Bovie Medical Insights

A Futuristic Alternative to Traditional Surgery: J-Plasma

Bovie Medical — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:17:00 GMT

J-Plasma uses the enormous temperature range and flexibility of its proprietary plasma, to answer needs within the medical industry. J-Plasma, which is the ionization of helium gas, allows the clinician to tailor the output of the J-Plasma device to create the desired tissue effects. Bovie Medical's J-Plasma device uses that ability to create a small, plasma handpiece that can be used to:

Excise tissue
Spot coagulate
Perform open surgery
Perform laparoscopic surgery

How Does J-Plasma Work?

The device features an extendable blade that can be used as a scalpel; unlike a standard scalpel, the blade can be combined with the thin plasma beam to make difficult or precision tissue cuts. The plasma beam is about an inch long outside of the wand and can be controlled to cut with hotter or colder flow. The higher gas flow setting allows for a cooler beam, which is used for coagulation or, at the lowest setting, sterilization in theory.

The device is designed for optimal ease of use; a middle slider extends or retracts the blade. Buttons on the generator allow the user to increase or decrease power or gas flow in order to manage the type of cut or coagulation desired. Activation can also be controlled by a foot pedal. Two wand lengths allow for either open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.

Benefits of J-Plasma

The entire design of Bovie's plasma tool was created in order to provide surgical benefits to provider and patient. The tool itself is easy to hold and features simple controls, reducing the likelihood of errors or fatigue during a procedure. Numerous settings allow surgical staff to perform multiple tasks with the same tool, reducing the need for constant instrument changes, which also reduces operating room time.

Combining the scalpel and the plasma beam, surgeons gain an enhanced cutting ability. This allows for easier access to problem areas while minimizing trauma, such as eschar, on surrounding tissue; the patient benefits from a more precise incision or excision, which may improve recovery times and reduce post-procedure discomfort.

Bovie Medical Corporation has been working to deliver cutting-edge technology for over 40 years. Although J-Plasma may not replace all other surgical tools, it is an example of futuristic technology that is helping patients and providers today. When precision cuts are essential, this technology may provide the best possible tool.

Hospitals: Reducing Energy Costs and Maximizing Light Sources

Bovie Medical — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:01:00 GMT

Article by Medical Illumination International - January 13, 2012

The many advantages of LED lighting as an alternative to traditional halogen sources in hospitals go far beyond surgery and examination use. There are many spaces that require varied degrees of lighting within hospitals, such as hallways, nursing stations, waiting rooms, exterior walkways and patient rooms. For lighting upgrades, the most important priorities are efficiency, patient comfort and an ideal staff working environment. In addition, hospitals have to comply with federal and state work safety regulations, and ensure that certain tasks have proper lighting support. But when the fixture price, installation cost and energy consumption are combined, halogen and/or fluorescent lighting can severely drain a hospital's budget.

Compared to other types of medical facilities, hospital lighting needs are a clear exception due to their 24/7 status, with most lighting in operation on a constant basis. Lighting represents an average of 16 percent of a hospital's total energy consumption, and more than 40 percent of its electricity use (Ferenc, 2011). Changes to more energy efficient lighting can present benefits that surpass the obvious ones. According to a study at a Netherlands hospital, 64 percent of medical staff reported better concentration and 46 percent felt more fit when working in areas with bright, dynamic lighting (Philips, 2011).

An important factor with any lighting retrofit plan for a medical facility is long-term return on investment. Front-end cost should not be a primary consideration, since the total savings over time will exceed that amount by a significant margin. Also, a hospital's strategic plan (for at least the next five years) should factor in the cost savings of energy-efficient lighting and how those excess funds could be reallocated for other projects. In summary, a consensus of facilities management professionals and strategic plan analysts at hospitals agree that halogen and incandescent light sources are outdated and less ideal compared to their LED and solid-state counterparts.

In its new state-of-the-art East Tower, opening in January 2012, Chicago's Rush University Medical Center chose to utilize LED lighting throughout the entire facility. A video profile of the project can be viewed via the YouTube link below, and an interactive tour of the new building can be found here: http://transforming.rush.edu/Pages/welcome.aspx

The U.S. Department of Energy's Commercial Building Initiative summarizes the benefits of hospital LED lighting in this brief summary paper, which includes a case study of a Maryland hospital: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/alliances/hea_lighting_fs.pdf

Sources:
Ferenc, J. (2011). Lighting the way. Health Facilities Management, 24(2), 32-36.

Hospital Lighting (2011). Lighting Applications Support Group, SR. Philips. Retrieved from http://www.keralaenergy.gov.in/seminars/Hospital/HOSPITAL%20LIGHTING.pdf

http://www.medillum.com

Image: freedigitalphotos.net

Sleep Well, Go Green, No Exclusions

Bovie Medical — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:21:00 GMT

The Masters has come and gone for another year. Tiger didn’t win, and time marches on. However, my purpose for this blog really goes back to last summer when Augusta National accepted its first two female members, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore. I saw the article then, thought about commenting on it but somehow didn’t. I was pleased that another wall had come down, but was also pleased that Augusta did it on their terms. I am sure you remember when there was an outcry regarding their policy and that a boycott of any company that advertised during the Masters was promised. In the category of “it must be nice to be REALLY Rich” Augusta said fine, we won’t have any sponsors. Having an exclusive club and making it difficult for anyone to get in is ok in my book. Excluding someone because of race, religion or sex really doesn’t make any sense to me.

Other than Augusta, I really never thought about a club not allowing women. However, I was reminded once again that it exists when I had lunch with one of our attorney’s in New York recently at his golf club. He commented that this was one of four men’s only clubs in the New York area. It also made me think of a book I enjoyed very much, “You’ll Know I am Dead When I Quit Talking” by and about Jerry Weintraub.

Jerry brought Frank Sinatra and Elvis back on the road and there are many delightful stories. One that stuck with me was that he was vacationing in Maine with his wife and went to the local tennis club to play, but was told there weren’t any courts available. This seemed odd to Jerry since most of the courts were empty. None the less they stayed with that story and Jerry went home. The real reason was that Jerry was Jewish. So Jerry’s wife has a friend in Maine and she calls him to complain. The next day George Bush senior, the friend, takes Jerry and his two boys George and Jeb to play tennis, and has Jerry as his guest. You don’t tell the president of the United States he can’t come on the court. Later George Senior sponsors Jerry for membership at the tennis club and the golf club with similar restrictive views. I already liked George, now I like him more.

In a stretch of a segue, the Sleep Well YOU Bought a Bovie promotion continues, now though June 30th. You have to buy it though a distributor, but it is open to all distributors. In addition, by combining it with LED lighting this year I have also tied in green, as in less energy and the green jacket.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

Don't miss the Sleep Well YOU Bought a Bovie promotion happening now!

Image: freedigitalphotos.net

Advantages of the Aaron 3250

Bovie Medical — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:48:00 GMT

In 1926, the first successful electrosurgical procedure was performed using a Bovie high watt generator. Over the years, as technological advancements occurred in the operating room, one name is still used synonymously when referring to electrosurgery. The name is Bovie. Today, the Aaron® 3250, 300 watt Electrosurgery Generator (ESU) is one of Bovie’s modern OR generators. The ESU offers a wide variety of features for both medical and veterinary professionals to utilize throughout procedure. The following are some of the highlights of this powerful electrosurgery device.

The Aaron 3250 Operating Room Generator

The required specification for ESU’s in most hospital operating rooms is 300 watts. The Aaron 3250 has a maximum output of 300 watts and is capable of the majority of electrosurgical procedures performed in the operating room today. The ESU delivers consistent energy into varying tissue impedances using BovieFDFS™ smart technology. The unit offers both monopolar and bipolar capabilities and is thoughtfully designed by Bovie engineers with an extremely user-friendly interface. Like all Bovie ESUs, the Aaron 3250 is manufactured to accept most industry-standard surgical accessories as a convenience for the customer.

Efficiency Generating Preset Modes

The Aaron 3250 offers ten different preset modes that surgeons can customize with preferred procedure settings. The ten presets eliminate the need to consistently update the modality powersettings when used by the various surgeons, for various procedures. This simple feature generates a greater degree of safety and efficiency in the busy operating room.

Extensive Safety Features

Patient safety is at the forefront of Bovie’s mind when engineering any of our electrosurgical products. Considerable development went into the safety when designing the Aaron 3250. Like most electrosurgical generators the unit has specific audible tones which indicate activation and audible alarms which alert the user to a connection error. Also typical of any safely designed ESU is the visible LEDs which light-up to specify the modality in use or if an alarm has occurred. The Aaron 3250 has technology which continuously monitors all outputs and connections for reliable patient safety. Any errors in output will automatically shut down the device and report a specific error code.

Patient burns are a risk associated with the use of electrosurgery. The majority of patient burns occur due to user-error and incorrect return electrode positioning. The Aaron 3250 is designed with BovieNEM™ split-pad technology which monitors the pad connection to reduce the risk of this type of mistake. The ESU also utilizes BovieFCFS™ which only permits one output to be active at any given time and will ignore secondary commands, reducing the potential for inadvertent activation and patient burns.

Device Specs

The Aaron 3250 offers 6 modalities for use in operating room procedure; 3 Cut modes and 3 Coagulation modes.

The cut modes are among the most power-intensive outputs ranging from 200-300 watts. The modes include Cut 1 considered the Pure Cut mode which offers effects similar to a scalpel when used correctly. The second mode is Cut II specially designed for laparoscopic procedures. Lastly, the Aaron 3250 offers Blend mode which produces a blended effect of cut and hemostasis. The Blend mode is available in 10 settings which offer varied levels of hemostasis.

As an extension of its versatility, the Aaron 3250 also offers multiple modes for coagulation, including both monopolar and bipolar settings. The direct or pinpoint Coagulation mode delivers 120 watts to a specified area. The generator also offers a lower-power Fulguration or 'spray' mode which is utilized when it is necessary to coagulate a wider area of vascular tissue or similar locations. The third mode of coagulation is Bipolar which delivers energy to coagulate tissue between two points. Bipolar mode affords greater control over the area to be coagulated.

Simplicity & Savings

Bovie has always believed that medical devices should be affordable. In today’s market cost-savings is a key factor in the buying decision. Hospitals and medical facilities are looking for ways to reduce their spend. Bovie has been in the business of electrosurgery for over a quarter century. In this time, we have identified a lot of unnecessary and expensive features in similar electrosurgery devices today. Therefore, the Aaron 3250 is manufactured with the features and modes most commonly used in electrosurgery procedure. This makes the unit the most affordable full-service ESU on the market.

Check out our entire Aaron product line!

How to Control and Minimize Smoke in the OR

Bovie Medical — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:15:00 GMT

The potential problems caused by surgical smoke in the OR have come to light over the last few years. Electrosurgery produces smoke which may be contaminated by bacteria, viruses or mutagens and other pollutants. There is also the possibility that the smoke will combine with alcohol preps or other flammable gases in the room to form noxious fumes that need to be removed. It's an issue that healthcare providers need to understand, control, and minimize in order to promote a safe, sterile operating environment.  

The number of surgeries performed continues to rise, which means healthcare providers are at greater risk than ever before. Surgeons, facility owners and managers truly have to think of all details that go into performing an operation so that every variable can be managed and controlled.

Since about 80 percent of all surgical procedures use cauterization techniques that generate smoke, proper sanitation methods need to include removing surgical smoke, gases and fumes from the OR as quickly as possible.   Regulatory agencies, like the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), indicate that normal room ventilation is not adequate to remove smoke plume materials and should be augmented by local evacuation systems (LEVs) such as room (wall) suction and/or portable smoke evacuation products to keep the breathing air clean.  

Providers can face a risk for malpractice claims if they fail to keep the air in the operating room sanitary and there is also the possibility of major complications during surgery. With so much on the line, the benefits of keeping the air in the room free of surgical smoke and other pollutants greatly outweigh the costs of providing and utilizing a medical-grade smoke evacuation system.   Smoke evacuation systems are the most effective way to control and remove surgical smoke from the OR. A high-quality system, like the Bovie Smoke Shark II, can virtually eliminate the risks from noxious fumes and potential harmful gases with a four-stage filtration process: 

Pre-filter
ULPA
Carbon
Post-filter

Features like effective flow rates, remote devices, pneumatic footswitches and long-life filters mean healthcare providers can keep the air in the room sanitary with nearly no effort.

Check out our Free eBook Download: Electrosurgical Generator Safety Guidelines

Sleep Well 2013 Part 2

Bovie Medical — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:49:00 GMT

I was thinking about my recent blog which mentioned Sleep Well 2013. I indicated that I thought it was probably our best deal ever for the doctor. That has been bouncing around in my head and after reflecting on it, there is no question, it is an ABSOLUTELY GREAT DEAL! Our BEST DEAL EVER! If we look closely at what we are offering, what do we see? First, purchase an Aaron 940, 950 or 1250 and get a five year guarantee. So for five years the doctor doesn’t need to worry about spending a penny on upkeep of the unit. Truth of the matter, the products are so reliable that with or without the extended guarantee, odds are they won’t have a problem. But if they also purchase one of the MI LED lights alongside an Aaron 940, 950 or 1250 THEN the guarantee on the units doubles from FIVE years to TEN YEARS!

Are you kidding me? The answer is NO, we are NOT!

To receive the ten year guarantee the doc needs to invest in one of our MI LED lights and a promotion ESU. Besides the TEN YEAR guarantee on the generator, why should the doctor want to do that? Answer number one, if they are currently operating under a hot halogen light source, do they enjoy sweating from the halogen heat in surgery? The LED is virtually cool, as in no more sweating while they work. Not only does it use less electricity, since the LED stays cool unlike the inferior halogen light, the air conditioning in the office isn’t working overtime. So the doctor saves on electricity two ways. (COST-SAVINGS!) Number two; there is no need to worry about turning the light on and the bulb blowing. A burnt-out halogen bulb is a pain to replace, and what if the doctor doesn’t have one? Well, it sounds like a FedEx overnight delivery is in order, which adds to their overall cost-to-own a halogen light. Number three; perhaps the best reason to switch to the MI LED light is (besides the awesome clean, white light it gives) if it is utilized eight hours a day, five days a week, it should last something like TWENTY THREE YEARS! Quite possibly the life of the doctor’s practice!

AND THAT’S NOT ALL…(Sorry, perhaps I am getting carried away here)

Like those infomercials we see on TV (but calmly and quietly)…If the customer purchases one of the MI LED lights along with the Aaron 940, 950 or 1250 the doctor also gets FOUR $250 Dollar Coupons (THAT IS $1000.00 repeat after me…ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS) good for a variety of electrosurgery electrodes and disposables. Not what Bovie wants you to buy; what YOU want to buy, except you not “buying” it because it is FREE. Each coupon is good for $250 a quarter. If the doctor only needs to upgrade his lighting and doesn’t need a desiccator or generator, then buy the MI LED light of your choice and get $500 dollars in coupons ($125 each quarter).

This really is the BEST Sleep Well You Bought a Bovie EVER!!!

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

Don't miss this great deal! Click here!

Great Deals

Bovie Medical — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:41:00 GMT

I have had a beard for over thirty years. It was black once, and now it is grey. But the part of shaving that has always been uncomfortable is shaving the neck. So when I saw, in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, an article “The Grooming Kit” about Jeff Raider’s online shaving company Harrys.com, it caught my eye. Apparently, Raider upset the high-quality eyewear industry and is now setting out to do it in shaving. Any guy knows that the razors he buys have a very high profit margin in them for Gillette or whomever. Harry’s seems to combine German manufacturing at a much lower price than the big guys, plus no tax and free shipping and handling. I ordered my razor and some blades Sunday but the starter kits were sold out, as were most of the handles. Writing about an improved shave is like telling a golfer he is going to save a few strokes on his score. In both cases, they are going to buy it! It seems like a great deal.

My other great deal over the weekend came from Wine Enthusiast, which had a buy 6 stems and get two free on their Fusion “unbreakable” wine glasses. The best wine glass according to most people is made by Riedel. The problem with them is that they break when you try to gently wash and dry them. The Fusion Classic I have had for some time, come with a ten year replacement guarantee. I can’t swear to that, but I will say they are a MUCH more durable glass than the Riedel version, and I can’t tell them apart when in my hand. The Fusion wine glasses are not only more durable they are much less expensive. Combine that with the buy six and get two free, and I restocked my shelves at a very attractive price.

In other Great Deal News, Bovie launches the 2013 version of its Sleep Well You Bought a Bovie Promotion on April 1st. This very well may be the best deal for the doctors yet! We have added our LED lighting line to this year’s program. So here is the deal…buy a 940, 950 or 1250 and get a five year warranty. Add the purchase of one of the LED lights to the order and you just doubled your five year warranty to TEN YEARS plus the doctor gets coupons for a $1000 in free electrodes. They may sleep so well they are likely to be late for work.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

Electrosurgery in Your Veterinary Practice

Bovie Medical — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:34:00 GMT

Electrosurgery is rapidly gaining popularity amongst physicians – and surgeons who recognize it as a surgical approach that results in reduced surgical complications and more comfortable healing. And these benefits don't just apply to humans; veterinarians are also recognizing that Electrosurgery can provide animals with a much improved surgical experience over those accomplished with a scalpel alone.

The image of the dog in a cone, chasing its tail in an effort to lick or chew away the frustrating itch of a healing surgical wound is an amusing one, but pet owners know that an uncomfortable pet is anything but funny. In human procedures, Electrosurgery has been linked to faster post-operation healing. In veterinary medicine, pets may experience a swifter recovery with reduced incision chewing.

The benefits to the animal, as well as the revenue-generation possibilities for the veterinarian, make Electrosurgery a smart investment for any clinic. With that in mind, here are a few tips when introducing Electrosurgery into your office:

Understand your practice goals and determine the best suited electrosurgical generator to meet your needs.
Before using any generator be well-versed on the functions and features of the unit. Also be sure to read all safety and cautions.
Receive the training and education necessary to use your recently purchased equipment to meet those goals.

While Electrosurgery is not a new technique, its more recent application in the world of veterinary medicine may be unfamiliar.

Here’s a free guide to help get you started:

As you begin exploring your electrosurgical options, we offer these as points to consider prior to making any purchase:

What types of animals will be treated?
Which procedures will be performed using Electrosurgery?
Do you need extra training to use a device like the Aaron 950-V or 1250-V to achieve optimal benefits?

We recommend that you receive device-specific training by an authorized manufacturer representative before you purchase a product, and develop a business plan so you can maximize your revenue once your new electrosurgical generator is installed. This preparation and training will ensure you reap the maximum benefits from your electrosurgical experience.

Image: Flickr

Electrosurgery for Skin Procedures

Bovie Medical — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:28:00 GMT

Electrosurgery is not a new technology, but its continual advancements and increasingly recognized benefits have led to electrosurgical devices being utilized more heavily now than ever before. Bovie, and electrosurgery, have been in practice for almost a century, and today electrosurgery is an important element of any surgeon's practice. With the advent of the well-informed patient who has access to unprecedented amounts of medical information, electrosurgery has grown in demand, making it an important source of revenue. Physicians can translate this demand into a profit by utilizing Bovie's Aaron 950 High Frequency Desiccator with Cut to treat a wide array of skin conditions.

The Aaron 950 by Bovie is used, to cut, coagulate, desiccate, or fulgurate biological tissueWith widespread applications for basic plastic surgery treatments such as eyelid tightening (Blepharoplasty) as well as a treatment for skin treatments like mole and lesion removal, many physicians are profiting from the use of electrosurgery as a go-to procedure for dermatological procedures. Patient benefits include precise incisions with reduced bleeding and less discomfort at the incision site, resulting in increased patient satisfaction as the physicians reap financial rewards. Commonly used for removal of skin tags and removal of benign skin tumors, trends indicate many dermatologists now prefer electrosurgery over laser and cryosurgery.

Common Uses

Cutting. The use of a fine electrode tip, which advances through tissue by creating pockets of steam, allows the operator to produce a smooth cut with minimal pressure.

Coagulate. In some circumstances, physicians will apply the electrode tip either directly or indirectly to a blood vessel in order to produce clotting. This works most effectively on vessels less than two (2) to three (3) millimeters in diameter. Electrocoagulation is effective in both deep and superficial surgery.

Desication. This term was first used in 1914 by William Clark to describe the destruction of tissue. He became the first American to routinely use this process to remove malignant growths of the skin, head, neck, breast, and cervix. Bovie improved these early processes, but electrodessication is still utilized for to remove skin growths. In a modern electrodessication procedure, an active electrode is either applied or inserted into the affected skin area in order to destroy the tissue targeted for removal.

Fulguration. Fulguration is an electrosurgial procedure used to treat skin conditions that are more superficial than those treated with electrodessication, such as a superficial basal cell carcinoma. In fulgration, the electrode is held away from the skin, and sparking produces a shallower tissue destruction than in a dessication.

Why Electrosurgery?

Electrosurgery is an evolving field, and its applications are expanding rapidly. Electrosurgical incisions show a comparable infection rate to those of scalpel, and lower post-surgical pain scores even in deep tissue procedures.¹Faster incision times and reduced blood loss are also factors that have contributed to the gain in popularity.

Electrosurgery for Skin Conditions

Electrosurgery is gaining recognition for its value in the treatment of skin conditions. It has replaced the scalpel in many procedures, including the removal of benign and malignant skin lesions, and the increasing awareness of the approach's benefits suggest that this role will only increase. Future trends may see electrode fully replace the scalpel in even deep surgical procedures as both patients and physicians opt for it in the operating room.

Now is the time for you to provide your patients with the many benefits of electrosurgery, while increasing your revenue.

References

1. Kearns SR, Connonlly EM, McNally S, et al. Randomized clinical trial of diathermy versus scalpel incision in elective midline laparotomy. Br J Surg 2001;88:41–44.

Image: Google Images

Nice Guys Don’t Always Finish Last

Bovie Medical — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:23:00 GMT

In a world full of cynicism it's good to see that nice guys don't always finish last. Rob Saron is truly one of the nice guys in our industry. Rob has dedicated 35 years of his career to Bovie Medical. He's helped the company weather turbulent times and celebrates the good times. As an industry veteran Rob is known for his calm demeanor, one who listens well and only speaks when he truly believes he can bring value to the conversation.

Rob is known in the industry for his leadership and for mentoring those around him. In the industry Rob is also given of his time and expertise. Rob has always believed that he is blessed to be in the medical distribution industry and when one is blessed one should give back. Not only does he give back, he encourages others to do the same. Rob has served on the HMMC Board including serving as President of HMMC. He was recognized by the HMMC board with the Leonard Burke Award in 2011. He has also served on the HIDA Education Foundation Board and in 2008 he received the HIDA Award of Distinction.

On February 21^st, 2013 Bovie Medical’s own Rob Saron will be inducted into the Medical Distribution’s Hall of Fame. This award is given to individuals in the Medical Distribution Industry that have had a lasting impact not only their company but those who have also played a key role in bringing the industry to where it is today. Rob is joining an elite group on people who have served as the foundation of the Medical Distribution community. Please join me in congratulating Rob on this most prestigious award.

To see a list of other in this elite group go to http://www.repertoiremag.com/halloffame.shtml.

Janis Dezso

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Bovie Medical Corporation

Fiscal Cliff Put in a Format That We All Can Understand

Bovie Medical — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:51:00 GMT

A comedian explained what a trillion dollars was, and I used it in a blog. Sometimes these crazy numbers our government uses makes us just fog over. To understand a trillion, just pretend you started a business when Jesus Christ was born. You ran it so badly that you lost a million dollars a day. You continued to run the business right up to today losing that million dollars a day. Then your family continued to run the business with the same level of ineptitude for another 727.7 years. You now have amassed a deficit of One Trillion Dollars.

I saw a picture today of a bulletin board with the Fiscal Cliff information essentially as attached. I have retyped it, and have not researched it to see if it is 100% accurate. Unfortunately, it probably is close to accurate.

Here is the Fiscal Cliff put in a format that we all can understand:

Lesson #1

US Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000

FED Budget: $3,820,000,000,000

New Debt: $1,650,000,000,000

National Debt: $14,271,000,000,000

Recent Budget Cuts: $38,500,000,000

Let’s now remove 8 zeros and pretend it’s a household budget:

Annual Family income: $21,700

Money the family spent: $38,200

New debt on the credit card: $16,500

Outstanding Balance on the credit card: $142,710

Total budget cuts so far: $38.50

Got it??...OK now,

Lesson #2

Here is another way to look at the debt ceiling:

Let’s say, You come home from work and find there has been a sewer backup in your neighborhood…and your home has sewage up to your ceilings. What do you think you should do? Raise the ceiling, or remove the mess?

Image: Google Images

Thoughts on the WSJ's "Looking Past the Fiscal Cliff to Fixing Taxes"

Bovie Medical — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:36:00 GMT

A 11/13/12 WSJ article titled, "Looking Past the Fiscal Cliff to Fixing Taxes," pointed out that the last time the US tax code was seriously adjusted goes back to 1986. This was before Al Gore's Internet had much commercial value, before the Euro, before most of us had cell phones, and before the first baby boomer was old enough to retire.

As the article points out, "...while establishing the top tax rate is an important issue, the paralysis over settling that seemingly modest question shows just how sterile the economic-policy debate has become in Washington. The broader question that really ought to be the subject of serious debate is how to take an outdated tax system—one essentially created in 1913 and last seriously updated in 1986—and revamp it for the 21st century."

In my opinion, there is much to be done with taxes, and making US business more competitive not less should be seriously approached and configured.

The article goes on to say, "...it is time to shatter the old economic-policy paradigm as well. The crying need at the moment isn't merely to avoid going off a fiscal cliff at the end of the year—when a package of spending cuts and tax increases is set to detonate unless the parties negotiate an alternative—but to get beyond that into a serious conversation about how the American government should be funded for the next generation."

Continue reading the full article here. Note: To read the full article, you'll need a WSJ login.

Is there an easy answer? No. Does our government need to step up, and design a plan that won't bankrupt the next generation? Of course. As we're mere days away from the fiscal cliff deadline, our country is in a state of "wait and see." I think we're all in agreement: something needs to happen.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Share them, in the comments below.

J. Robert Saron
President
Bovie Medical Corporation

Image: Google Images

J-PLASMA™ vs. Laser

Bovie Medical — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:22:00 GMT

J-PLASMA™ and Laser have many similarities, but also some important differences.

Application of Energy

Both J-PLASMA™ and Laser involve the application of energy to an operative site. In the case of J-PLASMA™, the energy is transferred by a stream of ionized helium gas while in Laser, the energy is transferred in a beam of light.

Each can be adapted over a wide range of settings for multiple effects from relatively mild, as might be used in skin resurfacing, to intense and ablative, which could possibly be used for removing diseased tissue.

J-PLASMA’s additional benefit is having two independent, controllable variables that define the plasma stream’s range of effects. A clinician can control the amount of electrical energy placed into the stream, providing a heating effect (similar to the light intensity in a laser), and can also control the gas flow rate, which provides a cooling effect. This flow of gas can also help remove debris and push aside fluids, such as blood, exposing the underlying tissue for treatment.

Download our helpful eBook to learn more about the differences in:

Colors of light
Expenses
Safety
And more!

An Unusable Golf Tip

Bovie Medical — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:24:00 GMT

I had the distinct pleasure of playing a round of golf with my buddies from MDSI... Brian Taylor, John Pritchard and Scott Adams recently at TPC Sugarloaf outside Atlanta? Now I haven't been playing much over the last couple of years, quit my golf club because I got tired of the monthly bills reminding me that once again another month went by and I didn't play. My golf this year was 9 holes in Dallas at a HIDA event in frigid weather. My cart mate was Dan Austin who works for McKesson from the Wisconsin area and he wanted to call it a day as we made the turn. Tampa is the farthest north I have ever lived and I promise you I was more than pleased to head in. I played two rounds of business golf in Wisconsin at the National Accounts Council meeting and seven rounds in Scotland on a boys vacation trip. That was it until my MDSI golf. They had purchased the services of Stewart Cink, the professional golfer at a charity event, as in nearly thirty million in career earnings, and that doesn't include endorsements. Stewart was a gentleman and seemed perfectly happy to be out playing a round with the boys.

The funniest moment of the round came when we reached the 8th tee. A beautiful azalea lined hole, and Mr. Pritchard pulled out his camera and said this looks like an excellent spot for photos. John then handed the camera to Stewart and said, "would you mind taking some pictures of us"? John laughed, took the camera back and snapped some mementos.

The useless tip that Stewart passed on was that the pro golfers use the blimp to figure out what direction the wind is blowing. Apparently it is always pointed into the wind. Unfortunately, or I guess fortunately, the blimp is never around while I am playing golf.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

Image: Google Images

Pressure Rises on Fiscal Crisis

Bovie Medical — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:49:00 GMT

Alright all of you republicans and democrats elected to serve us, it is time for you ladies and gentlemen to work together for as reasonable a solution as possible. Time is wasting and before you know it we will all fall off the fiscal cliff together. No more drawing lines in the sand or forcing each other into a corner. Time is running out, so get to work please.

The following WSJ article explains what is at stake...

"The White House and Republican lawmakers faced pressure to reach a solution to the looming budget crisis after a nonpartisan agency detailed Thursday how inaction would push the U.S. economy back into recession next year, and skittish investors continued to drive stocks lower.

Economists from the Congressional Budget Office detailed new warnings of an economy speeding toward a so-called fiscal cliff created by a combination of government spending cuts and tax increases set to take effect Jan. 1.

White House officials are considering proposals with the twin aims of avoiding the fiscal cliff and sparking negotiations on a broader deficit-reduction deal. Any plan is expected to echo President Barack Obama's campaign call for higher taxes on wealthy Americans, in addition to spending cuts.

Voters "clearly chose the president's view of making sure the wealthy Americans are asked to do a little bit more in the context of reducing our deficit in a balanced way," top White House adviser David Plouffe said Thursday. Mr. Obama planned Friday to give his first post-election statement on the issue."

Continue reading the full article here.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

Image: freedigitalphotos.net

The Man Behind the Curtain at 95 Share Marketing

Bovie Medical — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:11:00 GMT

I have spoken many times about the genius of 95 Share Marketing, and their class, Seeing is Believing. The man behind the curtain, so to speak, is Scott Fanning. I didn’t meet Scott when we were working the same circuit. I always ran into his boss, Don Kitzmiller. It was his job to run interference for Scott and let his creative genius flow. I saw Don at every meeting. The first time I met his wife, Linda, he introduced me as the guy he sees more than her. Early in the development of our company, and its marketing campaign, Don said he liked what we were doing. That was high praise from the senior VP of Midmark, at the time.

I met Scott for the first time at his class, nearly fourteen years ago. Of the unplanned things I learned, one was that snow can actually go sideways for 24 hours, in Chicago. A Floridian doesn’t really grasp the whole blizzard thing. Of the planned portion, I learned about Owning the Relationship, Get the Best Story, Pound the Beaches, Imperial Guard, and more. To learn what that all means, you will need to go take the class. I know when I walked out of the class, I felt like I was related to Scott. What I was doing was correct, I just wasn’t doing it on a big enough scale. So because of what I learned and then applied, we got noticed.

I had the great pleasure of recently attending Scott’s daughter’s wedding in Naples, Florida. The location was beautiful, the bride, naturally, was beautiful, and I got to spend a great deal of quality time with Scott and his brother Craig. To say that Scott gets my creative juices flowing would be an understatement. Two years ago, Scott and Don were inducted into the MDSI Hall of Fame, this coming year, I am being inducted into this very exclusive club. In reality, Scott is being re-inducted, because the fact that I am getting this award is as much about Scott as it is about me.

The above photo is of Scott and yours truly enjoying, a toast to continued success.

Cheers,

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

What Sales Reps Need to Know About the 2.3% Tax

Bovie Medical — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:51:00 GMT

The 2.3% tax imposed on medical devices was part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA), signed by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2010. In section 1405, HCERA applies an excise tax of 2.3% on the first sale of certain medical devices. The 2.3% tax is a tax on revenues, not a tax on profits and should not be confused as such. Consequently, for a company with a 2% profit margin this tax would be greater than its profits.

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax applied on the sale of a product within a country, making it a tax on revenue instead of profit. Sometimes known as an "inland" tax, it is effectively a tax on local goods as opposed to taxes on imported goods. It is common for any good to which an excise tax is applied to increase its price and effectively pass the tax on to the customer. An excise tax may be imposed in addition to taxes such as sales tax. The exact amount that the tax will cost each company differs.

What the 2.3% tax covers

The 2.3% tax imposed by HCERA is applied to any taxable medical device as defined in Section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that is intended for human use. Certain devices are exempt from this tax, including hearing aids, contact lenses, glasses, and other medical devices which are typically sold to the public for individual use.

When the 2.3% tax begins

Unless it gets blocked the tax imposed by HCERA will take effect after December 31, 2012. Therefore, any sales prior to this are not covered by the tax.

Industry Reaction to the HCERA tax

The industry reaction has been primarily negative. Industry studies have noted that 40,000+ jobs are at risk of being lost due to the tax, primarily within the United States. Some companies have already announced plans to cut workers and slash budgets. The Advanced Medical Technology Association also noted that companies developing new technologies and machines are typically not profitable for a number of years, so any additional taxes on their total revenues may make it difficult or impossible to continue operating. This is expected to reduce American innovation and competitiveness. Accordingly, the Advanced Medical Technology Association favors repealing or modifying the 2.3% HCERA tax. Other organizations typically have similar views.

At the far end of the negative spectrum, some have suggested that the 2.3% tax will result in greater patient mortality because the technologies and products to treat certain problems cannot be afforded.

Dealing with the 2.3% tax when selling your product

So what does this mean to you as a sales representative? It may be an opportunity to push your customers for additional sales before the end of the year to avoid any price increase caused by the 2.3% medical device tax. But, first of all, talk to your team leader, manager, or whoever is in charge of deciding your company's image and see if there is any particular stance that your company would like to be present. They may want you to avoid bringing it up altogether, but ask what you should say if the customer brings it up.

Being ready to answer the customer's questions, including details such as those above, can help you come across as well-versed in the subject and improve your marketing technique. If your company has any particular special going on (for example, a reduced price for buying in bulk where your company will cover part or all of the tax instead of passing it on), use that to its fullest at appropriate times. At all times, you should follow your company's decision on what stance to take and how to deal with this topic, regardless of who brings it up.

Image: freedigitalphotos.net

Headlines in Europe Might Make You Feel a Little Better About the USA

Bovie Medical — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:19:00 GMT

If you scanned the headlines of the International Herald Tribune's Business Section on Friday, November 16, 2012 like I did while attending Medica. It just might make you feel a little better about the USA. Some of the headlines that day were:

Euro Zone Economy Sinks into Recession
Spain Gives Most Vulnerable 2-year Reprieve from Evictions
U.K. Efforts to Aid Housing Falter
Foreclosure Rates Begin to Slow in U.S. (I don't know if they did that to rub it in or what)
BP Agrees to Pay $4.5 Billion Penalty for Spill

All of these headlines are taken exactly from the paper, so if you want to Google any of them you should be able to. None the less, it kind of makes you feel better about the good old USA...doesn't it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, feel free to comment below, or contact us.

J. Robert Saron
President
Bovie Medical Corporation

Image: Google Images

MEDICA... It Still Amazes Me, Even After Twenty Years

Bovie Medical — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:24:00 GMT

MEDICA...It still amazes me, even after twenty years!

The first time you see MEDICA in Dusseldorf Germany, one is a little taken aback. In the USA we have larger exhibit halls in pure square footage for a single building, but we certainly don't have 17 exhibit halls attached on one property like they do.

The first morning, as you enter the show from the train, you see thousands of people streaming in. For the most part they are the people working the booth. The show draws approximately 135,000 people each November. I expected to see a drop-off this year with all the issues in the world. But if there were less people, it's certainly not obvious.

The consensus from our group was that this was Bovie Medical's best Medica. Peter Smith, our EU representative thought so, as did our VP Sales and Marketing Janis Dezso. Possibly it was the fact that Tom Craig our VP International had many pre-set meeting, but people came from everywhere. The last one I witnessed was from Peru...not exactly from the neighborhood.

The show has grown over the years. But whether it is the first time i saw it, or the last time. It is just hard to believe that there can be a medical show that is more than twice the size of the largest US show. Tom has a great deal to follow up on!

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

Turkey Can Make the Grade for Good

Bovie Medical — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:52:00 GMT

For the first time in nearly two decades Turkey secured its first investment-grade credit rating. While you won't mistake Germany for Turkey, none the less, with all the challenges facing the European Union, I think it is quite interesting that Turkey and Bulgaria are doing pretty darn good. Is there a lesson here?

Following is an article from the Wall Street Journal, Turkey Can Make the Grade for Good

"November isn't usually a great month for turkeys. But for the country Turkey, it couldn't have started any better: ratings firm Fitch has upgraded its sovereign debt to investment grade for the first time. The move caused yields on Turkey's two-year bonds to fall by 0.25 percentage point and Turkey's stock market to rise 1.8% on Monday. Still, the excitement may not prove lasting—if only because investors are already ahead of ratings firms in seeing Turkey as a safer bet than some of its more vaunted European peers.

Fitch's move looks justified based on Turkey's fiscal position. Its level of debt to GDP should fall to 37% by the end of 2012, Fitch estimates—far lower than the 87% average for euro-zone countries last year. The average maturity of its debt has increased to 4.5 years from 3.5 years in 2009. Since the Turkish lira's 40% devaluation in 2001, Turkey's economy has proved reasonably stable, though it did contract 4.8% in 2009. The Fitch upgrade should help create a virtuous loop of greater investor confidence: Credit default swaps on its five-year bonds have been trading at a far lower premium than countries like Italy and Spain for some time.

Still, Turkey isn't without vulnerabilities, including inflation running at 7.8%. Its current-account deficit remains high, though it is expected to narrow to 7.3% of GDP in 2012 from 10% in 2011. Its banking system, meanwhile, is reliant on external funding due to a low savings rate. Banks' short-term external debt has doubled to around $70 billion, or 9% of GDP, in the past two years, according to Capital Economics. Sudden capital flight due to, say, a worsening euro-zone crisis would leave Turkey's banks short of money to lend, hitting growth hard."

Continue reading the full article here.

J. Robert Saron
President
Bovie Medical Corporation

Image: Google Images

CEOs Call for Deficit Action

Bovie Medical — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:29:00 GMT

I've still got a mathematical problem with two guys spending $6,000,000,000.00 to get a job that pays $400,000. Kind of like our country, you can't spend more than you take in for an extended period of time. It is bad business, it doesn't work! It reminds me of a scene from the movie with Kevin Kline, where he played in the movie "Dave" a lookalike president Bill Mitchell, and had his accountant come to the White House and look at the books. The accountant said something to the effect that you've got a real problem here. Well, we've got a real problem here and something has to be done. Here is an article from a group of CEO's that have a suggested plan of attack...enjoy!

"Chief executives of more than 80 big-name U.S. corporations, from AetnaInc. to Weyerhaeuser Co. are banding together to pressure Congress to reduce the federal deficit with tax-revenue increases as well as spending cuts.

The CEOs, in a statement to be released on Thursday, say any fiscal plan "that can succeed both financially and politically" has to limit the growth of health-care spending, make Social Security solvent and "include comprehensive and pro-growth tax reform, which broadens the base, lowers rates, raises revenues and reduces the deficit."

The declaration differs sharply from those of several other business groups, which urge Washington to deal with the deficit and avoid across-the-board spending cuts and tax increases set for year-end—but avoid any stance on the politically charged issue of raising taxes.

The CEOs who signed the manifesto deem tax increases inevitable no matter which party succeeds at the polls in November. "There is no possible way; you can do the arithmetic a million different ways" to avoid raising taxes, said Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna. "You can't tax your way to fix this problem, and you can't cut entitlements enough to fix this problem."

Continue reading the full WSJ article here.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

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Companies Test Back-Up Plans and Learn Some Lessons

Bovie Medical — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:50:00 GMT

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Hurricane Sandy made a mess of the Northeast, and disasters in other places are a good reminder that we should all investigate our backup plans.

Since we moved into our new facility in Clearwater we haven't had a serious hurricane to deal with. But, we did have a freak storm on March 31, 2011 that knocked down a bunch of power lines near our location. Instantly, on the busiest day of the quarter typically...if it isn't nailed down, ship it...our power went out. Luckily for us, when we were planning our new plant we installed a backup generator and didn't miss a beat. In a matter of minutes we were back at nearly full speed. OK, the executive offices didn't have air-conditioning, but shipping, customer service and production were back to work.

The following article just might be a good read to see if you have a bullet-proof back-up plan...

"Natural disasters of the past few years taught companies the importance of good backup systems—but Hurricane Sandy showed many that there is still a lot to learn.

The good news is that many businesses spared themselves a great deal of economic loss by keeping duplicates of their data, email systems and other applications far from their primary data centers. Employees were able to access those systems from their homes or elsewhere via software and mobile devices.

Still, many companies have struggled to cope with the effects of the storm. Some found that their critical systems weren't in fact backed up, or that their duplicate systems weren't located far enough apart to provide the desired diversity. Others learned their plans were hampered by the inability of their employees to access those systems via the Internet, or to travel to alternate locations that needed tending."

Continue reading the full WSJ article here.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

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Image: www.huffingtonpost.com

How CEOs Improvised in the Wake of Sandy

Bovie Medical — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:06:00 GMT

Hurricane Sandy made a mess of the Northeast recently. Our Chairman and CEO Andrew Makrides lost power for a few days at his home, and our office in Melville remains closed, not because of problems on Walt Whitman Road, but because of extreme gas shortages. One of our board members has taken up residence at the Marriott in Uniondale. The good news is that with smart phones, iPads and the like, as long as you can get a charge you are still in business. The vast majority of our employees are at our facility in Florida and we happily remain, business as usual at Bovie.

The attached article tells how other CEO's dealt with the results of Hurricane Sandy...

"When the approach of Hurricane Sandy left Lands' End Chief Executive Edgar Huber stranded on a business trip, he retreated to an impromptu backup headquarters—in his mother-in-law's apartment complex.

The CEO of the Sears Holdings Corp. unit was on his way to conferences in New York when cancellations prompted him to hop an Amtrak train to the Washington, D.C., area and take up residence in a communal entertainment room in the North Bethesda, Md., complex.

He used Wi-Fi to keep up with lieutenants about store closings and other storm-related issues until an outage left him with only his BlackBerry.

Forget the board room. This week, CEOs across the Northeast are managing their companies from the living room. The huge disruptions of transportation and power have displaced senior executives as well as the rank and file, and few have the benefit of the secret backup bunkers set up for government officials.

As a result, CEOs are juggling kids and dwindling battery life as they work to get their firms running again after the storm."

Continue reading the full article here.

J. Robert Saron,

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

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Image: www.washingtonpost.com

J-Plasma™ vs. Electrosurgery

Bovie Medical — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:10:00 GMT

For over 85 years the medical profession has turned to electrosurgery to assist with difficult surgical procedures. In its first successful run (Oct. 1, 1926), Dr. Bovie, PhD, and Dr. Cushing, MD, used an electrosurgical generator to assist in the removal of a tumor. Dr. Cushing noted: "...with Dr. Bovie's help I proceeded to take off most satisfactorily the remaining portion of the tumor with practically none of the bleeding which was occasioned in the preceding operation."

Since 1926, the applications and advances of electrosurgery have made the procedure commonplace in hospitals and private practices alike. However, as medical technology has continued to evolve, advances in electrosurgery have paved the way for a new type of procedure: J-Plasma™.

How They Work

Electrosurgery: Electrosurgery has two basic functions: cut tissue and stop bleeding. In the cut mode the device is actually blowing apart cells to create an incision not dissimilar from the effect of a scalpel. When the unit is in coagulation or bi-polar mode it is dehydrating the cells to stop the bleeding. There can be several cut and coagulation modes, but all are a variation along a similar theme. Many times the cutting and coagulation process will leave sections of eschar, or burnt tissue behind. This damaged tissue is one of the unfortunate side effects of electrosurgery.

J-Plasma™: J-Plasma™ on the other hand functions differently. Because electrosurgery involves putting an electrical current directly into the patient's body, an electrode (or "return pad") is required to give the electrical current a place to leave the body, during any monopolar procedure. The entire procedure is performed by a scalpel-like pencil. The energy delivered in the form of super-heated plasma is concentrated to the tip of the stylus, allowing the physician a greater amount of control over the area affected. Because the energy current is not directed into the body, but into the pencil, there is no need for the return pad.

Download our eBook now, to better understand the difference between J-Plasma™ vs. Electrosurgery.

In this eBook you will:

Understand the differences between electrosurgery and J-Plasma
Develop a better understanding of what J-Plasma is and how it works
And more

Majority of Voters See America on Wrong Track

Bovie Medical — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:55:00 GMT

While one of my options is to move to Ireland, and I've already got a roommate. I probably won't do that. The hard reality is, the election didn't go the way I had hoped. That being said, and as disappointed as i am...and I am REALLY DISAPPOINTED. We have a lawyer AGAIN...we added a billion pages (I am not even sure that is an exaggeration) of paperwork in the last four years, have a president that is pro union, spends money like he can print it, AND thinks taxing 2.3% from the TOP line is a good idea. This is a prime example of a politician that has NEVER run a business.

He is our president and this is America, and I will support him, but Mr. President, do us all a favor and surround yourself with business leaders NOT politicians.

You might find the following article, Majority of Voters See America on Wrong Track, by Tom Curry informative:

"As voters left polling places Tuesday, a majority told exit poll interviewers they felt the country was “seriously off on the wrong track.” But the mood of the electorate was markedly more optimistic than it was four years ago, when a record three out of four voters said the country was on the wrong track.

In preliminary results from early voters in the national NBC News exit poll, 52 percent said America was on the wrong track while 46 percent said the nation was "generally going in the right direction."

Preliminary results from exit polls also showed that most voters, 53 percent, thought the federal government is doing too much, a sharp contrast with four years ago, when the country was in the midst of a financial and economic crisis. At that time only 43 percent of voters said the government was doing too much and a majority, 51 percent, thought the government ought to do more to try to solve the nation’s problems.

Not surprisingly three out of five voters Tuesday said the economy was the most important issue facing the country, but poll respondents were divided as to what specific economic challenge loomed largest.

When asked, “Which one of these four is the biggest economic problem facing people like you?” 39 percent chose unemployment, nearly that many (36 percent) said rising prices, while 14 percent said taxes were the biggest problem and 7 percent said housing."

To read the full article, click here.

J. Robert Saron

President

Bovie Medical Corporation

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