Covidien opens advanced medical technology and research center in Brazil

Facility offers educational resources and research capabilities; The project was assisted by Investe São Paulo

On August 20, Covidien officially opened its Covidien Center of Innovation Brazil (CCI Brazil), further expanding its educational and research capabilities in a key emerging market for the company. Approximately US$ 25 million was invested in the project, which relied on the assistance provided by Investe São Paulo. The project manager Franklin Ribeiro and the director of Investments Ermínio Lucci attended the opening ceremony.

The CCI will offer free training to Brazilian and Latin American clinicians on the latest medical technology, enabling them to perform, more safely and efficiently, a variety of procedures that can save and improve patients’ lives. The training is expected to be attended by 2000 professionals each year.

“At Covidien we’re always seeking to help advance physician capabilities and increase access to patient care,” said Robert J. White, president, Emerging Markets, Covidien. “Brazil is an important market for our global strategy, and this investment reflects our commitment to partnering with Brazilian health care professionals.”

According to the President of Investe São Paulo, Luciano Almeida, it is important that Covidien relies on the support of Investe SP to continue investing in the State of São Paulo. “The life sciences sector is strategic for the agency as it creates high quality jobs and adds value to the economy. This type of project is given priority by our team,” he said.

Located in São Paulo, near the Ponte Estaiada, the CCI is the first of its kind in Latin America. The facility offers courses that include mechanical ventilation, monitoring of vital signs, surgical procedures and minimally invasive surgeries, among other subjects.

“By creating the CCI, Covidien is helping to fill the gap that currently exists in the education of health care professionals in new and less invasive surgical techniques in Brazil, which can help patients and the region by speeding recovery times and reducing health care costs,” said Ermano Moraes, vice president and general manager, Brazil, Covidien. “In addition to education, our R&D engineers will observe, listen and work closely with health care professionals to uncover opportunities for locally tailored solutions that address unmet needs in Brazil and Latin America.”

The CCI in São Paulo covers approximately 3,000 square meters and has the capacity to offer 120 courses and educate 2,000 professionals per year. Features include:
• a surgical lab fully equipped for minimally invasive surgeries using electronic and computer simulators as well as silicone models;
• a clinical scenario simulation lab equipped with a human patient simulator (computerized mannequin that bleeds and has cardiac arrests and changes in blood pressure, among other critical situations found in an intensive care unit)
• a laboratory for educating medical and hospital procedures, with silicone models and equipment for tests and simulations;
• the first and only Anatomage touchscreen table in São Paulo. Anatomage is a revolutionary technology that allows the study of the human body’s anatomy in a virtual patient, combining CT imaging with the traditional operating room experience and delivering unparalleled anatomical images;
• a research and development lab to enable health care professionals to directly collaborate with R&D staff;
• an auditorium that accommodates 160 people and features a multimedia system for transmitting real-time audio and video of health care procedures and training sessions between the CCI and partner institutions that include the country’s most renowned hospitals and universities.

“The educational opportunities offered at the CCI will benefit patients in a number of ways, including smaller incisions, faster recovery and quicker return to activities of daily living,” said Dr. Michael Tarnoff, Global Chief Medical Officer, Covidien. “Increasing the number of clinicians who are capable of performing minimally invasive techniques will enable better care and better outcomes for patients.”

CCI Brazil will serve as a hub for training health care professionals from all over Latin America. Worldwide, Covidien has CCIs in Shanghai (China), Seoul (South Korea), Mumbai (India) and Istanbul (Turkey).

To receive information, health care institutions should contact Covidien in Brazil (via website www.covidien.com.br), which organizes the educational programs according to the needs of the health care professionals and the institution involved.

About Covidien
Covidien is a global health care leader that understands the challenges faced by providers and their patients and works to address them with innovative medical technology solutions and patient care products. Inspired by patients and caregivers, Covidien’s team of dedicated professionals is privileged to help save and improve lives around the world. With more than 38,000 employees, Covidien operates in more than150-plus countries and reported revenues of US$10.2 billion in 2013.

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