in joint-replacement infection since changing to an alternative patient warming system.”
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-br Feb 2011 Letter to the Editor http://www.bjj.boneandjoint.org.uk/content/93-B/1/85.e-letters
-M.R. Reed, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
UK
“[We] purchased the HotDog because of the patient outcomes with regards to SCIP INF 10. We had three months of baseline data using our current method of warming. We trialed a competitor’s product and found that there was no increase in OR or PACU temperatures. We trialed the HotDog and found what we considered to be a clinically significant increase in OR and PACU first temperatures.”
-Shawn C.
Clinical Director Surgical Services
Virginia
“Each time we used a disposable, forced-air warming blanket, it cost us $8 to $10. As a result, the short-case patients didn’t get the consistent warmth. [With HotDog] it doesn’t matter how long the case is. It’s a fixed cost. You’ll tend to use the equipment you’ve bought more when the cost is the same no matter how much you use it. They run quieter, take up less space and produce less waste than forced-air warming.”
-Jeff M., CRNA
Minnesota
“[We’ve] noticed a marked reduction in post-op shivering (which some of our PACU nurses like to treat with Demerol, which increases the incidence of post-op nausea and vomiting in this era of not being able to get propofol with any regularity). I have noticed quicker discharge times in longer cases since there is significantly less time spent warming patients in recovery. I use the HotDog on every case I can. We pre-warm the bed with it, place it on the patient once they arrive in the OR, and use it immediately in the recovery room. I am an ardent supporter of HotDog patient warming! I preach its benefits anytime I can to anyone who will listen! Even our one surgeon who demands it be North Pole frigid in the OR and who hated the Bair Hugger* because it makes too much noise and heats the room, likes the HotDog system. It is amazing.”
-Thomas D., MD
Medical Director
California
“It’s a huge patient-satisfier. Some want to take it home with them. Pre-warming the stretcher not only gives you a head start in keeping the patient’s core temperature up and maintaining normothermia throughout surgery and recovery, but it also welcomes your patients to pre-op with a pleasant comfortable surprise.”
-Jackie M., RN, BSN, NE-BC
Director of Day Surgery/PACU
North Carolina
“[HotDog] allows us to warm patients we couldn’t warm with forced-air warming. Patient care has also improved. With forced-air warming, 40% of patients went to PACU normothermic, while 90% do with the HotDog patient warming system.”
-Tracie S., RN, BScN, MSN/ED, CPN(C)
Clinical Manager, Operating Room
Canada
“[We’ve] achieved very good temperature results [with HotDog].”
-Johnathan K., MD
Chief of Anesthesia
Wisconsin
“Our Plastic Surgery practice had a significant problem with hypothermia, particularly during breast and body contouring procedures where forced-air heating was inadequate because of the large surface areas exposed. Since converting to the HotDog Patient Warming System, our patients arrive in PACU normothermic, they emerge from anesthesia faster and in less discomfort, and are ready for discharge sooner. My anesthesia providers love it, and my Bair Hugger has been permanently relegated to recovery room duties.”
-Dr. C
Plastic Surgeon
California
“The product is truly worth its weight in gold!”
-Wesley W.
Purchasing Mgr
Montana
“As a pediatric surgeon, I prefer the HotDog patient warming system for perioperative temperature management. It keeps my patients safely normothermic, and best of all it does its job without being a distraction. I don’t hear it and I don’t feel any excess heat coming off. That’s all a surgeon wants from a patient warming system. I recommend HotDog for pediatric patient warming.”
-Daniel H., MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Oregon
“I have been a huge advocate for the use of the HotDog system. I brought it in for our cardiac patients and it works like a charm. The unit consists of a pad that goes under the patient (under the sheet) and connects to a console. We conducted a study and found that our patients – despite the length of surgery left the room with normal temps. We use it every day in our 4 heart rooms. We are also using the system throughout the OR – replacing the Kimberly-Clark and Bair Hugger disposable blankets. For the OR it was over $200,000 in savings.”
-Carol R.
Charge Nurse
Massachusetts
“I Love It. When I first started here our patients would leave the OR at 34 degrees, then we got Bair Hugger and it went up to 96, now with HotDog they are 98. I’ve never seen patients leave the OR at 98 degrees. I LOVE IT!”
