PLANTATION, FL–(Marketwire – November 23, 2010) – Transax International Limited (Transax) (PINKSHEETS: TNSX), a network solutions company for healthcare providers and health insurance companies, today reported financial results for the first nine months of 2010 and third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, Transax generated net revenues of $1,211,511 compared to $1,155,060 in net revenues during third quarter of 2009, a 4.9% increase. The increase in revenues is principally due to the continued roll out of new contracts signed during the previous year and organic growth from existing clients. Transaction volume increased to 2.61 million for the third quarter of 2010 with some 66% of transactions being performed by the company’s proprietary Web based solution compared with 50% during the same period in 2009.

Loss from operations in the third quarter of 2010 was $332,240 compared with a $448,694 loss during the same period in 2009 a decrease of 26%. The Company recorded a loss prior to income taxes, for the third quarter of 2010 of $460,823 compared with Income prior to income taxes of $1,781,821 in the third quarter of 2009. The increase in loss was principally due to a reversal from the gain in the fair value of the recording of derivative liabilities.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 revenues increased by 2.5% to $3,280,772 from $3,201,083 during the same period in 2009. The increase in revenue is predominantly due to increase in roll out of the additional solutions. The Company recorded a loss from operations of $1,271,420 for the nine months ending September 30, 2010 compared to a $1,009,865 loss from operations during the same period in 2009. The increase in loss is primarily attributed to increases in general and administrative costs and compensation expenses. Net Loss for the first nine months of 2010 was $1,828,306 compared to Net Loss of $1,939,994 during the same period in 2009.

At the end of the third quarter 2010 the Company had 24,833 solutions operational in Brazil including over 3,100 Point of Sales (POS) Solutions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 the company installed approximately 7800 Web solutions and disconnected over 100 Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Solutions allowing for greater operational flexibility and increased functionality for the client. The Company undertook 7.1 million real-time transactions during the nine months ending September 30, 2010 compared to 6.3 million transactions during the same period in 2009. The Company has twelve contracts in place in Brazil eleven of which were generating revenues and one under a pilot test environment. At the end of the third quarter 2010 approximately 68% of the Company’s transactions were being undertaken by the Company’s Web solution compared to 52% at the start of 2010.

In announcing the results Stephen Walters, President & CEO, stated, “Since January 2010 revenues have increased approximately 19% in line with the transaction volume which has increased from 2.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 up to 2.6 million transactions for the third quarter 2010. The company continues to seek operating efficiencies to reduce costs and operational losses while undertaking continued development of its product in the Brazil market place.” 

About Transax International Limited

Transax International is an emerging network solutions provider for the healthcare sector. Utilizing its proprietary MedLink™ technology, Transax provides a service similar to credit card processing for the health insurance and providers industries. A transaction consists of: approving eligibility, authorization, auto-adjudication of the health claim and generating the claim payable files — provided instantaneously in “real time” — regardless of method of claim generation.

Transax’s solutions have been proven to significantly decrease health insurance claim expenditures and healthcare provider costs. Based in Plantation, Fl, Transax maintains a major operations office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with approximately 40 staff and a Sales Office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Company has contracts in place with major health insurers in Brazil and currently undertakes approximately 850,000 transactions per month.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT: “THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY INCLUDE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, WITH RESPECT TO ACHIEVING CORPORATE OBJECTIVES, DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL PROJECT INTERESTS, THE COMPANY’S ANALYSIS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS PROJECT INTERESTS AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS. THESE STATEMENTS ARE MADE UNDER THE ‘SAFE HARBOR’ PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN.”

SANTA MONICA, CA–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – The first annual Grayson’s Gift Foundation Event, hosted on November 11, 2010, was a huge success, raising more than $150,000. The charity event took place in the ballroom at Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica.

Grayson’s Gift Foundation is a non-profit committed to raising money for the brain cancer research department at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Money was raised through ticket sales, an extravagant silent auction, and generous donations made by attendees.

The Grayson’s Gift Foundation was founded in 2010 by Leslie and Cliff Katab, whose son Grayson died from a brain tumor just over two years ago. Cliff Ketab said, “We went through many surgeries and chemo and countless days in hospitals, as well as traveling to Europe for experimental treatments. Although we did everything humanly possible, we lost our beloved baby boy two years ago.

“Pediatric brain cancer is the second leading cause of children’s death only behind social causes (car accidents, etc). Being immersed in this world taught us many life lessons. One thing we know is that we must help find a cure for these children. We created Grayson’s Gift Foundation just for this reason. Our charity donates its contributions directly to support research and training for pediatric brain cancer.”

A festive evening, it was a fusion of determined oncologists, compassionate celebrities, friends and family. Thrown into the mix were individual demonstrations of state-of-the-art brain-computer controlled games using NeuroSky technology. The day before the event, NeuroSky donated several games to the pediatric cancer ward at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. At the event, David Westendorf, Vice President of NeuroSky, talked about how Children’s Hospital LA saved his niece’s life, and then he gave away NeuroSky-powered Mindflex games from Mattel as table prizes.

Celebrity guests included: actor Jonathon Goldsmith, recognized as “The Most Interesting Man in the World” in recent Dos Equis commercials; Corey Feldmen of “The Goonies”; Taylor Armstrong of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”; Vienna Girardi who starred in ABC’s “The Bachelor”;” Jennifer Elise Cox, known for her appearance in The Brady Bunch Movie; actress Delphine Chaneac; and actor James Preston of “The Gates.”

Photos: http://www.ballantinesbiz.com/Green_Oct_2010/CHLA/CHLA_GraysonsGift_112210.html

Click here to see all recent news from this company

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – Assisted Living Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: ALC) stated today that it is disappointed with recent actions taken by the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services and disputes allegations in an order issued by the Department on Friday, November 19, 2010. ALC will pursue appropriate legal remedies for dismissal of the order and related penalties.

“While at certain of our New Jersey buildings we have removed the assisted living licenses and changed our operations over to independent living communities, we are still in the process of registering those buildings with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs as either multiple dwellings or boarding homes,” stated Laurie Bebo, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This registration process can be lengthy. In the interim, we have demonstrated that seniors living in these retirement communities either receive no health care services or receive services from a variety of home health or personal companion service companies just like many senior living communities in New Jersey. We are not marketing these buildings as assisted living facilities and the staff employed by these communities provides no health care services. We believe the communities will become registered as multiple dwellings or boarding homes under New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs.

“We are disappointed with the recent actions by the Department of Health and Human Services as they are fully aware of our ongoing participation in the administrative registration process with the Department of Community Affairs. We hope the bureaucratic process will move along more quickly and look forward to an open dialogue with the Department of Community Affairs to accomplish the registrations. We continue to meet the expectations of the tenants who reside with us and believe last Friday’s action by the Department of Health unnecessarily creates disruption for the peace of mind and well being of our tenants and their families.” 

About Us

Assisted Living Concepts, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate 211 senior living residences comprising 9,305 residents in 20 states. ALC’s senior living residences typically consist of 40 to 60 units and offer residents a supportive, home-like setting and assistance with the activities of daily living. ALC employs approximately 4,100 people.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding anticipated financial performance, business strategy and management’s plans and objectives for future operations, including management’s expectations about improving occupancy and private pay mix, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally include words such as “expect,” “project,” “point toward,” “intend,” “will,” “indicate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “strategy” or “objective.” Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. In addition to the risks and uncertainties referred to in the release, other risks and uncertainties are contained in ALC’s filings with United States Securities and Exchange Commission and include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in the health care industry in general and the senior housing industry in particular because of governmental and economic influences; changes in general economic conditions, including changes in housing markets, unemployment rates and the availability of credit at reasonable rates; changes in regulations governing the industry and ALC’s compliance with such regulations; changes in government funding levels for health care services; resident care litigation, including exposure for punitive damage claims and increased insurance costs, and other claims asserted against ALC; ALC’s ability to maintain and increase census levels; ALC’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the availability and terms of capital to fund acquisitions and ALC’s capital expenditures; changes in competition; and demographic changes. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on ALC’s forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this report are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the party making such statements based upon current information. ALC assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – Educational guides on wound dressing packages can lead to increased patient safety and greater accuracy when applying the product, according to a just-released study in the Journal of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing (Journal of WOCN).  Published in the November/December issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of WOCN, the study included 173 clinicians and found that the nurses who used wound care dressings that had educational instructions attached to the outer package were 88 percent more likely to apply the products correctly than nurses who used the dressings in a traditional package.

“The results clearly show that just-in-time education in the form of educational instructions on a dressing package improves nurses’ confidence and accuracy when applying the dressing,” said Dea Kent, MSN, RN, NP-C, CWOCN, the author of the study and the manager of the Wound Ostomy Clinic at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville, Indiana. “The implication for manufacturers of wound dressings is that they should make it hard for the nurse to do the wrong thing by providing clear, easy-to-understand instructions that are accessible on the outside of the package so the nurse can review the process before treating the patient.”

The study used a wound dressing packaging system from Medline Industries, Inc. based on a concept of “just-in-time” education. Instructions for appropriate dressing use are attached to each package. The study was undertaken to assess the effects of this educational resource. The wound dressing used in the study was not familiar to the participants in order to more accurately assess the effect of the educational packaging and self-reported confidence with application.

The participants were randomly divided into two groups: a control group receiving the traditional wound education and an “intervention” group using Medline’s just-in-time educational packaging. None of the 62 nurses in the control group (using the traditional packaging) were able to apply the dressing correctly as compared to 68 of the 77 (88%) in the intervention group.

Similarly, 88% of the nurses in the intervention group reported that the educational packaging gave them confidence that they can correctly apply the dressing. Moreover, 71% in this group said they would change their nursing practice in relation to application of wound dressings based on the education on the package.

“The study findings provide evidence that manufacturers of wound dressings should apply just-in-time education techniques by placing an educational guide on all wound dressing packages in order to enhance the accuracy and safety of application and, ultimately, its efficacy in wound healing,” said Kent in the study’s conclusion.

Kent attributed the application failures by the nurses in the control group to a lack of knowledge about dressing application, since no information was available on the dressing package itself.

The study included nurses from a variety of backgrounds possessing all levels of education ranging from licensed practical nurse to Master of Science in nursing. Both novice and seasoned nurses were included. The study was conducted at eight facilities in central Indiana, including community hospitals, critical access hospitals, long-term care acute units, long-term care facilities and home health agencies.

About Medline Industries, Inc. 
Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.

SUNNYVALE, CA–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – Healthmed Services, Ltd. (PINKSHEETS: HEME) announced that it has entered into a software development agreement with Veritas Software Systems. Veritas will produce for Healthmed 10 exclusive healthcare software suite systems by December 2011. “Healthmed is committed to bridging the information technology gap that plagues doctor, patient, and practice related issues that keep professionals and patients from experiencing the highest level of care and efficiency,” stated CFO Dale Paisley. Healthmed will continue to be committed to expanding its inventory of products to meet every aspect of efficiency and care, in additional to maximizing internal corporate growth and profitability.

Please read more about the Company and its product developments on its website: www.healthmedltd.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CINCINNATI, OH–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – In the midst of flu season, millions of Americans are rushing to get vaccinated before becoming one of the approximately 200,000 flu victims the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates are hospitalized every year. They aren’t the only ones suffering: according to study findings presented in a 2006 CNN story, the flu and other infectious disease outbreaks cost the nation’s employers about $10 billion a year.

That’s why the University of Cincinnati’s Midwest Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (MI-CEID) exists. The center serves as a touchstone for advanced medical breakthroughs to provide protection and preparedness for biological events throughout the country — including bioterrorism, biological threats, pandemic outbreaks and even seasonal flu viruses.

“The best way to head off potential public health disasters is to have a targeted means to prevent, quickly diagnose, contain and treat infections. This can only be possible through diligent and comprehensive interdisciplinary research,” said Malak Kotb, Ph.D., chair of the department of molecular genetics, biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and senior career research scientist at the VA Medical Center.

The MI-CEID is a unique model for collaboration across diversified medical disciplines, including:

• UC Academic Health Center;
• Local hospitals including the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center;
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
• VA Medical Center;
• Regional health department;
• Public safety agencies;
• Community leaders;
• Professional associations.

“Solutions to disease treatment and prevention require innovation — and you can’t be innovative and be in silos. We achieve the best outcomes by utilizing teams of people who are skilled in their areas of knowledge,” said Kotb. “By doing this, we create something novel and effective. We need to be ahead of the curve, and at UC we have the capabilities and technology to be able to make these strides in healthcare.”

Kotb credits the cross-disciplinary nature of UC’s research facility as key to the center’s early and continued successes. Whereas similar research centers rely on collaborators that may be spread across the country, the MI-CEID brings researchers from each of the organizations above, plus the university’s College of Medicine, under one roof for optimal communication and exchange of ideas and expertise.

To combat potential health threats, the collaborative team uses a state-of-the-art approach to identify and study different types of infectious bacteria, viruses and toxins to improve their detection. The team is also conducting research to identify genetic markers that may predict disease severity in individual patients and inform the most beneficial treatment for each based on genotypes of their DNA. 

“Once we find which genes are engaged in the disease process, we can determine how they are connected through the biological networks that influence disease,” said Kotb. “This allows us to create a roadmap that can predict responses, increase protection, reduce the severity or prevent the illness or disease altogether. This helps save time, money and lives when outbreaks occur.”

Organizations have been quick to realize the potential of the MI-CEID: the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and other government agencies have tapped the center for research projects with national implications. In addition, Kotb cites the importance of private support via UC’s billion-dollar Proudly Cincinnati fundraising campaign. The center also relies on corporations that contribute to the research center’s ability to remain operational year-round and expand on its research capabilities.

But while this support can fund specific research initiatives, Kotb says that funding for truly cutting-edge research can sometimes be scarce. Financial support and partnerships are always being sought to further support research and discovery, build a stronger infrastructure, and attract high caliber scientists to effectively fight existing and emerging pathogens. These activities create jobs and boost the economy.

“Private industry is an essential ingredient to successful disease-mitigation and prevention strategies. Without private support to spur on ground-breaking research, essential studies –including those that can predict infection severity in different patients and/or can help suggest the best treatment strategies, and/or predict adverse reactions to certain drugs or vaccines can certainly save lives and reduce medical costs,” Kotb said.

There will always be another pandemic disease or public health scare, but with the UC’s MI-CEID program unique vision and collaborative model the treatments will be more timely and effective. For more information on this innovative program, visit www.uc.edu.

About the University of Cincinnati
 Ranked by the National Science Foundation among the top 20 public, urban research universities in the United States, the University of Cincinnati is the region’s largest employer, with a diverse student population of more than 39,000. UC’s faculty has distinguished themselves worldwide for their creative teaching and research, including members of the National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine and winners of Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prizes. The University’s 15 Colleges set the foundation for a university dedicated to undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, experience-based learning, and research. U.S. News has described UC as one of 15 “up and coming” universities and Forbes Magazine named UC one of the world’s most beautiful campuses.

About the University of Cincinnati Foundation
The University of Cincinnati Foundation is leading Proudly Cincinnati: Tower of Strength, Rock of Truth, the University’s most ambitious campaign in history, supporting the vision for UC to become the finest urban research university in the United States. Proudly Cincinnati’s goal is to raise $1 billion by 2013. To date, approximately $696 million has been raised for scholarships, innovative teaching and groundbreaking research. For more information about the Proudly Cincinnati campaign, visit www.uc.edu/foundation.

The University of Cincinnati Foundation
University Hall, Suite 100
51 Goodman Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45219
www.ProudlyCincinnati.org
www.Twitter.com/ProudlyCincy
www.Facebook.com/ProudlyCincinnati

id=”nav_links”>

CINCINNATI, OH–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – Healthcare information technology solutions and services provider Technology Medical Partners (TMP), today announced that it has been awarded a Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery grant from the Federal government. The $113,000 grant was awarded as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which was passed by Congress to provide an immediate $1 billion boost to U.S. biomedical research and the small businesses conducting the research. Only companies with less than 250 employees were eligible for the tax credits or grants. TMP’s Clinical Quality Manager (CQM) provides real-time quality of care information allowing real-time actions and improvements to patient outcomes for caregivers.

According to the National Institute of Health’s web site, the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery tax credit or grants are tax benefits targeted to therapeutic discovery projects that show a reasonable potential to:

• Result in new therapies to treat areas of unmet medical need or prevent, detect or treat chronic or acute diseases and conditions
• Reduce the long-term growth of health care costs in the United States
• Significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within 30 years

“Our CQM solution was created to help improve quality of care, reduce costs of care and improve income for health care providers, including increasing pay-for-performance, value based purchasing and meaningful use incentives,” stated Dr. Sunil Rao, managing partner at TMP. “This federal grant will help enhance our product development efforts so that we can continue to grow the number of patient-centered medical homes, clinics, hospitals, physicians and nurses that can benefit by having access to our system, delivering the right data at the right time. With better, timelier data, healthcare providers can provide more accurate evidence-based medicine and CMS reporting, which will help improve quality measures, patient outcomes and enhance their eligibility for government funds through pay for performance. As we like to say, quality data improves outcomes.”

TMP’s CQM solution allows healthcare providers to abstract quality of care data from any system; provide real time reports and dashboards to anyone; and support quality analytics and process improvement anywhere; functions that are not adequately provided by most electronic health records (EHR) systems to this level of detail. TMP’s CQM solution is built on the Microsoft SharePoint portal platform and abstracts patient information from disparate departments and systems, including EHR systems. Data is automatically abstracted, captured, populated and formatted into the report forms required by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. A quality database is maintained to drive all system reports, dashboards, analytics and process alerts.

About Technology Medical Partners
TMP delivers value-added information technology solutions and services to the Healthcare Industry. We focus on the business performance and quality improvement of healthcare providers (Hospitals, Clinics and Physician Practices). We bring a comprehensive array of software solutions, platform products and implementation services together with experience and leadership in Healthcare Solutions delivery. Founded in 2004, Technology Medical Partners is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) focused on Healthcare Quality Improvement. We build Composite Software Solutions based on several technologies such as SharePoint and other Microsoft products as a Microsoft Certified ISV. We are also a partner with InterSystems and can provide our solutions built on the Cache` or Ensemble platforms. For more information, please visit www.t-m-partners.net. 

Click here to see all recent news from this company

WEST HARTFORD, CT–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – BroadcastMed, Inc., an interactive broadcasting company, has been recognized by the 2010 eHealthcare Leadership® Awards for its ORLive.com broadcasting portal, as a top overall internet site. The ORLive.com site was acknowledged along with The Cleveland Clinic and Mt. Sinai Medical Center. “We are extremely grateful and appreciative to be named a leading internet site by our peers in the health community,” said Ross Joel, CEO and Co-founder. Winners were recognized during a special presentation at the Fourteenth Annual Healthcare Internet Conference held November 15-17, 2010 in Las Vegas. 

Nearly 1,300 entries were received from a wide range of healthcare organizations. Factors considered in selecting the best overall internet site included delivery of strong health content, interactivity, medical care support, as well as strength of Web design and ease of navigation. Another Gold Award was bestowed on the Virtual Brain Tumor Board (MethodistHealth.or-live.com/vbtb) which BroadcastMed has developed for the Methodist University Hospital Neuroscience Institute. The Award was presented in the category of Best Health/Healthcare Content. Additionally, BroadcastMed’s work for CMEducation Resources was also cited with 12 additional awards. “Our commitment to provide comprehensive online solutions to a global audience makes this honor a huge motivator in continuing to educate our audiences with relevant content,” added Peter Gailey, President and Co-founder.

The eHealthcare Leadership Awards program exclusively recognizes the very best Web sites of healthcare organizations, online health companies, pharmaceutical/medical equipment firms, suppliers, and business improvement initiatives. The awards highlight the Internet’s role in achieving an organization’s business objectives and recognize the hard work that has gone into creating outstanding health Web sites. A total of 123 individuals familiar with healthcare and the Internet evaluated entries. Web sites were rated based on a standard of Internet excellence and how they compare with others in their group classification. For a list of winners, see: www.strategichealthcare.com/awards/winners.php. 

About BroadcastMed, Inc.

Since 1994, BroadcastMed has been providing online video solutions to hospitals, device manufacturers, and other health-related organizations. Our audience has access to thousands of hours of surgical broadcasts through our ORLive.com portal along with medical programs in other clinical disciplines, many of which include continuing medical education (CME) credit. 

Click here to see all recent news from this company

TUSTIN, CA–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – November is American Diabetes Month and Integrium LLC, a Contract Research Organization (CRO) with a therapeutic focus on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, is at the forefront of clinical research to improve diabetes treatment. Eileen McAuley, Chief Operating Officer of Integrium, explains that the company has conducted 18 clinical trials of interventions for diabetes at 557 study sites. In addition to trials targeting diabetes, Integrium has conducted more than 100 cardiovascular and renal disease trials, which have an impact on diabetes care since diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure and more than two-thirds of people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke.

Integrium’s dedicated team of clinical researchers specializing in diabetes has pioneered therapies to improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes. Integrium’s Director of Project Management and Field Operations, Liza Moore, heads up a team with special expertise in wound healing. She explains that diabetic foot ulcers are among the most serious complications of the disease and untreated, often result in infection and amputation. “Our experience encompasses not only drugs to help manage blood glucose, but also medical devices such as bioengineered tissue products to speed wound healing. We are interested in preventing complications and effective treatment for those that can not be prevented.”

Integrium founder Dr. David H. G. Smith observes that the diabetes epidemic is not limited to the U.S. “One of our recent diabetes trials followed subjects in India, which has the largest diabetes population in the world, as well as subjects in the United States.” With its global reach, Integrium has completed trials in North America, Central and South America, the European Union and Asia for 12 of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies.

About Diabetes
The United States is in the throes of a diabetes epidemic. An estimated 24 million children and adults have diabetes. Another 57 million others have pre-diabetes, elevated blood glucose levels that increase their risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

One in ten American adults has diabetes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that number could triple in the coming decades. The disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and it is likely to be underreported as a cause of death.

Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, amputations and pregnancy complications. Tighter blood glucose control reduces the symptoms and life-threatening complications of diabetes.

About Integrium, LLC
Integrium is a full-service clinical research organization (CRO) designing, conducting, and analyzing clinical trials for pharmaceutical research in dermatology, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. It is committed to focused, specialized and long-term personalized service to its partners. It has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality management of clinical development programs. Combining the Integrium Clinical Excellence (ICE) study start-up and management methodology and therapeutic expertise leads sponsors to more confident, better-informed drug and device development decisions. For more information please visit www.integrium.com.

LANHAM, MD–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – The Residence on Greenbelt (www.theresidenceongreenbelt.com) will be filled with the holiday spirit when it opens its doors for the 1^st Annual Open House and Holiday Shoppe scheduled for Wednesday, December 15, 2010 from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. The event will feature a variety of quality vendors including handcrafted items, jewelry, food products and more. A bake sale with delicious treats made by the residents will add to the festivities and enjoyment of the event. Hot apple cider, coffee and cookies for all who attend.

Event:
Open House and Holiday Shoppe

Date:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Location:
The Residence on Greenbelt
9885 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD 20706

Time:
11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Cost:
Free and open to the public

Activities:
More than a dozen vendor booths, bake sale, free treats and property tours

More Info:
Visit www.theresidenceongreenbelt.com or call (301) 486-1590

In conjunction with the Holiday Shoppe, The Residence on Greenbelt is hosting an Open House with guided tours of the property to learn more about living in a modern assisted living community. See first-hand how the community offers charm, extensive care and superior care, while allowing residents to experience its modern set of amenities including a Skype lounge and stately movie theatre equipped for the hearing impaired. Conveniently located on Greenbelt Road, The Residence on Greenbelt has recently undergone a complete renovation that has created a vibrant and interesting senior living residence, where residents can experience unrivaled service in modern and fun surroundings.

Four different service programs exist at The Residence on Greenbelt, providing the right match for the needs of seniors. In addition to Independent and Assisted Living, the community offers a Special Needs living area that provides for residents with higher acuity and mobility needs in an environment with features focused on maximizing independence while offering comfort and service. The Residence on Greenbelt also provides a unique memory care program through the Pathways Memory Care Program, an exceptional option for seniors with memory impairments as it offers a stimulating and engaging environment for residents created by each resident’s individual life story and peace of mind for their families and friends.

For more information about the Open House and Holiday Shoppe please visit www.theresidenceongreenbelt.com or call (301) 486-1590 or follow us on Facebook. For information about move-in opportunities or to set-up a private tour, please contact Patty Bay, Director of Sales and Marketing, at (866) 712-1172. The Residence on Greenbelt is located at 9885 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD 20706.

About IntegraCare:

IntegraCare’s mission is to “improve the quality of life for its employees, residents, and their families.” The company’s goal is to create an environment where its primary customer, the employee, experiences respect, dignity, and personal development. By providing this environment for its employees, the second half of our mission, “improve the quality life for our residents and their families,” will be achieved.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA–(Marketwire – Nov. 22, 2010) – DiaMedica (TSX VENTURE:DMA) today announces that in accordance with the terms of the warrant indenture for those warrants issued on June 30, 2010 the Company has provided the required written notice to holders of such warrants that the expiry date has been accelerated to the close of business December 22, 2010.

Under the terms of the indenture and the broker warrant certificates, if the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of DiaMedica on the TSX Venture Exchange exceeds $0.75, then at any date subsequent to this date, the expiry date of the warrant shall be the day that is 30 days following the later of (i) the date that written notice of the accelerated expiry is sent to warrantholders; and (ii) the date on which the announcement of the warrant expiry acceleration is made by news release. As of the close of business on November 19, 2010, the 10-day volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares exceeded $0.75. Warrants may be exercised through payment of the exercise amount of $0.50 per full warrant up to the close of business on December 22, 2010. If all of the 6,215,000 outstanding warrants subject to this acceleration are exercised, DiaMedica will receive additional proceeds of $2.8 million. Any warrants not exercised prior to the accelerated expiry date and time will expire without any further action being taken.

About DiaMedica

DiaMedica is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for type I diabetes, type 2 diabetes and other disorders. DiaMedica has completed two successful proof-of-concept II studies with DM-71 and DM-99, which demonstrate human efficacy in lowering blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

DiaMedica’s lead product DM-199 is a novel next generation recombinant form of DM-99, which has shown the potential to increase insulin sensitivity, reduce the autoimmune attack and trigger proliferation of pancreatic beta cells, neural stem cells and bone marrow cells. DiaMedica is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “DMA”. For further information please visit www.diamedica.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities legislation (collectively, the “forward-looking statements“). These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, DiaMedica’s objectives, goals, targets, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, estimates and outlook, and can, in some cases, be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may” and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding matters such as, but not limited to, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, management’s assessment of DiaMedica’s future plans, information with respect to the advancement of DiaMedica’s research and development programs, and DiaMedica’s other estimates and expectations. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things: uncertainties and risks related to our research and development programs, the availability of additional financing, risks and uncertainties relating to the anticipated use of proceeds, changes in debt and equity markets, uncertainties related to clinical trials and product development, rapid technological change, uncertainties related to forecasts, competition, potential product liability, additional financing requirements and access to capital, unproven markets, the cost and supply of raw materials, management of growth, effects of insurers’ willingness to pay for products, risks related to regulatory matters and risks related to intellectual property matters.
Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found in the body of this news release, as well as under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in DiaMedica’s 2009 annual information form. DiaMedica cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on DiaMedica’s forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to DiaMedica, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions regarding the availability of additional financing for research and development companies, and general business and economic conditions. These risks and uncertainties should be considered carefully and investors and others should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, DiaMedica cannot provide assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. DiaMedica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Additional risk factors, factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, and assumptions relating specifically to our acquisition of Sanomune may be found in our press releases dated February 18, 2010 and April 20, 2010.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – The population of Brazil, Russia, India and China, roughly three billion people, coupled with these countries’ growing emphasis on strong physician-patient relationships, makes Emerging Markets a hotbed of clinical research activity, according to a new study. 

Emerging Markets Clinical Development Series: Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) provides in-depth analysis on each of these countries’ benefits, advantages and challenges. The study is the latest in a series of studies from Cutting Edge Information about managing clinical trials in Emerging Markets. According to the research, patient availability is one of the top reasons driving drug companies to look to Emerging Markets for clinical trial management.

“Overall, the benefits outweigh the challenges of entering these markets,” said Jason Richardson, president of Cutting Edge Information. “Patients’ respect for their physicians’ recommendations in these markets provides clinical teams with a better chance to finish clinical testing with complete data and on time.”

A scientific advantage of the new clinical model is that much of the patient population is treatment naive, meaning that they have not already used other treatments that could change clinical results. These treatment-naive patients provide clearer effectiveness results when testing new medications. 

Emerging Markets Clinical Development Series: BRIC (http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/bric-clinical-trials/) provides quantitative analysis of patient availability and retention within the BRIC countries.

“For example, clinical development executives ranked India as the emerging market with the greatest patient availability, followed closely by China,” said Shaylyn Pike, senior research analyst at Cutting Edge Information. “With regard to patient retention, China, with the largest population of any country, took the top spot, followed by India.”

The new research study analyzes the potential of the BRIC markets to fulfill clinical protocols and ultimately realize significant cost and time savings. It is designed to provide clinical development teams with best practices, strategies and metrics to develop the strongest possible Emerging Markets strategies:

• Eliminate stakeholder confusion about BRIC strategy
• Master trial management in Emerging Markets
• Clarify advantages and disadvantages to boost success rates

Click here to see all recent news from this company

BALTIMORE, MD–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – Prometric, the leading provider of testing and assessment services, today announced that it has signed an exclusive long term contract with the American College of Radiology to convert its paper and pencil Diagnostic Radiology In-Training exam (DXIT™) to computer based format for the first time in the exam’s history. Prometric will also manage the final paper based administration for the College, which will occur in February 2011.

Beginning in 2012, physicians in residency training programs served by the American College of Radiology will be able to take the Diagnostic Radiology In-Training exam on a computer at any of Prometric’s hundreds of secure test centers across North America. The computerized test will also be available at select non-U.S. locations. In addition to the increased exam accessibility, computerized delivery will enable candidates to use convenient online registration and their residency programs will receive their scores much more quickly than with the paper based version.

“As a leading test services provider our goal is to work with each client to design a test program that matches their unique needs and requirements,” said Bill Murtagh, senior vice president, sales and client services at Prometric. “The logistical details surrounding paper based exams, such as exam publishing, printing, shipping, scanning, scoring or security, are more manually laborious, and can add time to the overall test process. It also requires a longer turnaround to produce scores, which the residency programs are obviously anxious to get. Offering the test in a modern computerized format will create efficiencies throughout the entire test lifecycle, speeding up the entire process and making it more manageable for the College.”

“Historically, the paper and pencil version of the Diagnostic Radiology In-Training Exam has been offered to candidates once per year,” said Ronald Freedman, assistant executive director, education, marketing, and business development at the American College of Radiology. “Computerizing the test allows us to better leverage technology to enhance security, widen the window of time during which it is available, facilitate easy access for our residents and get the residency programs their scores more quickly.”

About Prometric

Prometric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETS, is the recognized global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services. Its comprehensive suite of services, including test development, test delivery and data management capabilities, allows clients to develop and launch global testing programs as well as accurately measure program results and data. Prometric reliably delivers and administers more than nine million tests a year on behalf of approximately 400 clients in the academic, professional, healthcare, government, corporate and information technology markets. It delivers tests flexibly via the Web or by utilizing a robust network of more than 10,000 test centers in 163 countries. For more information, please visit www.prometric.com.

About the American College of Radiology

The 34,000 members of the American College of Radiology include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians. For over three quarters of a century, the ACR has devoted its resources to making imaging safe, effective and accessible to those who need it.

The mission of the ACR is to serve patients and society by maximizing the value of radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics by advancing the science of radiology, improving the quality of patient care, positively influencing the socio-economics of the practice of radiology, providing continuing education for radiology and allied health professions and conducting research for the future of radiology.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

SUNNYVALE, CA–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) – Healthmed Services, Ltd. (PINKSHEETS: HEME) is pleased to announce the launch of “HealthTrac” software. HealthTrac is a Web-based open-source practice management solution for hospitals and physicians focusing on creating practice management as well as sales and marketing. Healthmed is committed to the continued expansion of its state of the art products that meet the demands of the healthcare industry.

According to Compass Intelligence, the U.S. market for health information technology will expand to $85 billion in 2014 from an estimated $73.1 billion in 2010, representing a 4.5 percent compound annual growth rate. Analysts have reported that nearly $2.5 trillion in healthcare was spent in 2009, which was $134 billion more than the previous year, when healthcare consumed 16.2 percent of the gross domestic product.

Please read more about the Company and its product developments on its website: www.healthmedltd.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

LOUISVILLE, CO–(Marketwire – October 30, 2010) –  GlobeImmune Inc. today announced additional data from the GI-5005-02 Phase 2b study demonstrating that GI-5005, the Company’s investigational Tarmogen^® product, improved sustained virologic response (SVR) by 12% in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who had failed prior treatment with standard of care (SOC, pegylated-interferon alpha 2a plus ribavirin). This study suggests that GI-5005 may have the potential to be the first successful therapeutic vaccine for patients chronically infected with HCV. 

Paul J. Pockros, M.D., of Scripps Clinic will deliver the oral presentation of the results in a late-breaker session at 6 p.m. EDT Monday November 1, 2010 at the 61^st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of the Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Boston.

On an intent-to-treat basis (subjects who received at least one dose of combination therapy), prior non-responders receiving GI-5005 plus SOC as a triple therapy had an SVR rate of 17%, compared to an SVR rate of only 5% in patients receiving SOC alone. Prior non-responders in this study were defined as patients who did not clear virus after a minimum of 12 weeks of SOC, including null responders, poor responders, and partial responders. Relapsers and on-treatment breakthroughs were not enrolled in the study. The most common adverse events associated with GI-5005 were injection site reactions that were generally mild and transient in nature. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events in the GI-5005 triple therapy arm were comparable to the discontinuation rates in the SOC alone arm.

“Only 4-7% of patients with genotype 1 HCV who were null, poor or partial responders to their first course of pegylated interferon-based therapy would be expected to achieve a sustained virologic response with a second course of treatment,” said Dr. Pockros. “In this study, GI-5005 conferred a three-fold improvement in SVR, an important treatment effect in this challenging patient population.” 

Additional immunology data from the study will be presented in a poster on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 by John M. Vierling, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine. These data show that GI-5005 improved HCV-specific T cell responses 10-fold over SOC alone in patients with the IL28B T/T genotype (~20% of chronically infected patients), the subgroup most likely to fail treatment with SOC alone. Patients with the IL28B T/T genotype receiving SOC alone had an HCV-specific cellular immune response that was 17-fold lower than patients in the IL28B C/C or C/T subgroups. The improved HCV-specific T cell immunity in IL28B T/T patients receiving GI-5005 plus SOC correlates with previously reported data that demonstrated GI-5005 increased SVR rates by 60% in interferon-naïve T/T patients compared to T/T patients receiving SOC alone.

“These data suggest that the fundamental deficit in patients carrying the T allele of the IL28B gene is a deficit in adaptive cellular immunity, the mechanism that GI-5005 was designed to address,” said David Apelian, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at GlobeImmune. “We are confident that GI-5005 will become a cornerstone of HCV therapy, particularly for difficult to treat populations, such as IL28B T/T patients.”

A 40 patient expansion of this study in patients having the IL28B T/T genotype was initiated last week to further explore the potential treatment effect of GI-5005 in this patient population.

GI-5005 is a therapeutic vaccine candidate designed to generate HCV-specific T-cell responses and improve virologic responses in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. 

About GlobeImmune

GlobeImmune Inc. is a private company developing therapeutic vaccines called Tarmogens for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Tarmogens generate activated killer T cells that are designed to locate and eliminate virally-infected cells and/or cancer cells. The Company’s lead product candidate, GI-5005, is a Tarmogen being developed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. GI-5005 is designed to complement both the current standard of care and emerging novel therapies for HCV. The Company’s lead oncology program, GI-4000, targets cancers caused by mutated versions of the Ras oncoprotein. GI-4000 is being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of pancreas cancer as well as other cancers that contain mutated Ras, including non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. In May 2009, the Company announced a global partnership with Celgene focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of multiple product candidates for the treatment of cancer.

For additional information, please visit the company’s website at www.globeimmune.com.

This news release and the anticipated presentation contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to initiation and progress of the Company’s clinical trial programs and the results from the clinical trials. Actual results could differ materially from those projected and the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in the release and anticipated presentation.

LOUISVILLE, CO–(Marketwire – October 30, 2010) –  GlobeImmune Inc. today announced additional data from the GI-5005-02 Phase 2b study demonstrating that GI-5005, the Company’s investigational Tarmogen^® product, improved sustained virologic response (SVR) by 12% in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who had failed prior treatment with standard of care (SOC, pegylated-interferon alpha 2a plus ribavirin). This study suggests that GI-5005 may have the potential to be the first successful therapeutic vaccine for patients chronically infected with HCV. 

Paul J. Pockros, M.D., of Scripps Clinic will deliver the oral presentation of the results in a late-breaker session at 6 p.m. EDT today at the 61^st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD) in Boston.

On an intent-to-treat basis (subjects who received at least one dose of combination therapy), prior non-responders receiving GI-5005 plus SOC as a triple therapy had an SVR rate of 17%, compared to an SVR rate of only 5% in patients receiving SOC alone. Prior non-responders in this study were defined as patients who did not clear virus after a minimum of 12 weeks of SOC, including null responders, poor responders, and partial responders. Relapsers and on-treatment breakthroughs were not enrolled in the study. The most common adverse events associated with GI-5005 were injection site reactions that were generally mild and transient in nature. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events in the GI-5005 triple therapy arm were comparable to the discontinuation rates in the SOC alone arm.

“Only 4-7% of patients with genotype 1 HCV who were null, poor or partial responders to their first course of pegylated interferon-based therapy would be expected to achieve a sustained virologic response with a second course of treatment,” said Dr. Pockros. “In this study, GI-5005 conferred a three-fold improvement in SVR, an important treatment effect in this challenging patient population.” 

Additional immunology data from the study will be presented in a poster on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 by John M. Vierling, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine. These data show that GI-5005 improved HCV-specific T cell responses 10-fold over SOC alone in patients with the IL28B T/T genotype (~20% of chronically infected patients), the subgroup most likely to fail treatment with SOC alone. Patients with the IL28B T/T genotype receiving SOC alone had an HCV-specific cellular immune response that was 17-fold lower than patients in the IL28B C/C or C/T subgroups. The improved HCV-specific T cell immunity in IL28B T/T patients receiving GI-5005 plus SOC correlates with previously reported data that demonstrated GI-5005 increased SVR rates by 60% in interferon-naïve T/T patients compared to T/T patients receiving SOC alone.

“These data suggest that the fundamental deficit in patients carrying the T allele of the IL28B gene is a deficit in adaptive cellular immunity, the mechanism that GI-5005 was designed to address,” said David Apelian, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at GlobeImmune. “We are confident that GI-5005 will become a cornerstone of HCV therapy, particularly for difficult to treat populations, such as IL28B T/T patients.”

A 40 patient expansion of this study in patients having the IL28B T/T genotype was initiated last week to further explore the potential treatment effect of GI-5005 in this patient population.

GI-5005 is a therapeutic vaccine candidate designed to generate HCV-specific T-cell responses and improve virologic responses in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. 

About GlobeImmune

GlobeImmune Inc. is a private company developing therapeutic vaccines called Tarmogens for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Tarmogens generate activated killer T cells that are designed to locate and eliminate virally-infected cells and/or cancer cells. The Company’s lead product candidate, GI-5005, is a Tarmogen being developed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. GI-5005 is designed to complement both the current standard of care and emerging novel therapies for HCV. The Company’s lead oncology program, GI-4000, targets cancers caused by mutated versions of the Ras oncoprotein. GI-4000 is being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of pancreas cancer as well as other cancers that contain mutated Ras, including non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. In May 2009, the Company announced a global partnership with Celgene focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of multiple product candidates for the treatment of cancer.

For additional information, please visit the company’s website at www.globeimmune.com.

This news release and the anticipated presentation contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to initiation and progress of the Company’s clinical trial programs and the results from the clinical trials. Actual results could differ materially from those projected and the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in the release and anticipated presentation.

LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM–(Marketwire – Oct. 29, 2010) – MYA Cosmetic Surgery is now offering Advanced Laser Lipolysis as a less invasive way to shape your body compared to conventional liposuction. Advanced Laser Lipo is ideal to remove unwanted deposits of fat that won’t respond to diet and exercise, perfect for those of us looking for quicker recovery times and a less invasive method of fat removal.

MYA is always looking to push forward with new techniques and methods developing in cosmetic surgery and we are proud to announce that we now offer Advanced Laser Lipolysis (A.L.L.) alongside our other popular services. While there are various forms of Liposculpture, A.L.L. is the one chosen by MYA since it actually removes fat from the body giving you the body shape and contour you desire.

John Ryan, MYA Chairman says, “I think it’s amazing. I’ve seen the operation being done myself and I’ve seen the great results that can be achieved. The beauty of this procedure is that it uses local anaesthetic and the procedure is much less disruptive to the patient’s life.” He continues “Liposuction is the number one procedure in the United States and Laser Liposuction is going to be really big in the future”. With over 1.6 million liposuction procedures performed worldwide in 2009*, A.L.L. is destined to be the next big thing for the cosmetic surgery industry.

The Laser Lipo treatment involves making tiny incisions and using the laser technology to ‘melt’ the fat away. After the unwanted fat is removed, the laser is used to encourage contraction to ensure an even, natural looking result is achieved. This is another great advantage of the procedure. Results can usually be seen from day one and the most popular areas for treatment include the abdomen, flanks (love handles), thighs, bra area and arms.

Advanced Laser Lipolysis is proving popular with both men and women as the benefits are comparable to traditional liposuction with a lot less downtime for the patient. The A.L.L. process provides a smooth, uniform result thanks to the accuracy of the Laser Lipolysis machine and our highly skilled surgeons.

One of our recent patients Charlotte comments, “I am a personal trainer and work out five times a week but despite the amount of exercise I do I just couldn’t get rid of the fat around my thighs and hips. I had the procedure over two weeks ago and I can already see a huge difference in my shape. I just wish I had it done sooner!”

Liposuction was the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK during 2009* with Breast Enlargement following closely behind and with no signs of slowing, Laser Liposuction shows great promise to capture the market and help people shift those stubborn areas of fat in a less invasive way.

For information please call 08000 27 97 76 or visit us at www.mya.co.uk/cosmetic-surgery/laser-liposuction.php

*From The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s “Raw Data – Total Procedures for Top 25 Countries”

Notes to editors:

MYA Profile

MYA (Make Yourself Amazing) Cosmetic Surgery Ltd is a pioneering cosmetic surgery provider brought to you by John Ryan, the former owner of Transform Medical Group and current chairman of Doncaster Rovers. John has over 25 years experience and has returned to cosmetic surgery enlisting the experience of the very best cosmetic surgeons and medical professionals in the industry. MYA pride themselves on their commitment to high quality service and medical supplies and have a comprehensive after-care policy. MYA’s world class expertise, competitive finance and state of the art national consultation centres are designed to ensure that Making Yourself Amazing is a reassuringly unique experience.

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – October 29, 2010) –  Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNH) today announced that L. Bryan Shaul, chief financial officer, and Brandi Riddle, treasurer, will be presenting at the Credit Suisse 2010 Healthcare Conference on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. Mountain. 

The conference is being held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 10-12. 

A copy of the presentation material will be available on the company’s web site at www.sunh.com immediately prior to Sun’s scheduled presentation.

About Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.  

Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SUNH) subsidiaries provide nursing, rehabilitative and related specialty healthcare services principally to the senior population in the United States. Sun’s core business is providing, through its subsidiaries, inpatient services, primarily through 166 skilled nursing centers, 16 combined skilled nursing, assisted and independent living centers, 10 assisted living centers, two independent living centers and eight mental health centers. On a consolidated basis, Sun has annual revenues of $1.9 billion and approximately 30,000 employees in 46 states. At Oct. 1, 2010, SunBridge centers had 23,189 licensed beds located in 25 states, of which 22,407 were available for occupancy. Sun also provides rehabilitation therapy services to affiliated and non-affiliated centers through its SunDance subsidiary, medical staffing services through its CareerStaff Unlimited subsidiary and hospice services through its SolAmor subsidiary.

MIAMI BEACH, FL–(Marketwire – October 29, 2010) –  When it comes to breast cancer, removal of the cancerous tissue is only part of the healing process. Reconstructing the breast at the same time can be critical for the wellbeing — and even survival — of the patient.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, New You magazine’s current issue addresses the issue of breast reconstruction at the time of initial surgery. In fact, say experts interviewed by New You, having a cosmetic or plastic surgeon involved right from the start means a more successful outcome for recreating a normal appearance and returning a woman’s sense of self and self-confidence.

“The cosmetic surgeon should be consulted right away, prior to any other surgery, and it should be a joint effort between the plastic or cosmetic surgeon and the breast surgeon,” says Dr. Michael S. Kluska, a board-certified plastic and cosmetic surgeon who practices near Pittsburgh, PA.

According to New You, the national consumer magazine for cosmetic surgery, the reasons for this include making sure the procedure performed by the breast surgeon removing the cancer is done so that optimal reconstruction is possible. The results can make a huge difference for the patient.

“Patients who undergo a mastectomy with simultaneous reconstruction tend to have better results long term than those who have the mastectomy [and] wait a few years,” Dr. Kluska told the magazine.

Kluska’s comments are supported by new research released last week in Toronto at the joint annual scientific meetings of the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the Canadian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which showed that reconstruction of the breast immediately after mastectomy is associated with significantly improved breast-cancer-specific survival. Analysis of figures from the U.S. National Cancer Institute showed a 26% reduction in breast-cancer specific mortality for patients with immediate reconstruction; reasons included reduced depression and an improved sense of wellbeing.

About New You Magazine

New You is the official magazine of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), published by Miami Beach-based New You Publishing, LLC. The mission of New You is to inform readers about the latest cosmetic procedures, to educate them about safety, cost and personal experience, and to locate the best possible cosmetic surgeon. For more information visit: http://newyoumag.com.

About The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery is a professional medical society dedicated to patient safety and physician education in cosmetic surgery. The AACS represents cosmetic surgeons in the American Medical Association through its seat in the AMA House of Delegates. Members of AACS are dermatological, facial plastic, head and neck, oral and maxillofacial, general, plastic, gynecological or ocular plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery. Founded in 1985, the AACS has over 2,500 members.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

MORRISVILLE, NC–(Marketwire – October 29, 2010) –  Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the United States, with more than 23 hospitals in seven states, uses Redwood Software‘s Report2Web to achieve secure, fast, and efficient delivery and management of clinical, financial, and IT reports throughout the organization. Report2Web gives executives, along with clinical, staffing, and billing managers the specific information they need to keep the hospital system working at optimum levels at all times.

Every day, healthcare organizations rely on up-to-date staffing, patient load, and payment reports to manage the dynamic balance necessary to maintain quality of care. For Banner, these reports were often extremely large and complex. Typically, the final reports were emailed around the organization in their entirety and stored multiple times on multiple networks, creating a bandwidth and storage nightmare. In addition, the reports could not be split apart, which made simply finding key information an inexact, labor-intensive manual process, delaying critical decision making. “Since we have implemented Report2Web, essential reporting processes that once took many people and days to complete, now take one person a few minutes to accomplish,” says Bill Beaver, IT Director, Enterprise Integration Services for Banner Health. “We save time and money every day because of Report2Web.”

Through strict security and control, Report2Web gives managers only the information required for their specific role or task. “Banner has more than 6,000 unique reports, and we store this information indefinitely,” says Beaver. “We currently have more than seven million reports in our system. That’s equivalent to 24,000 four-drawer filing cabinets. These filing cabinets would completely fill 1.3 football fields. We needed a powerful solution to make this information more readily available and useful to us. With Report2Web we have it.”

Report2Web’s flexibility and ease of customizing reports resulted in even greater time savings. Now Banner can automatically create custom report packages and apply business rules to extract totals from specific reports. This allows managers to focus on analyzing key figures rather than just finding them. “This saves us immeasurable time. If the totals are correct, managers often don’t need to see the detail,” says Beaver. “If the totals are incorrect, the manager can quickly get that detail and investigate.”

For Banner, Report2Web was not just an improvement, it is a core solution. It provides the organization with the system they needed to enforce security and make critical, time-sensitive business decisions that directly impact the hospital’s critical care and financial health — every single day. Report2Web offers the flexibility and power to handle high volumes of sensitive information quickly and efficiently. As Banner Health continues to grow, they can focus on providing world-class healthcare while their report management system grows right along with them.

About Redwood
Redwood Software is a global company providing enterprise report management, workload automation, job scheduling, and financial process automation solutions that enable organizations to maximize the value of their information management and technology investments. Serving thousands of customer installations worldwide, Redwood helps companies meet the challenges of today’s competitive environment by delivering solutions that make business operations faster, more effective, and more efficient. Redwood serves businesses worldwide through locations in Europe, North America, and Australia, and through its alliances, including its strategic partnership with SAP AG.

About Banner Health
Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns or manages 23 acute-care hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. In 2010, Thomson Reuters named Banner Health one of the Top 10 Hospital Systems in the U.S.

The original press release can be viewed at: www.redwood.com/banner-health

Redwood, Cronacle and Cronacle Mobile are trademarks or registered trademarks of Redwood Software. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

RED BANK, NEW JERSEY–(Marketwire – Oct. 29, 2010) – Ansell Healthcare announces the launch of the Ansell Protects Program, a major new initiative aimed at helping healthcare facilities understand the risks associated with chemical allergies and providing solutions for them.

It is estimated that hand dermatitis affects up to 33% of all nurses, costing the U.S. an estimated $1 billion per year. The Ansell Protects Program was developed to improve the health of employees and also significantly reduce long-term costs for healthcare facilities.

Chemical allergies – otherwise known as Type IV allergies or allergic contact dermatitis – can cause physical, emotional and occupational issues for those affected. The only treatment is allergen avoidance. The Ansell Protects Program provides the tools to help healthcare facilities understand the impact of chemical allergies, assess their risk level, estimate their potential savings and find the right medical gloves to ensure they promote a healthy workplace.

“The effects of chemical allergies are wide-ranging, and the costs are high,” explained Patty Taylor, RN, BA, Vice President of Marketing – Medical Division, of Ansell Healthcare. “The Ansell Protects Program will help facilities understand the threat of chemical allergies – and will identify solutions that will foster better health and significant long-term savings.”

Costs associated with chemical allergies include diagnosis, workers’ compensation, disability, increased sick leave, decreased job productivity, and medical care costs.

Supporting its Ansell Protects Program are products that help reduce risk for facilities. Ansell is the first manufacturer to offer both a surgical and exam glove that help protect against Type I and Type IV allergies, including Derma Prene^® Ultra neoprene surgical gloves; Derma Prene^® Ultra HydraSoft^® hand friendly neoprene surgical gloves; and Micro-Touch^® NitraFree^™ nitrile examination gloves.

For more information on the physiology and effects of allergic contact dermatitis – including a breakdown of costs – visit www.AnsellProtects.com

About Ansell

Ansell Limited (“Ansell”) is a global leader in protection solutions. With operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, Ansell employs over 10,000 people in 33 countries. Ansell designs, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of surgical, examination, industrial and household gloves, protective clothing and condoms. People in over 100 countries around the world put their trust in Ansell’s innovative, high-quality solutions that offer superior protection, combined with high levels of comfort and performance. Operational headquarters are located in Red Bank, NJ.

UNION, NJ–(Marketwire – October 29, 2010) –  Considering that more than 80 percent of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their life, it isn’t surprising that Spine Centers of America is opening its second endoscopic spine surgery center in the New Jersey area in early November.

Advanced Spine Surgery Center, at 855 Lehigh Ave, Union, NJ, is a state-of-the-art facility that has been developed under the leadership of Bryan J. Massoud, M.D., a board certified, Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. Dr. Massoud founded the New Jersey Back Institute and Spine Centers of America, which currently operates one other spine surgery center in New Jersey. Specializing in minimally invasive endoscopic laser spine surgery, diagnostic, and pain management procedures, Advanced Spine Surgery Center is an ambulatory surgery center that relieves patient neck and back pain when other treatments have failed. 

Key advantages of new endoscopic laser spine surgery over traditional open spine surgery include:

• Less trauma to body
• Reduced post-operative pain
• Less scarring and smaller scars
• Shorter recovery time
• Improved post-surgical function and mobility
• Reduced blood loss
• Reduction/elimination of time under general anesthesia

Advanced Spine Surgery Center has three Class C operating suites featuring the latest equipment and endoscopic spine surgery technologies. The operating suites, pre-op and post-op areas, occupying 10,000 sq. ft., will be staffed with board certified orthopedic spine surgeons, anesthesiologists, pain management physicians and nursing staff to provide outpatient care. The facility includes numerous medical offices for affiliated medical professionals.

The Grand Opening event for healthcare professionals will take place on November 16 with private previews available in advance by appointment. Healthcare professionals interested in attending should call 1.877.722.6008.

Spine Centers of America offers the advantage of numerous advanced endoscopic spine surgery techniques developed by Dr. Massoud and his associates that will be performed at the Advanced Spine Surgery Center. These procedures include:

• Anterior cervical endoscopic foraminotomy for treating bone spurs and foraminal stenosis
• Epiduragram-guided endoscopic discectomy to further enhance safety of discectomy procedures;
• The “between” technique in transforaminal endoscopic lumbar procedures for disc herniations.

Endoscopic laser spine surgery techniques that are employed by Advanced Spine Surgery Center use “twilight” or local anesthesia, which allows patients to remain alert during surgery and usually walk out of surgery under their own power. Dr. Massoud has personally performed more than 1000 endoscopic spine surgeries with a high success rate, enabling patients with debilitating spinal pain to get “back to life” free of pain. 

Spine Centers of America surgeons at Advanced Spine Surgery Center will treat spine conditions including: bone spurs; bulging disc, disc degeneration; disc tear; facet joint disease; failed back and neck surgery; foraminal stenosis; herniated disc; pinched nerve; radiculitis; radiculopathy; sciatica; spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. SCA’s surgeons have extensive experience performing the endoscopic spine procedures to diagnose or treat these conditions.

Because Spine Centers of America offers highly successful endoscopic techniques not yet available elsewhere, the new center, located minutes from Newark Airport, is expected to draw patients from across the country. Spine Centers of America hosts monthly seminars to educate the public about spinal conditions and advanced options for spinal pain relief via minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. For more information call 201.870.3030 or visit www.SpineCentersOfAmerica.com.

About Spine Centers of America:

Spine Centers of America offers the newest techniques in endoscopic spine surgery always performed by board certified spine surgeons. Considered a pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery, SCA’s founder Dr. Bryan J. Massoud is among the most experienced Board certified orthopedic spine surgeons performing endoscopic laser spine procedures in the country. Recognized as an expert by his peers, Dr. Massoud instructs orthopedic residents and colleagues in new procedures such as kyphoplasty and endoscopic techniques. 

Click here to see all recent news from this company

ARLINGTON, VA–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  Vangent, Inc., a leading global provider of information management and strategic business process solutions, today announced it was awarded the Patient Movement Item Tracking System (PMITS) Sustainment contract from the Military Health System in support of the Defense Health Services Systems Program Office.

PMITS is an award-winning MHS system, receiving the Agency Information Technology Award from Government Computer News in 2009. PMITS automatically tracks the storage of patient movement items during peacetime and its movement during contingency and wartime operations. PMITS ensures critical patient-movement equipment is available throughout patient evacuation to save critically injured warfighters’ lives.

Military commanders use PMITS to manage and redistribute patient movement assets to avoid shortages during patient evacuations. PMITS prevents the loss, shortages, and overages of aeromedical equipment by managing the equipment inventory, tracking its movement, and providing valuable information to personnel supporting aeromedical equipment, such as item identification, item location, and status. 

“Vangent is proud to support the Military Health System with a mission-critical system that provides essential equipment for our military’s wounded warriors,” said Kerry Weems, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Vangent’s Health Solutions business. 

Vangent’s subcontractor partner on this contract is Akimeka, LLC.

About Vangent, Inc. 
Vangent, Inc. is a global provider of consulting, systems integration, human capital management, and business process services to the U.S. federal and international governments, higher education institutions, and corporations. Vangent’s 8,500 employees support clients including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Labor and Veterans Affairs; and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the company has offices throughout the U.S. and in the U.K and Canada. For more information, visit www.vangent.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate solely to historical fact. They include, but are not limited to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, achievements or events. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The occurrence of the events described, and the achievement of the expected results, depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. In light of these risks and uncertainties, expected results or other anticipated events or circumstances discussed in this press release might not occur. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) – Beach Business Bank (OTCBB: BBBC) (the
“Bank”) is pleased to report its results of operations for the third
quarter of 2010, the year to date 2010, and the trailing 12 months which
includes the fourth quarter of 2009.

Third Quarter Highlights

-- Improving After-Tax Earnings.  For the trailing 12 months, the Bank
   earned $1,201,000, a historical earnings record for the Bank.
   All three of the Bank's offices: Orange County, Long Beach and
   Manhattan Beach, performed well in the quarter.


                                        Third
(U.S.         Third       Second       Quarter      First 9      First 9
 Dollars)  Quarter 2010 Quarter 2010     2009     Months 2010  Months 2009
           ------------ ------------ -----------  ------------ -----------
Net Income      450,000      256,000  (5,895,000)    1,058,000  (5,693,000)
           ------------ ------------ -----------  ------------ -----------

-- Loan Growth and Improving Funding Quality.  The Bank's niche lending
   businesses to physicians and dental professionals and the Bank's SBA
   lending practice showed strength, resulting in further loan
   originations. Development of non-interest-bearing deposits was strong
   during the quarter. The Bank's non-CD based deposits were 89% of total
   deposits at the end of the third quarter.


                                        9/30/2010   9/30/2010   9/30/2010
                                            vs.         vs.         vs.
% growth                                6/30/2010   12/31/2009  9/30/2009
                                        ---------   ----------  ----------
Net Loans                                    (.04)%      13.51%      30.22%
                                        ---------   ----------  ----------
Total Assets                                 18.7%        18.5%       18.7%
                                        ---------   ----------  ----------
Demand deposits (non-interest-bearing)       11.9%        52.0%       56.5%
                                        ---------   ----------  ----------
Total Deposits                               10.8%       22.71%       23.1%
                                        ---------   ----------  ----------

-- Total new loan commitments in the quarter amounted to more than
   $20 million. Non-interest bearing demand deposits totaled $49.1 million
   at quarter end. Overall deposits totaled $260.3 million at quarter end.
   Total assets increased by $47.6 million, to $302.5 million at
   quarter-end, as compared to $254.9 million for the same quarter end
   last year.

Stronger Operating Performance

                                                                    YTD
                          3Q 2010   2Q 2010   3Q 2009   YTD 2010    2009
                          --------  --------  -------   --------  -------

Return on Average Assets      0.60%     0.38%   (9.08)%     1.52%   (2.30)%
                          --------  --------  -------   --------  -------
Return on Average Common
 Equity                       6.09%     3.50%  (68.21)%    14.41%  (65.81)%
                          --------  --------  -------   --------  -------
Net Interest Margin           3.85%     3.98%    3.33%      3.92%    3.56 %
                          --------  --------  -------   --------  -------
Efficiency Ratio             65.79%    68.52%  144.56%     72.85%  110.35 %
                          --------  --------  -------   --------  -------
Tangible Book Value per
 Common Share             $   7.30  $   7.21  $  7.10   $   7.30  $  7.10
                          --------  --------  -------   --------  -------

“We are pleased to be able to report these strong results,” commented Jim
Gray, the co-chairman of the Bank’s board of directors. He continued, “We
are committed to helping the small businesses in our market area to get
back to hiring new employees and increasing their business again. The
recently passed Small Business Bill that the President signed into law on
September 27 will be a huge benefit for business banks like ours, and for
our small business customers.”

Robert Franko, president and chief executive officer of the Bank,
commented, “Our team of skilled bankers has worked tirelessly to achieve
these results, by continuing to build our franchises among small businesses
in our local market areas and among medical professionals nationwide. To
support further growth we continue to make additional provisions from our
core earnings to give us the necessary balance sheet strength. Our local
community has continued to provide us with strong core deposit
relationships, even as our funding costs have continued to decline. We are
fortunate to be located in the finest market areas in the world, and to
have the support of so many excellent and enduring business relationships.”

Loan Portfolio and Credit Quality

-- The Bank's Allowance for Loan & Lease Losses (ALLL) stood at
   $6.2 million or 2.5% of loans outstanding at the quarter end.
-- As of the quarter end, non-accrual loans stood at $5.0 million, with
   no other loans more than 30 days past due.
-- The Bank had net charge-offs of $361,000 in the quarter. The Bank
   provided $520,000 to the ALLL in the quarter.
-- As of the quarter end, the aggregate of non-accrual loans and OREO
   measured as a percentage of Capital and Reserves (sometimes referred to
   as the Texas Ratio) stood at 12.03%.
-- At the quarter end, the Bank's Total Risk-based Capital Ratio was
   14.89%, compared to the regulatory minimum of 10.0% to be
   "Well Capitalized."
-- The Bank's other regulatory Capital measurements also continued to be
   significantly above the regulatory minimums for Well Capitalized.
   For example, the Bank's Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital was 13.62%, compared
   to the regulatory minimum of 6.0%, and the Bank's Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
   was 11.88%, compared to the regulatory minimum of 5.0%.

Financial statements in the form of the Bank’s Call Report, as filed with
the FDIC, will be available on the Bank’s web site at
www.beachbusinessbank.com, and should be available for review or
downloading from the FDIC web site at www.fdic.gov shortly after the end of
this month.

Beach Business Bank is headquartered at 1230 Rosecrans Avenue, Lobby Level,
in Manhattan Beach, and has two other full-service offices at 180 E. Ocean
Blvd. in Long Beach, CA and at 650 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, CA. The
Bank is first and foremost a community business bank serving Los Angeles,
Long Beach, the South Bay and Orange County residents and businesses. The
Bank also has a division named The Doctors Bank®, which serves physicians
and dentists nationwide. In addition, Beach Business Bank provides loans to
small businesses, focused around the SBA 7(a) and Express lending programs.
For more information on the Bank, please visit www.beachbusinessbank.com or
call toll-free to (866) 862-3878.

“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995:

The financial information in this press release is based on our unaudited
financial results. Certain statements in this press release, including
statements regarding the anticipated development and expansion of the
Bank’s business, and the intent, belief, and current expectations of the
Bank, its directors, or its officers, are “forward-looking” statements (as
such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995). Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties and therefore the Bank’s actual results may differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The
risks and uncertainties that the Bank is subject to include, but are not
limited to, risks related to the local and national economy, including
fluctuations in interest rates and costs and changes in economic policy;
the ability of the Bank to perform in accordance with its plans;
competition; regulatory matters; and other risks detailed in its filings
with the State of California Department of Financial Institutions and the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Bank cautions readers not to
place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Bank does not
undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to revise any
forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or
unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Summary Financial Information

The following tables present relevant financial data from
Beach Business Bank's recent performance.

                                           September  December   September
                                           30, 2010   31, 2009   30, 2009
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance Sheet Results (In thousands),
 except per share data:
       Total Assets                        $ 302,465  $ 255,321  $ 254,883
       Gross Loans                         $ 245,496  $ 217,361  $ 193,687
       Loans Held for Sale                 $   1,542  $   1,026  $   4,285
       Allowance for Loan Losses           $   6,188  $   6,870  $   6,819
       Total Net Loans                     $ 237,765  $ 209,465  $ 182,582
       Total Deposits                      $ 260,293  $ 212,083  $ 211,465
       Other Real Estate Owned             $       -  $   2,100  $   2,399
       Preferred Stock                     $   6,078  $   6,033  $   6,018
       Common Stock                        $  29,618  $  28,899  $  28,680
       Total Shareholders' Equity          $  35,696  $  34,932  $  34,698
       Net Loans to Deposits                   91.35%     98.77%     86.34%
       ALLL to Loans HTM                        2.54%      3.18%      3.60%
       Equity to Assets                        11.80%     13.68%     13.61%
       Ending Shares outstanding           4,055,972  4,036,984  4,036,984
       Ending Book Value per Common Share  $    7.30  $    7.16  $    7.10

                                                  Three Months Ended
                                           September  December   September
                                           30, 2010   31, 2009   30, 2009
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
Quarterly Operating Results (In
 thousands):
       Net Interest Income                 $   2,780  $   2,230  $   2,041
       Non-interest Income                 $      57  $     583  $     302
       Non-interest Expense**              $   1,866  $   1,770  $   3,387
       Income Before Provision & Taxes     $     970  $   1,043  $  (1,045)
       Provision for Loan Losses           $     520  $     900  $   4,850
       Income Tax Expense                  $       -  $       -  $       -
       Net Income                          $     450  $     143  $  (5,895)
       Quarterly Return on Average Assets*      0.60%      0.22%     -9.08%
       Quarterly Return on Average Equity*      5.05%      1.63%    -58.11%
       Quarterly Net Interest Margin*           3.85%      3.46%      3.33%
       Quarterly Efficiency Ratio*             65.79%     62.93%    144.56%

                                            Nine Months Ended
                                           September  September
                                            30, 2010   30, 2009
                                           ---------  ---------
YTD Operating Results (In thousands):
       Net Interest Income                 $   7,909  $   6,410
       Non-interest Income                 $   1,072  $   1,060
       Non-interest Expense                $   6,542  $   8,243
       Income Before Provision & Taxes     $   2,438  $    (773)
       Provision for Loan Losses           $   1,380  $   4,920
       Income Tax Expense                  $       -  $       -
       Net Income                          $   1,058  $  (5,693)
       YTD Return on Average Assets*            0.38%     -2.30%
       YTD Return on Average Equity*            2.99%    -14.24%
       YTD Net Interest Margin*                 3.92%      3.56%
       YTD Efficiency Ratio*                   72.85%    110.35%


       *Percentages are reported on an annualized basis.
       Source: FDIC quarterly Call Reports for Beach Business Bank for the
       periods indicated.

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  ClearCount Medical Solutions and Medline Industries, Inc. today announced that Hunt Regional Medical Center has become the first Texas hospital to deploy the most comprehensive technology for the prevention retained surgical sponge incidents. Hunt Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has implemented the SmartWand-DTX, part of ClearCount’s radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based platform that uniquely identifies each sponge so that they can be easily counted and detected. Medline is the exclusive distributor for the SmartWand-DTX and the SmartSponge System, the first FDA-cleared systems using RFID.

“The deployment of the latest safety technology in our OR is consistent with our commitment to both our community and our employees,” said Richard Carter, chief executive officer at HRMC. “We are pleased to be on the cutting edge of technology in this area, and our deployment reinforces our commitment to bringing the best care to the community we serve.”

“The SmartWand-DTX provides a safety net for human error. Anything that we can do to improve patient safety is extremely crucial. This technology not only allows our staff to operate at an exceptional level of patient safety, but also provides staff with a safer and more efficient method for reconciling our surgical counts,” said Katherine Magee, RN, OR director at Hunt Regional Medical Center.

HRMC has implemented the SmartWand-DTX into its full suite of operating rooms. The hospital is part of Hunt Regional Healthcare which is affiliated with Baylor Health Care System.

“We’re pleased to add Hunt Regional Medical Center to our rapidly expanding customer base,” said David Palmer, chief executive officer of ClearCount. “Their selection of our safety technology demonstrates the trend that many hospitals are now taking action to make retained sponge incidents a true ‘Never Event’ through the use of RFID technology.”

Despite designation as a “never event,” retained items are estimated to occur in one of every 1,000 to 1,500 abdominal surgical procedures, which can lead to hospital inefficiencies, unnecessary costs, serious infections and even death. Hospital infections add an estimated $30.5 billion to the nation’s hospital costs each year. In one study using a retrospective review of medical malpractice claims data from a statewide insurer in Massachusetts, sponge counts had been falsely thought to be correct in 76 percent of non-vaginal surgical cases involving retained sponges. “Falsely correct” sponge counts were attributed to team fatigue, difficult or long operations, sponges “sticking together,” shift changes or procedures with a large number of sponges. In July 2010, new Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Recommended Practices for the Prevention of Retained Surgical Items highlighted that membership may consider use of adjunct technologies to enhance surgical count procedures in order to avoid retained incidents.

About ClearCount Medical Solutions
ClearCount Medical Solutions is a medical device company focused on patient safety solutions. ClearCount has assembled an extendable RFID-based platform that provides a comprehensive solution to improve efficiency while preventing medical errors, distributed exclusively by Medline. ClearCount Medical Solutions has been recognized with a Popular Science 2009 Best of What’s New Award, and has received additional recognition from TIME and WIRED magazines, the 2009 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award, the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) and more. ClearCount’s SmartSponge and SmartWand-DTX systems are the first RFID enabled systems for counting and detecting surgical sponges, thereby improving patient and OR safety, enhancing productivity, and reducing cost. To learn more, visit www.clearcount.com.

About Medline Industries, Inc. 
Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare today announced the establishment of a Leadership Advisory Council to guide the progress of the Center as it addresses and develops solutions to improve health care quality and patient safety. The first meeting of the Center’s Leadership Advisory Council will be held October 29.

Meeting three times a year, members of the Leadership Advisory Council include executives from among the Center’s major sponsors and CEOs representing the participating hospitals. The CEOs will serve on a rotating basis to allow new membership each year. The Council will be chaired by Mark Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. Council members are:

• Jack E. Bailey, GlaxoSmithKline
• Paul Chaffin, Ecolab
• George Halvorson, Kaiser Permanente
• Donny C. Lambeth, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
• Alberto Mas, BD
• Rich Miller, Virtua
• Andy Mills, Medline Industries
• Ronald R. Peterson, The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
• Thomas M. Priselac, Cedars-Sinai Health System
• Gary Pruden, Johnson & Johnson Company
• Michael J. Swinford, GE Healthcare
• Richard Umbdenstock, American Hospital Association
• Dan Wolterman, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System

“The response from accredited health care organizations to the Center has been extremely positive, a fact due in large part to the ongoing commitment of participating hospitals and health systems and sponsors to address the toughest and most persistent problems facing health care across the country,” says Dr. Chassin. “The perspectives of the Leadership Advisory Council members will help us to bring everyone interested in safe, reliable health care together to create lasting solutions.”

Established in 2009, the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare aims to solve health care’s most critical safety and quality problems. The Center’s participants — which include some of the nation’s leading hospitals and health systems — use a systematic approach to analyze specific breakdowns in care and discover their underlying causes to develop targeted solutions that solve these complex problems. Center projects include hand hygiene, wrong-site surgery, hand-off communications and the reduction of surgical site infections (SSI) following colorectal surgery. Future projects are expected to focus on preventable hospitalizations, medication errors, and other aspects of infection control.

All Joint Commission-accredited health care organizations can access the solutions on their secure Joint Commission Connect extranet through the Targeted Solutions Tool™ (TST). The TST provides a step-by-step process to measure performance, identify barriers to excellent performance, and implement the Center’s proven solutions that are customized to address an organization’s specific barriers.

The first set of targeted solutions, created by eight hospitals and health care systems working in collaboration with the Center, focuses on improving hand hygiene. The second set of solutions, announced last week, focuses on improving hand-off communications. The targeted solutions for hand-off communications will be pilot tested to prove their effectiveness in demographically diverse hospitals and will be added to the TST in the second half of 2011.

For more information about the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare, visit www.centerfortransforminghealthcare.org.

Established in 2009, the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare aims to transform American health care into a high-reliability industry that ensures patients receive the safest, highest quality care they expect and deserve. The Center’s participants — the nation’s leading hospitals and health systems — use a proven, systematic approach to analyze specific breakdowns in care and discover their underlying causes to develop targeted solutions for health care’s most critical safety and quality problems. The Center is a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, which shares the Center’s proven effective solutions with its more than 18,000 accredited health care organizations. Learn more about the Center at www.centerfortransforminghealthcare.org.

To view this release in a media-rich format, go to: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2010/jointcommission_01028_leadership_council/index.html

Click here to see all recent news from this company

WARREN, NJ–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  Health care reform has spawned a host of privacy, information security and other liability exposures for the emerging healthcare information technology industry. In response, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has established a program to address the industry’s specialized risk needs.

“Chubb has brought together its information and network technology and life sciences expertise to tailor insurance and loss control solutions to this rapidly growing market sector,” said Stephen Harris, a Chubb vice president and co-program manager.

More than 1,000 companies supply information technology products and services to the healthcare and medical research industries in the United States and Canada. The sector is poised for additional growth after the allocation of nearly $20 billion in federal stimulus funds to incentives to create electronic health records and to other investments in the sector.

“Chubb’s Healthcare Information Technology program will provide insurance products and services, on a global basis, that can help this emerging industry face privacy and information security requirements, as well as a host of new professional liability exposures,” said Richard Reed, a Chubb vice president and co-program manager.

An integrated liability solution from Chubb can help protect healthcare information technology companies from:

• general and products liability when software or hardware that is defective or contains inaccurate or incomplete information causes or contributes to patient injuries;
• errors and omission liability when a product defect or service deficiency results in economic injury to a customer;
• third-party liability to patients, healthcare providers and others associated with database security breaches; and
• costs incurred to comply with state, federal and foreign laws requiring companies to notify consumers of a privacy data breach.

In addition, Chubb can provide these firms with insurance addressing property, business interruption, workers compensation and auto exposures.

The member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers worldwide through 8,500 independent agents and brokers. Chubb’s global network includes branches throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia.

CLARK, NJ–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  HealthEd, a specialized agency focused on turning health education into positive outcomes, today announced several key senior-level appointments — Mike Brzozowski as chief strategy officer, Sonja “Sunny” Foster-Storch as executive vice president, managing director for HealthEd, and Paul Steiner as executive vice president, managing director for Encore, a HealthEd company. With these additions to the executive leadership team, HealthEd Group signals its focus on expanding its strategic and consultative services to meet changing client needs.

“We are very excited to have Mike, Sunny, and Paul on board,” said Roy Broadfoot, CEO and president of HealthEd. “The business needs and requirements of our clients are becoming increasingly complex. We have heard them and have responded by recruiting top executives who can strategically lead our cross-functional teams to deliver innovative and engaging solutions.”

Mr. Brzozowski comes to HealthEd with more than 20 years of experience in relationship marketing, strategic planning, and business analysis. He is responsible for leading and expanding strategic marketing and health education consulting services. With Mr. Brzozowski at the helm, the health educators and marketers combine to provide a unique insight into patient motivations and behaviors. Most recently, Mr. Brzozowski worked at Draftfcb as executive vice president of customer relationship marketing and before that was at Ogilvyone Worldwide as senior partner, executive director of relationship marketing strategy.

Ms. Foster-Storch will lead HealthEd’s client services group, while Mr. Steiner will lead Encore’s. The two help form a structured leadership team for both organizations by integrating resources and focusing on client development. Both report directly to Larry Moran, chief operating officer.

Ms. Foster-Storch comes to HealthEd from The CementBloc, where she led the market development and marketing strategy team. Before that, she cofounded Clinical CONNEXION, a medical education company. 

Mr. Steiner joins Encore from Draftfcb, where he was senior vice president, director of customer relationship marketing. Previously, he served as senior vice president, group account director, at Omnicom’s Unit 7 relationship marketing agency. 

“Sunny and Paul both bring over 20 years of strategic planning and healthcare marketing experience to our company,” said Anita St. Clair, HealthEd’s chief client development officer. “And Mike’s success in creating integrated marketing solutions is just what the doctor ordered. His belief that effective relationship marketing helps deliver engaging, individualized, dialog-driven customer experiences aligns perfectly with our clients’ needs and our company mission.”

About HealthEd
HealthEd is a specialized agency that uses education to help people develop the knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence to manage important health decisions and activities and ultimately achieve better health outcomes. For more information about HealthEd and the services we offer, please visit http://www.HealthEd.com or contact Anita St. Clair, chief client development officer, at 908-389-2133.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

TAMPA, FL–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT^®) today announced that Visionary HealthWare’s Alteer Office 8.0 is a pre-market CCHIT Certified^®  2011 Ambulatory EHR. Ambulatory EHRs are designed for physician offices and clinics where most Americans get their healthcare. Alteer Office is part of Visionary HealthWare’s offerings of practice management and electronic healthcare record solutions. Visionary HealthWare is a subsidiary of CompuGroup Medical U.S.

As a CCHIT Certified 2011 product, Visionary HealthWare’s Alteer Office demonstrated compliance with the advanced ePrescribing module requirements and has passed all required criteria in the CCHIT 2011 Ambulatory and Security test scripts for:

• Functionality (ability to create and manage electronic records for all patients, as well as automating workflow in a physician’s office),
• Interoperability (ability to receive and send electronic data to other entities such as laboratories), and
• Security (ability to keep patients’ information safe).

The CCHIT Certified program is an independently developed certification that includes a rigorous inspection of an EHR’s integrated functionality, interoperability, and security using criteria developed by CCHIT’s broadly representative, expert work groups. By looking to products with the CCHIT Certified seal, physicians and other providers can be assured they are making a reliable investment and insurers and other payers know the products meet expected industry standards. This program is intended to serve health care providers looking for greater assurance that a product will meet their complex needs.

“We believe that achieving CCHIT Certification confirms the quality and comprehensiveness of Visionary HealthWare’s Alteer Office as well as validates VHW’s commitment to providing our customers with the most up-to-date advancements in healthcare IT,” said Chris Grady, CIO of Visionary HealthWare. “Alteer Office provides the features, functionality, and ease of use necessary for physicians to adopt the EHR quickly while minimizing disruption to their current workflow.”

“Visionary HealthWare’s solution improves clinical outcomes by providing more comprehensive and timely information for clinical decision-making, and decreases time spent on administrative activities that can better be spent on direct patient care,” adds Jason Patchen, CEO of Visionary HealthWare. “All of these improvements contribute to a safer care environment for patients.”

About Visionary HealthWare
Visionary HealthWare (VHW) is a provider-based healthcare information technology company with operations in Florida, California and Maryland. VHW delivers innovative, effective, easy-to-use, services and software solutions designed to manage patient, clinical and financial information at all levels while helping practices prove “meaningful use”. Solutions include fully integrated Electronic Health Records, Practice Management, Laboratory Information Systems, Revenue Cycle Management, Document Management, e-Prescribing, and services for any size practice. VHW reaches over 60,000 providers nationwide and was ranked by Healthcare Informatics Magazine in the top 100 Healthcare Information Technology companies in America. VHW brands include Visionary Medical Systems, Antek HealthWare, Soft-Aid, USMD, and Alteer Corporation. Visionary HealthWare (www.visionaryhealthware.com). Visionary HealthWare is a subsidiary of CompuGroup Medical U.S.

About CompuGroup Medical

CompuGroup Medical is one of the leading e-health companies worldwide. Its software products, designed to support all medical and organizational activities in doctors’ offices and hospitals, its information services for all parties involved in the healthcare system and its web-based personal health records, contribute towards safer and more efficient healthcare.

The services of CompuGroup Medical are based on its unique customer base of around 370,000 doctors, dentists, hospitals and networks as well as other service providers. CompuGroup Medical is the e-Health company with one of the biggest coverage among e-health service providers worldwide. The company operates in 14 European countries as well as in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and in the USA and currently employs around 3,000 people.

ABOUT CCHIT
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the public mission of accelerating the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology. The Commission has been certifying electronic health record technology since 2006 and is recognized by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). More information on CCHIT, CCHIT Certified® products and HHS certified electronic health record technology is available at http://cchit.org and http://ehrdecisions.com. 

“CCHIT®” and “CCHIT Certified®” are registered trademarks of the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.

WALNUT CREEK, CA–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  Dr. Mark Wolpa, founder of the Bay Area Foot & Laser Podiatry Group, is proud to announce that the PinPointe laser has received official FDA clearance for the treatment of toenail fungus. PinPointe™ is the first and only laser to receive this coveted FDA clearance specifically for treating toenail fungus, an embarrassing infection that causes a thickening and yellowing of the toenails. It is estimated that about 10 percent — or nearly 35 million adults in the United States alone have this embarrassing condition.

The PinPointe™ FootLaser™ is the only laser that has been clinically proven and has passed the rigorous testing by the FDA to receive clearance. Dr. Wolpa has successfully treated over 1600 patients and has seen dramatic results. “After many years of not having a successful way to treat my patients suffering with toenail fungus, I am thrilled to see such positive results using this leading edge laser technology,” says Dr. Wolpa.

About Bay Area Foot & Laser Podiatry Group

The Bay Area Foot & Laser Podiatry Group’s Dr. Mark Wolpa is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and has been in practice in the Bay Area for over 30 years. He was the Chief of Podiatry at Alta Bates-Summit Hospital in Berkeley for the past 10 years and has authored articles, books, and appeared on radio and television programs discussing foot problems.

He has offices in Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Santa Rosa, and Marin. For more information about Dr. Wolpa and The PinPointe FootLaser visit www.BayAreaFootandLaser.com

Click here to see all recent news from this company

SUN VALLEY, CA–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  XTend Medical, (PINKSHEETS: XMDC), a company that specializes in delivering life changing medical technology to healthcare organizations globally, announced today that the company will soon be launching a new website within the next few weeks. The company issued the following statement:

“XTend has contracted with GoDaddy’s website design professionals to build a new website for the company. After the issues they ran into last year using an independent web developer, the need for professionally trained web engineers and graphics persons was instrumental in their decision to have the GoDaddy Team of experts build out the site. The information has been sent to the website team and we’re awaiting the Beta version so we can make any last minute changes before launching the new site. We expect to have the site live within the next week or so and feel this new site will properly represent the company in cyberspace.”

In other news, the company is working to position itself so the auditing process for becoming a fully reporting company is met and the company is strategically positioned to attract the proper investment structure to commercialize the BioHarp. Any changes made to the company will be done in accordance with corporate counsel’s advice and with the future of the company and its shareholders securely in the minds of management. 

About XTend Medical
XTend Medical is a company that specializes in the sales, manufacturing and distribution of the latest in medical devices and telemedicine solutions for the healthcare industry. Their dedication to insuring the products and services offered to healthcare organizations, third-world countries, and physician groups are at the forefront of medical technology. Their recent acquisition of the BioHarp medical device will assist the company in becoming known as a leader in the healthcare sector globally. For further information, please contact them at [email protected] or visit their website at www.bioharpunius.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements covered within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products and services that we may not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in pervasive markets.

MIAMI, FL–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  GetWellNetwork, Inc. today announced that David Wright, the Company’s chief outcomes officer, will address the South Florida Healthcare Trade Faire & Regional Conference, sponsored by HIMSS South Florida Chapter on how hospitals can strengthen their position in the “Pay for Performance” provisions of the new health care reform law (1). The fall regional health information symposium is being held today at the Signature Grand hotel.

Mr. Wright is an expert on patient-centered care models and uniquely qualified to help hospitals prepare for “Pay for Performance” provisions by targeting performance areas such as clinical care processes; health outcomes; patient safety; patient experience and satisfaction; and IT investment and use.

Mr. Wright will also explain how leading hospitals and health systems are using interactive patient care technology to achieve evidence-based outcomes and to improve hospital performance in the areas that directly impact “Pay for Performance” provisions.

“Forums such as the regional HIMSS conference provide an opportunity for clinicians and hospitals to engage in important discussions about policy changes that directly impact the patient care factors of the Pay for Performance provision,” said David Wright, chief outcomes officer, GetWellNetwork, Inc. “To ensure continuation of current reimbursement rates from the Federal government, all hospitals should be developing strategic plans that not only elevate patient safety and care but deliver operational efficiencies through the use of technology solutions.”

About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork, Inc. uses the bedside TV to entertain, educate and empower hospital patients and caregivers to be more actively engaged in their care. This patient-centered approach improves both satisfaction and outcomes for patients and hospitals. GetWellNetwork is the leader in interactive patient care solutions and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.

(1) More information about CMS’ Value-Based Purchasing Program is available at http://www.cms.gov/AcuteInpatientPPS/downloads/HospitalVBPPlanRTCFINALSUBMITTED2007.pdf and http://www.cms.gov/QualityInitiativesGenInfo/downloads/VBPRoadmap_OEA_1-16_508.pdf

MERIDIAN, ID–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ: MWIV) announced today that the Company will release financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 and provide its business outlook for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2011 on Thursday, November 4, 2010. MWI will host a conference call the same day at 11 am eastern time to discuss these results and its business outlook.

For calls within the United States you can access the conference call by dialing (877) 638-4561 and international callers can access the conference by dialing (720) 545-0002. Participants will be required to register their name and company affiliation for the conference call. The conference call will also be carried live on the Company’s web site at www.mwivet.com. Audio replay will be made available through November 18, 2010 by calling (800) 642-1687 for calls within the United States or (706) 645-9291 for international calls using the passcode 19698332 or by accessing the Company’s web site.

About MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.
MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. is a leading distributor of animal health products to veterinarians across the United States and United Kingdom. The products MWI sells include pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, capital equipment, supplies, veterinary pet food and nutritional products. We market these products to veterinarians in both the companion animal and production animal markets.

TUSTIN, CA–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation (RPC) (NYSE Amex: RPC) announced today the launch of the RPC Investor Channel — a new and innovative video website developed to enhance communications and corporate access for key audiences interested in RPC.

Through this dynamic mode of communication everyone from existing and prospective shareholders, the broad investment community at large, healthcare professionals and their patients can learn about Radient Pharmaceuticals and its portfolio of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) cancer tests and products. In addition, financial Advisors have the ability to distribute RPC Investor Channel content to clients and securely track consumption when campaigning to clients about RPC, enhancing Radient’s ability to scale consideration into new investor communities.

The site also features videos communicating RPC’s business model, target markets and international distribution, sales and growth strategy; RPC as an investment opportunity; updates and progress on RPC’s portfolio of cancer diagnostic products, including its FDA-approved Onko-Sure® IVD cancer test kit; and educational information specifically targeted towards patients, physicians and the healthcare community in general.

According to Mr. Douglas Maclellan, Executive Chairman and CEO of RPC, “As a publicly-traded Company, superior investor communications is of utmost importance to our executive management team. With the launch of RPC’s new Investor Relations Video Channel, we are expanding our traditional lines of communication to now include a multi-media platform that offers added flexibility, reach and the ability to disseminate relevant Company information in a ‘high-touch’. We are very excited to offer this service to our valued stakeholders.”

Videos are accessible and viewable through personal computers and handsets with a 3G connection by visiting http://investorchannel.radient-pharma.com. For additional information on Radient Pharmaceuticals and its portfolio of IVD cancer products visit the Company’s corporate website at www.Radient-Pharma.com. For Investor Relations information contact Kristine Szarkowitz at [email protected] or 1.206.310.5323.

About Radient Pharmaceuticals:
Headquartered in Tustin, California, Radient Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to saving lives and money for patients and global healthcare systems through the deployment of its Onko-Sure® In Vitro Diagnostic cancer test. The company’s focus is on the discovery, development and commercialization of unique high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians answer important clinical questions related to early disease detection; treatment strategy; and the monitoring of disease progression, prognosis, and diagnosis to ultimately improve patient outcomes. Radient Pharmaceutical’s current Onko-Sure® cancer test is used to guide decisions regarding patient treatment, which may include decisions to refer patients to specialists, perform additional testing, or assist in the selection of therapy. To learn more about our company, people and potentially life-saving cancer test, visit www.Radient-Pharma.com.

Forward Looking Statements:
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained in this document include certain predictions and projections that may be considered forward-looking statements under securities law. These statements involve a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, the performance of joint venture partners, as well as other economic, competitive and technological factors involving the Company’s operations, markets, services, products, and prices. With respect to Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation, except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this document are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

ATLANTA, GA–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) –  ExamWorks Group, Inc. (NYSE: EXAM), a leading provider of independent medical examinations (IMEs), peer reviews, bill reviews and related services for the insurance and legal industries, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 10,300,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. Of the 10,300,000 shares being offered to the public 7,745,114 shares are being offered by ExamWorks Group and 2,554,886 shares are being offered by selling stockholders. In addition, the underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,545,000 shares from the company.

ExamWorks Group’s common stock is expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EXAM” on October 28, 2010. To celebrate the company’s IPO and NYSE listing, ExamWorks Group, led by Richard E. Perlman, Executive Chairman and James K. Price, Chief Executive Officer, will ring the NYSE Opening Bell.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital are joint book runners for the offering. William Blair & Company and Needham & Company LLC are acting as co-managers of the offering.

A registration statement relating to this offering was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2010. This offering is being made solely by means of a prospectus. A copy of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone (866) 471-2526; or from Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone (800) 221-1037.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About ExamWorks Group

ExamWorks Group, Inc. is a leading provider of independent medical examinations, or “IMEs”, peer and bill reviews, and related services, which include, litigation support services, administrative support services, and medical record retrieval services, and which we collectively refer to as IME services or the IME industry. We provide these IME services through our medical panel of independently contracted, credentialed physicians and other medical providers. Our clients include property and casualty insurance carriers, law firms, third-party claim administrators and government agencies that use independent services to confirm the veracity of claims by sick or injured individuals for workers’ compensation, automotive, personal injury liability and disability insurance coverage. We help our clients manage costs and enhance their risk management processes by verifying the validity, nature, cause and extent of claims, identifying fraud and providing fast, efficient and quality IME services. ExamWorks is focused on providing carriers with the national presence they need and with the local service that they have come to expect.

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) – Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNH) today
announced its operating results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2010.

Normalized results for the third-quarter period ended Sept. 30, 2010:

--  consolidated revenues rose 1.1 percent to $476.0 million, compared to
    the same period in 2009;
    --  increased patient acuity resulted in solid reimbursement rates in
        quarter;
    --  hospice and rehabilitation therapy businesses showed revenue
        growth;
--  consolidated adjusted EBITDAR was $60.6 million and adjusted EBITDAR
    margin was 12.7 percent;
--  diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (after giving
    effect to the issuance of 30.76 million shares in the Company's equity
    offering) were $0.18;
--  diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would have been
    $0.23 based on shares outstanding prior to the issuance of
    30.76 million shares in the Company's August equity offering and before
    the application of the offering proceeds, which equals the mean of
    diluted earnings per share from continuing operations estimates for the
    third quarter from analysts who publish on First Call;
--  free cash flow was $21.3 million for the quarter; and
--  results have been normalized to exclude the impact of $4.7 million for
    transaction costs associated with the separation transaction described
    in further detail below in this press release.

Commenting on the Company’s third-quarter results, Richard K. Matros, Sun’s
chairman and chief executive officer, remarked, “Although our sector
continues to experience a tough operating environment, I am pleased with
our ability to turn in a solid quarter, with normalized adjusted EBITDAR
comparable to that achieved in last year’s third quarter.”

Matros added, “With respect to the previously announced separation of our
operating assets and real estate assets, we have completed debt financings
for both the operating company and the real estate company and have
received all necessary regulatory approvals. We look forward to our
stockholders’ meeting on November 4 and to completing the separation
transaction on November 15.”

Segment Updates

On a year-over-year basis for the quarter, revenue growth in Sun’s
inpatient services business totaled $3.8 million, or 0.9 percent, due
principally to revenue growth in its hospice business, SolAmor. SolAmor’s
revenues increased from $7.2 million to $11.3 million, due to census
expansion derived from same store census growth as well as an October 2009
acquisition. SolAmor contributed $2.5 million of adjusted EBITDA for the
quarter and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.3 percent. In the quarter,
revenues from SunBridge’s nursing center operations were flat on a
year-over-year basis due to declines in nursing center customer base and
the lingering effect of the October 2009 Medicare rate reduction, partially
offset by acuity-driven rate growth. SunBridge’s acuity growth was
evidenced by its Medicare Rehab RUG use of 91.2 percent, which was up 250
basis points year-over-year, and its Medicare REX utilization of 44.4
percent, which was up 240 basis points year-over-year. On an overall basis,
the inpatient services business reported adjusted EBITDAR of $69.0 million
for the quarter, with an adjusted EBITDAR margin of 16.3 percent.

SunDance, Sun’s rehabilitation therapy services business, experienced
revenue growth of $6.8 million, or 15.0 percent, in the quarter on the
strength of growth in revenue per contract of 8.5 percent and growth in
total non-affiliated contracts of 4.9 percent. Given the strong revenue
results, adjusted EBITDA margin also expanded in the quarter by 190 basis
points, producing an 8.0 percent adjusted EBITDA margin.

Industry demand for temporary medical staffing continues to be down as a
result of the slow economy. Accordingly, revenues from CareerStaff, Sun’s
medical staffing services business, were down compared to revenues in the
same quarter of 2009, resulting in adjusted EBITDA margin of 6.2 percent
for the quarter.

Bill Mathies, president and chief operating officer of SunBridge and chief
operating officer over Sun’s operating subsidiaries, commented on the
segment results: “Our early assessment of the implementation of RUG IV, the
changes to concurrent therapy and the elimination of the look-back period
is that they are neutral on a consolidated basis, with the market basket
rate increases we received on October 1 being accretive to our results. Our
experience to date affirms our positive view of the opportunity that these
changes in the reimbursement system afford us, given our strategy of
serving
clinically-complex patients, as well as the savings the changes will
achieve for the Medicare program. Continuing our focus on short-stay
high-acuity patients requires the expansion of our portfolio of Rehab
Recovery Suites® (RRS). At the end of the quarter, our RRS centers
aggregated 1,647 beds, an increase of 44.6 percent over the number of RRS
beds in service in the third quarter of 2009. Our rehabilitation business
achieved solid revenue growth in the quarter, driven by the increase in
contracts as well as the increase in revenue per contract. Our hospice
business continues to perform consistently with our expectations. Our
medical staffing business, as noted, continued to show a decline in
revenues, EBITDA, and margins but the revenue decline has slowed and
billable hours were actually up for the quarter.”

Conference Call

As previously announced, investors and the general public are invited to
listen to a conference call with Sun’s senior management on Thursday, Oct.
28, 2010, at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern to discuss the Company’s
earnings for the third quarter of 2010.

To listen to the conference call, dial (888) 437-9364 and refer to Sun
Healthcare Group. A recording of the call will be available from 4 p.m.
Eastern on Oct. 28, 2010, until midnight Eastern on Nov. 28, 2010, by
calling (888) 203-1112 and using access code 4118106.

About Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.

Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SUNH) subsidiaries provide nursing,
rehabilitative and related specialty healthcare services principally to the
senior population in the United States. Sun’s core business is providing,
through its subsidiaries, inpatient services, primarily through 166 skilled
nursing centers, 16 combined skilled nursing, assisted and independent
living centers, 10 assisted living centers, two independent living centers
and eight mental health centers. On a consolidated basis, Sun has annual
revenues of $1.9 billion and approximately 30,000 employees in 46 states.
At Oct. 1, 2010, SunBridge centers had 23,189 licensed beds located in 25
states, of which 22,407 were available for occupancy. Sun also provides
rehabilitation therapy services to affiliated and non-affiliated centers
through its SunDance subsidiary, medical staffing services through its
CareerStaff Unlimited subsidiary and hospice services through its SolAmor
subsidiary.

In May 2010, Sun announced a plan to restructure its business by separating
its real estate assets and its operating assets into two separate,
publicly-traded companies (the “Separation”), subject to the approval of
stockholders and other conditions. The Separation will be accomplished by
distributing to stockholders the stock of SHG Services, Inc., a Sun
subsidiary that will own and operate the operating subsidiaries.
Substantially all of Sun’s owned real estate assets will continue to be
owned by Sun, which will, after the Separation, merge into its subsidiary,
Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. Following this merger, SHG Services, Inc. will
change its name to Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. The common stock of both
companies is expected to trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The
Separation is expected to be completed on Nov. 15, 2010.

Forward-looking Statement

Statements made in this release that are not historical facts are
“forward-looking” statements (as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties and are
subject to change at any time. These forward-looking statements may
include, but are not limited to, statements containing words such as
“anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,”
“may” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this release
include all statements regarding the Company’s expected future financial
position and results of operations, business strategy, the impact of
reductions in reimbursements and other changes in government reimbursement
programs, the timing and impact of the Separation and transactions related
thereto, growth opportunities and plans and objectives of management for
future operations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ are
identified in the public filings made by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and include changes in Medicare and Medicaid
reimbursements; the impact that any healthcare reform legislation will have
on the Company’s business; the ability to maintain the occupancy rates and
payor mix at the Company’s healthcare centers; potential liability for
losses not covered by, or in excess of, the insurance; the effects of
government regulations and investigations; the significant amount of the
Company’s indebtedness; covenants in debt agreements that may restrict the
Company’s activities, including the Company’s ability to make acquisitions,
incur more indebtedness and refinance indebtedness on favorable terms;
Sun’s ability to accomplish the Separation and the transactions related
thereto; the impact of the current economic downturn on the business;
increasing labor costs and the shortage of qualified healthcare personnel;
and the Company’s ability to receive increases in reimbursement rates from
government payors to cover increased costs. More information on factors
that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included
in Sun’s public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Annual Report on Forms 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, copies of which are available on Sun’s web site, www.sunh.com. There
may be additional risks of which the Company is presently unaware or that
it currently deems immaterial.

The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the
Company’s control. Sun cautions investors that any forward-looking
statements made by Sun are not guarantees of future performance and are
only made as of the date of this release. Sun disclaims any obligation to
update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any
revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events
or developments.

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDAR and free cash flow, as used in this press
release and in the accompanying tables, which are non-GAAP financial
measures, are each reconciled to their respective GAAP-recognized financial
measures in the accompanying tables. In addition, the normalizing
adjustments to adjusted EBITDAR and earnings per share as discussed in this
press release and shown, together with normalizing adjustments to other
financial measures, in the accompanying tables, are non-GAAP adjustments,
and are reconciled to GAAP financial measures in the accompanying tables.

Additional Information

In connection with the Separation, SHG Services, Inc. has filed with the
SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.
has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4, each
containing an identical proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting
of stockholders to be held on Nov. 4, 2010. The definitive proxy
statement/prospectus was mailed to Sun stockholders on or about Oct. 4,
2010. Before making any voting or investment decision, Sun stockholders and
investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety because they
contain important information about the proposed transactions.
Stockholders will be able to obtain these documents free of charge at the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and stockholders of
Sun may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by
contacting Sun’s investor relations department at (505) 468-2341 (TDD
users, please call (505) 468-4458) or by sending a written request to
Investor Relations, Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. 101 Sun Avenue N.E.,
Albuquerque, N.M. 87109. Investors and stockholders may also obtain a copy
of these documents by requesting them in writing from Sun’s proxy
solicitation agent, Innisfree M&A, at 501 Madison Avenue, New York, NY
10022, or by telephone at (212) 750-5833.

Sun and its directors and executive officers and other members of its
management and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of
proxies from the stockholders of Sun in connection with the transactions
described in this release. Information about the directors and executive
officers of Sun and their ownership of shares of Sun common stock are set
forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009,
filed with the SEC on March 5, 2010, and in the definitive proxy
statement/prospectus for the special meeting of stockholders filed with the
SEC on Sept. 29, 2010. These documents may be obtained free of charge from
the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests
of these participants is also included in the definitive proxy
statement/prospectus for the special meeting.

                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                       KEY INCOME STATEMENT FIGURES
                               CONSOLIDATED
                  (in thousands, except per share data)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Three Months       Three Months
                                             Ended              Ended
                                         September 30,      September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Revenue                                $        475,997   $        470,644

Depreciation and amortization                    12,733             11,457

Interest expense, net                            10,614             12,231

Pre-tax income                                   13,557             17,759

Income tax expense                                5,559              7,220

Income from continuing operations                 7,998             10,539

Loss from discontinued operations                  (442)              (881)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Net income                             $          7,556   $          9,658
                                       ================   ================


Diluted earnings per share             $           0.13   $           0.22
                                       ================   ================


Adjusted EBITDAR                       $         55,858   $         60,509
Margin - Adjusted EBITDAR                          11.7%              12.9%

Adjusted EBITDAR normalized            $         60,605   $         60,509
Margin - Adjusted EBITDAR normalized               12.7%              12.9%


Adjusted EBITDA                        $         36,904   $         42,319
Margin - Adjusted EBITDA                            7.8%               9.0%

Adjusted EBITDA normalized             $         41,651   $         42,319
Margin - Adjusted EBITDA normalized                 8.8%               9.0%


Pre-tax income continuing operations -
 normalized                            $         18,304   $         18,631

Income tax expense - normalized        $          7,505   $          7,578

Income from continuing operations -
 normalized                            $         10,799   $         11,053

Diluted earnings per share from
 continuing operations - normalized    $           0.18   $           0.25

Net income - normalized                $         10,357   $         10,172

Diluted earnings per share -
 normalized                            $           0.17   $           0.23


See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
"Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."

See normalizing adjustments in the table "Normalizing Adjustments -
Quarter Comparison."





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                       KEY INCOME STATEMENT FIGURES
                               CONSOLIDATED
                  (in thousands, except per share data)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Nine Months        Nine Months
                                             Ended              Ended
                                         September 30,      September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Revenue                                $      1,423,443   $      1,406,949

Depreciation and amortization                    37,732             33,329

Interest expense, net                            34,366             37,422

Pre-tax income                                   49,205             56,066

Income tax expense                               19,990             22,795

Income from continuing operations                29,215             33,271

Loss from discontinued operations                (1,488)            (3,275)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Net income                             $         27,727   $         29,996
                                       ================   ================


Diluted earnings per share             $           0.55   $           0.68
                                       ================   ================


Adjusted EBITDAR                       $        177,609   $        182,485
Margin - Adjusted EBITDAR                          12.5%              13.0%

Adjusted EBITDAR normalized            $        184,604   $        186,785
Margin - Adjusted EBITDAR normalized               13.0%              13.3%


Adjusted EBITDA                        $        121,303   $        127,730
Margin - Adjusted EBITDA                            8.5%               9.1%

Adjusted EBITDA normalized             $        128,298   $        132,030
Margin - Adjusted EBITDA normalized                 9.0%               9.4%


Pre-tax income continuing operations -
 normalized                            $         56,200   $         61,238

Income tax expense - normalized        $         22,858   $         24,916

Income from continuing operations -
 normalized                            $         33,342   $         36,322

Diluted earnings per share from
 continuing operations - normalized    $           0.66   $           0.83

Net income - normalized                $         31,854   $         33,395

Diluted earnings per share -
 normalized                            $           0.63   $           0.76


See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
"Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."

See normalizing adjustments in the table "Normalizing Adjustments -
Quarter Comparison."





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                    (in thousands, except share data)



                                         September 30,      December 31,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                          (unaudited)        (unaudited)
                ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents            $        138,350   $        104,483
  Restricted cash                                21,961             24,034
  Accounts receivable, net                      216,391            220,319
  Prepaid expenses and other assets              15,093             21,757
  Deferred tax assets                            71,940             68,415
                                       ----------------   ----------------
    Total current assets                        463,735            439,008

Property and equipment, net                     622,355            622,682
Intangible assets, net                           51,428             53,931
Goodwill                                        338,364            338,296
Restricted cash, non-current                        350              3,317
Deferred tax assets                              89,818            108,999
Other assets                                      5,157              4,961
                                       ----------------   ---------------- 
    Total assets                       $      1,571,207   $      1,571,194
                                       ================   ================


 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                     $         47,799   $         57,109
  Accrued compensation and benefits              60,898             58,953
  Accrued self-insurance obligations,
   current                                       45,610             45,661
  Income taxes payable                            1,605                  -
  Other accrued liabilities                      58,234             55,265
  Current portion of long-term debt and
   capital lease obligations                     39,796             46,416
                                       ----------------   ----------------
  Total current liabilities                     253,942            263,404

Accrued self-insurance obligations,
 net of current portion                         127,040            121,948
Long-term debt and capital lease
 obligations, net of current portion            410,145            654,132
Unfavorable lease obligations, net               10,518             12,663
Other long-term liabilities                      60,016             69,983
                                       ----------------   ----------------
  Total liabilities                             861,661          1,122,130


Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock of $.01 par value,
   authorized 10,000,000 shares, no
   shares were issued and outstanding
   as of September 30, 2010 and
   December 31, 2009                                  -                  -
  Common stock of $.01 par value,
   authorized 125,000,000 shares,
   74,788,448 and 43,764,240 shares
   issued and outstanding as of
   September 30, 2010 and
   December 31, 2009, respectively                  748                438
  Additional paid-in capital                    885,083            655,667
  Accumulated deficit                          (176,285)          (204,012)
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss,
   net                                                -             (3,029)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                                709,546            449,064
                                       ----------------   ----------------
    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity              $      1,571,207   $      1,571,194
                                       ================   ================





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                  (in thousands, except per share data)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Three Months       Three Months
                                             Ended              Ended
                                         September 30,      September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                         (unaudited)        (unaudited)

Total net revenues                     $        475,997   $        470,644
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Costs and expenses:
  Operating salaries and benefits               270,052            265,597
  Self-insurance for workers'
   compensation and general and
   professional liability insurance              14,621             14,162
  Operating administrative costs                 13,343             12,462
  Other operating costs                          98,089             97,015
  Center rent expense                            18,954             18,190
  General and administrative expenses            14,146             15,586
  Depreciation and amortization                  12,733             11,457
  Provision for losses on accounts
   receivable                                     5,141              5,313
  Interest, net of interest income of
   $59 and $106, respectively                    10,614             12,231
  Transaction costs                               4,747                  -
  Restructuring costs                                 -                872
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Total costs and expenses                        462,440            452,885
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Income before income taxes and
 discontinued operations                         13,557             17,759
Income tax expense                                5,559              7,220
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Income from continuing operations                 7,998             10,539
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Discontinued operations:
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net of related taxes                            (442)              (862)
  Loss on disposal of discontinued
   operations, net of related taxes                   -                (19)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Loss from discontinued operations, net             (442)              (881)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Net income                             $          7,556   $          9,658
                                       ================   ================


Basic income per common and common
 equivalent share:
  Income from continuing operations    $           0.13   $           0.24
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net                                                -              (0.02)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Net income                             $           0.13   $           0.22
                                       ================   ================

Diluted income per common and common
 equivalent share:
  Income from continuing operations    $           0.13   $           0.24
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net                                                -              (0.02)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Net income                             $           0.13   $           0.22
                                       ================   ================

Weighted average number of common and
 common equivalent shares outstanding:
  Basic                                          59,516             43,923
  Diluted                                        59,538             44,015





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                  (in thousands, except per share data)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Nine Months        Nine Months
                                             Ended              Ended
                                         September 30,      September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                          (unaudited)       (unaudited)

Total net revenues                     $      1,423,443   $      1,406,949
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Costs and expenses:
  Operating salaries and benefits               804,302            789,744
  Self-insurance for workers'
   compensation and general and
   professional liability insurance              43,702             45,617
  Operating administrative costs                 38,932             38,231
  Other operating costs                         291,348            287,233
  Center rent expense                            56,306             54,755
  General and administrative expenses            44,570             48,057
  Depreciation and amortization                  37,732             33,329
  Provision for losses on accounts
   receivable                                    15,985             15,582
  Interest, net of interest income of
   $222 and $310, respectively                   34,366             37,422
  Transaction costs                               6,995                  -
  Loss on sale of assets, net                         -                 41
  Restructuring costs                                 -                872
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Total costs and expenses                      1,374,238          1,350,883
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Income before income taxes and
 discontinued operations                         49,205             56,066
Income tax expense                               19,990             22,795
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Income from continuing operations                29,215             33,271
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Discontinued operations:
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net of related taxes                          (1,488)            (2,941)
  Loss on disposal of discontinued
   operations, net of related taxes                   -               (334)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Loss from discontinued operations, net           (1,488)            (3,275)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Net income                             $         27,727   $         29,996
                                       ================   ================


Basic income per common and common
 equivalent share:
  Income from continuing operations    $           0.58   $           0.76
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net                                            (0.03)             (0.08)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Net income                             $           0.55   $           0.68
                                       ================   ================

Diluted income per common and common
 equivalent share:
  Income from continuing operations    $           0.58   $           0.76
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net                                            (0.03)             (0.08)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Net Income                             $           0.55   $           0.68
                                       ================   ================

Weighted average number of common and
 common equivalent shares outstanding:
  Basic                                          50,184             43,807
  Diluted                                        50,251             43,926





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                              (in thousands)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Three Months       Three Months
                                             Ended              Ended
                                         September 30,      September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                         (unaudited)        (unaudited)

Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                           $          7,556   $          9,658
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
   to net cash provided by operating
   activities, including discontinued
   operations:
     Depreciation and amortization               12,736             11,460
     Amortization of favorable and
      unfavorable lease intangibles                (504)              (474)
     Provision for losses on accounts
      receivable                                  5,289              5,318
     Loss on sale of assets, including
      discontinued operations, net                    -                 31
     Stock-based compensation expense             1,661              1,476
     Deferred taxes                               3,286              5,500
  Changes in operating assets and
   liabilities, net of acquisitions:
     Accounts receivable                         (1,307)             1,079
     Restricted cash                              2,769               (710)
     Prepaid expenses and other assets            5,399                382
     Accounts payable                            (4,909)            (6,762)
     Accrued compensation and benefits           (2,117)             4,561
     Accrued self-insurance obligations             199                  4
     Income taxes payable                         1,267                  -
     Other accrued liabilities                    4,429              9,355
     Other long-term liabilities                   (676)            (1,004)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
       Net cash provided by operating
        activities                               35,078             39,874
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Capital expenditures                          (13,774)           (16,456)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
     Net cash used for investing
      activities                                (13,774)           (16,456)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Borrowings of long-term debt                   20,500             20,822
  Principal repayments of long-term
   debt and capital lease obligations          (234,116)           (22,562)
  Proceeds from issuance of common
   stock                                        226,001                 55
  Deferred financing costs                       (2,312)                 -
                                       ----------------   ----------------
     Net cash used for financing
      activities                                 10,073             (1,685)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Net (decrease) increase in cash and
 cash equivalents                                31,377             21,733
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
 of period                                      106,973             95,672
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
 period                                $        138,350   $        117,405
                                       ================   ================

Reconciliation of net cash provided by
 operating activities to free cash
 flow:

  Net cash provided by operating
   activities                          $         35,078   $         39,874
  Capital expenditures                          (13,774)           (16,456)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
    Free cash flow                     $         21,304   $         23,418
                                       ================   ================

Free cash flow is defined as net cash flow provided by operating activities
less cash used for capital expenditures.  Free cash flow is used by
management to evaluate discretionary cash flow potentially available for
debt service and other financing activities.





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                              (in thousands)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Nine Months        Nine Months
                                             Ended              Ended
                                         September 30,      September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                         (unaudited)        (unaudited)

Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                           $         27,727   $         29,996
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
   to net cash provided by operating
   activities, including discontinued
   operations:
     Depreciation and amortization               37,744             33,336
     Amortization of favorable and
      unfavorable lease intangibles              (1,452)            (1,350)
     Provision for losses on accounts
      receivable                                 16,428             15,599
     Loss on sale of assets, including
      discontinued operations, net                    -                607
     Stock-based compensation expense             4,748              4,385
     Deferred taxes                              14,976             18,019
  Changes in operating assets and
   liabilities, net of acquisitions:
     Accounts receivable                        (12,500)           (20,588)
     Restricted cash                              5,040              8,811
     Prepaid expenses and other assets            8,012                144
     Accounts payable                            (3,628)           (11,825)
     Accrued compensation and benefits            1,945              4,927
     Accrued self-insurance obligations           5,041              1,255
     Income taxes payable                         1,605                  -
     Other accrued liabilities                    4,442              8,530
     Other long-term liabilities                 (5,775)               177
                                       ----------------   ----------------
       Net cash provided by operating
        activities                              104,353             92,023
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Capital expenditures                          (41,488)           (41,458)
  Purchase of leased real estate                      -             (3,275)
  Proceeds from sale of assets held for
   sale                                               -              2,174
                                       ----------------   ----------------
     Net cash used for investing
      activities                                (41,488)           (42,559)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Borrowings of long-term debt                   20,500             20,822
  Principal repayments of long-term
   debt and capital lease obligations          (271,093)           (44,249)
  Payment to non-controlling interest            (2,025)              (311)
  Distribution to non-controlling
   interest                                         (69)              (549)
  Proceeds from issuance of common
   stock                                        226,001                 75
  Deferred financing costs                       (2,312)                 -
                                       ----------------   ----------------
     Net cash used for financing
      activities                                (28,998)           (24,212)
                                       ----------------   ----------------

Net increase in cash and cash
 equivalents                                     33,867             25,252
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
 of period                                      104,483             92,153
                                       ----------------   ----------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
 period                                $        138,350   $        117,405
                                       ================   ================

Reconciliation of net cash provided by
 operating activities to free cash
 flow:

  Net cash provided by operating
   activities                          $        104,353   $         92,023
  Capital expenditures                          (41,488)           (41,458)
                                       ----------------   ----------------
    Free cash flow                     $         62,865   $         50,565
                                       ================   ================

Free cash flow is defined as net cash flow provided by operating activities
less cash used for capital expenditures.  Free cash flow is used by
management to evaluate discretionary cash flow potentially available for
debt service and other financing activities.





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

            RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA and EBITDAR
                              (in thousands)


                                           For the           For the
                                         Three Months      Three Months
                                             Ended            Ended
                                         September 30,    September 30,
                                             2010              2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                          (unaudited)        (unaudited)

  Total net revenues                   $        475,997   $        470,644
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  Net income                           $          7,556   $          9,658
                                       ----------------   ----------------


    Income from continuing operations             7,998             10,539

    Income tax expense                            5,559              7,220

    Interest, net                                10,614             12,231

    Depreciation and amortization                12,733             11,457
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  EBITDA                               $         36,904   $         41,447

    Restructuring costs                               -                872
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  Adjusted EBITDA                      $         36,904   $         42,319


    Center rent expense                          18,954             18,190
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  Adjusted EBITDAR                     $         55,858   $         60,509
                                       ================   ================

EBITDA is defined as earnings before loss on discontinued operations,
income taxes, interest, net, depreciation and amortization.  Adjusted
EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before restructuring costs and loss on sale of
assets, net.  Adjusted EBITDAR is defined as Adjusted EBITDA before center
rent expense.  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR are used by management
to evaluate financial performance and resource allocation for each entity
within the operating units and for the Company as a whole.  Adjusted EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDAR are commonly used as analytical indicators within the 
healthcare industry and also serve as measures of leverage capacity and
debt service ability.  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR should not be
considered as measures of financial performance under generally accepted
accounting principles.  As the items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDAR are significant components in understanding and assessing
finance performance, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR should not be
considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, cash flows
generated by or used in operating, investing or financing activities or
other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial
statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity.  Because
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBTIDAR are not measurements determined in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and are thus
susceptible to varying calculations.  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR
as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of
other companies.





                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

   RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA and ADJUSTED EBITDAR
                              (in thousands)


                                           For the            For the
                                         Nine Months        Nine Months
                                             Ended             Ended
                                         September 30,     September 30,
                                             2010               2009
                                       ----------------   ----------------
                                          (unaudited)        (unaudited)

  Total net revenues                   $      1,423,443   $      1,406,949
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  Net income                           $         27,727   $         29,996
                                       ----------------   ----------------


    Income from continuing operations            29,215             33,271

    Income tax expense                           19,990             22,795

    Interest, net                                34,366             37,422

    Depreciation and amortization                37,732             33,329
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  EBITDA                               $        121,303   $        126,817

    Loss on sale of assets, net                       -                 41

    Restructuring costs                               -                872
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  Adjusted EBITDA                      $        121,303   $        127,730


    Center rent expense                          56,306             54,755
                                       ----------------   ----------------

  Adjusted EBITDAR                     $        177,609   $        182,485
                                       ================   ================

EBITDA is defined as earnings before loss on discontinued operations,
income taxes, interest, net, depreciation and amortization.  Adjusted
EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before restructuring costs and loss on sale of
assets, net.  Adjusted EBITDAR is defined as Adjusted EBITDA before center
rent expense.  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR are used by management
to evaluate financial performance and resource allocation for each entity
within the operating units and for the Company as a whole.  Adjusted EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDAR are commonly used as analytical indicators within the
healthcare industry and also serve as measures of leverage capacity and
debt service ability.  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR should not be
considered as measures of financial performance under generally accepted
accounting principles.  As the items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDAR are significant components in understanding and assessing
finance performance, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR should not be
considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, cash flows
generated by or used in operating, investing or financing activities or
other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial
statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity.  Because
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBTIDAR are not measurements determined in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and are thus
susceptible to varying calculations.  Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR
as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of
other companies.








                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  RECONCILIATION OF INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED
                        EBITDA and ADJUSTED EBITDAR
                             ($ in thousands)

              For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
                                (unaudited)



                          Rehabil-                    Elimination
                          itation   Medical                of
               Inpatient  Therapy   Staffing  Other &  Affiliated  Consoli-
                Services  Services  Services  Corp Seg  Revenue     dated
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
Nonaffiliated
 revenue        $424,160  $ 30,342  $ 21,481  $     14  $      -  $475,997
Affiliated
 revenue               -    21,397       724         -   (22,121)        -
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
  Total revenue $424,160  $ 51,739  $ 22,205  $     14  $(22,121) $475,997
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

Income (loss)
 from
 continuing
 operations     $ 36,134  $  3,961  $  1,195  $(33,292) $      -  $  7,998
Income tax
 expense               -         -         -     5,559         -     5,559
Interest, net      2,570         -         -     8,044         -    10,614
Depreciation
 and
 amortization     11,630       173       181       749         -    12,733
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

  EBITDA        $ 50,334  $  4,134  $  1,376  $(18,940) $      -  $ 36,904

Restructuring
 costs                 -         -         -         -         -         -
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

  Adjusted
   EBITDA       $ 50,334  $  4,134  $  1,376  $(18,940) $      -  $ 36,904

Center rent
 expense          18,629       123       202         -         -    18,954
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

  Adjusted
   EBITDAR      $ 68,963  $  4,257  $  1,578  $(18,940) $      -  $ 55,858
                ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========

  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDA       $ 50,334  $  4,134  $  1,376  $(14,193) $      -  $ 41,651
  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDAR      $ 68,963  $  4,257  $  1,578  $(14,193) $      -  $ 60,605


Adjusted EBITDA
         margin     11.9%      8.0%      6.2%                          7.8%
       Adjusted
 EBITDAR margin     16.3%      8.2%      7.1%                         11.7%
     Normalized
       Adjusted
  EBITDA margin     11.9%      8.0%      6.2%                          8.8%
     Normalized
       Adjusted
 EBITDAR margin     16.3%      8.2%      7.1%                         12.7%

   See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
   "Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."
   See normalizing adjustments in the table "Normalizing Adjustments -
   Quarter Comparison."









                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  RECONCILIATION OF INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED
                        EBITDA and ADJUSTED EBITDAR
                             ($ in thousands)

               For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
                                (unaudited)



                       Rehabil-                     Elimination
                       itation   Medical                 of
           Inpatient   Therapy   Staffing   Other &  Affiliated
            Services   Services  Services  Corp Seg   Revenue  Consolidated
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------
Nonaffiliated
 revenue   $1,265,980  $ 89,723  $ 67,712  $      28  $      -  $1,423,443
Affiliated
 revenue            -    63,584     1,364          -   (64,948)          -
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------
  Total
   revenue $1,265,980  $153,307  $ 69,076  $      28  $(64,948) $1,423,443
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

Income
 (loss)
 from
 continuing
 opera-
 tions     $  113,355  $ 11,757  $  4,479  $(100,376) $      -  $   29,215
Income tax
 expense            -         -         -     19,990         -      19,990
Interest,
 net            8,087         -        (1)    26,280         -      34,366
Depreciation
 and
 amortization  34,320       484       543      2,385         -      37,732
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

  EBITDA   $  155,762  $ 12,241  $  5,021  $ (51,721) $      -  $  121,303

Loss on
 sale of
 assets,
 net                -         -         -          -         -           -
Restructuring
 costs              -         -         -          -         -           -
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

  Adjusted
   EBITDA  $  155,762  $ 12,241  $  5,021  $ (51,721) $      -  $  121,303

Center
 rent
 expense       55,326       364       616          -         -      56,306
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

  Adjusted
   EBITDAR $  211,088  $ 12,605  $  5,637  $ (51,721) $      -  $  177,609
           ==========  ========  ========  =========  ========  ==========

  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDA  $  155,762  $ 12,241  $  5,021  $ (44,726) $      -  $  128,298
  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDAR $  211,088  $ 12,605  $  5,637  $ (44,726) $      -  $  184,604


  Adjusted
    EBITDA
    margin       12.3%      8.0%      7.3%                             8.5%
  Adjusted
   EBITDAR
    margin       16.7%      8.2%      8.2%                            12.5%
Normalized
  Adjusted
    EBITDA
    margin       12.3%      8.0%      7.3%                             9.0%
Normalized
  Adjusted
   EBITDAR
    margin       16.7%      8.2%      8.2%                            13.0%

   See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
   "Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."
   See normalizing adjustments in the table "Normalizing Adjustments -
   Quarter Comparison."










                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  RECONCILIATION OF INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED
                        EBITDA and ADJUSTED EBITDAR
                             ($ in thousands)

              For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
                                (unaudited)


                          Rehabil-                    Elimination
                          itation   Medical                of
               Inpatient  Therapy   Staffing  Other &  Affiliated  Consoli-
                Services  Services  Services  Corp Seg  Revenue     dated
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
Nonaffiliated
 revenue        $420,374  $ 26,394  $ 23,864  $     12  $      -  $470,644
Affiliated
 revenue               -    18,592       545         -   (19,137)        -
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
  Total revenue $420,374  $ 44,986  $ 24,409  $     12  $(19,137) $470,644
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

Income (loss)
 from
 continuing
 operations     $ 39,481  $  2,606  $  2,091  $(33,639) $      -  $ 10,539
Income tax
 expense               -         -         -     7,220         -     7,220
Interest, net      3,024         -        (1)    9,208         -    12,231
Depreciation
 and
 amortization     10,480       140       179       658         -    11,457
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

  EBITDA        $ 52,985  $  2,746  $  2,269  $(16,553) $      -  $ 41,447

Restructuring
 costs                 -         -         -       872         -       872
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

  Adjusted
   EBITDA       $ 52,985  $  2,746  $  2,269  $(15,681) $      -  $ 42,319
Center rent
 expense          17,848       119       223         -         -    18,190
                --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

  Adjusted
   EBITDAR      $ 70,833  $  2,865  $  2,492  $(15,681) $      -  $ 60,509
                ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========

  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDA       $ 52,985  $  2,746  $  2,269  $(15,681) $      -  $ 42,319
  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDAR      $ 70,833  $  2,865  $  2,492  $(15,681) $      -  $ 60,509


Adjusted EBITDA
         margin     12.6%      6.1%      9.3%                          9.0%
       Adjusted
 EBITDAR margin     16.8%      6.4%     10.2%                         12.9%
     Normalized
       Adjusted
  EBITDA margin     12.6%      6.1%      9.3%                          9.0%
     Normalized
       Adjusted
 EBITDAR margin     16.8%      6.4%     10.2%                         12.9%

   See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
   "Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."
   See normalizing adjustments in the table "Normalizing Adjustments -
   Quarter Comparison."







                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  RECONCILIATION OF INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED
                        EBITDA and ADJUSTED EBITDAR
                             ($ in thousands)

               For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
                                (unaudited)


                       Rehabil-                       Elimina-
                       itation   Medical              tion of
           Inpatient   Therapy   Staffing   Other &   Affiliated
            Services   Services  Services  Corp Seg    Revenue
Consolidated
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------
Nonaffiliated
 revenue   $1,251,524  $ 78,063  $ 77,335  $      27  $      -  $1,406,949
Affiliated
 revenue            -    55,168     1,668          -   (56,836)          -
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------
  Total
   revenue $1,251,524  $133,231  $ 79,003  $      27  $(56,836) $1,406,949
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

Income
 (loss)
 from
 continuing
 opera-
 tions     $  120,395  $  8,572  $  6,401  $(102,097) $      -  $   33,271
Income tax
 expense            -         -         -     22,795         -      22,795
Interest,
 net            9,345        (2)       (1)    28,080         -      37,422
Depreciation
 and
 amortization  30,323       399       601      2,006         -      33,329
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

  EBITDA   $  160,063  $  8,969  $  7,001  $ (49,216) $      -  $  126,817

Loss on sale
 of assets,
 net                7        34         -          -         -          41
Restructuring
 costs              -         -         -        872         -         872
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

  Adjusted
   EBITDA  $  160,070  $  9,003  $  7,001  $ (48,344) $      -  $  127,730
Center
 rent
 expense       53,707       348       700          -         -      54,755
           ----------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ----------

  Adjusted
   EBITDAR $  213,777  $  9,351  $  7,701  $ (48,344) $      -  $  182,485
           ==========  ========  ========  =========  ========  ==========

  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDA  $  164,370  $  9,003  $  7,001  $ (48,344) $      -  $  132,030
  Normalized
   Adjusted
   EBITDAR $  218,077  $  9,351  $  7,701  $ (48,344) $      -  $  186,785


  Adjusted
    EBITDA
    margin       12.8%      6.8%      8.9%                             9.1%
  Adjusted
   EBITDAR
    margin       17.1%      7.0%      9.7%                            13.0%
Normalized
  Adjusted
    EBITDA
    margin       13.1%      6.8%      8.9%                             9.4%
Normalized
  Adjusted
   EBITDAR
    margin       17.4%      7.0%      9.7%                            13.3%

   See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
   "Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."
   See normalizing adjustments in the table "Normalizing Adjustments -
   Quarter Comparison."






                Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Selected Operating Statistics
                          Continuing Operations


                    For the                         For the
              Three Months Ended               Nine Months Ended
                 September 30,                   September 30,
            -----------------------       ---------------------------
              2010           2009            2010             2009
Consolidated
 Company
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
Revenues -
 Non-
 affiliated
 (in
 thousands)
  Skilled
   Nursing
   and
   similar
   facilit-
   ies      $412,295       $412,550        1,230,684        1,230,551
  Hospice     11,277          7,242           33,633           19,249
  Other -
   Inpatient
   Services      588            582            1,663            1,724
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
   Inpatient
    Services 424,160        420,374        1,265,980        1,251,524
  Rehabili-
   tation
   Therapy
   Services   30,342         26,394           89,723           78,063
  Medical
   Staffing
   Services   21,481         23,864           67,712           77,335
  Other -
   non-core
   businesses     14             12               28               27
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
    Total   $475,997       $470,644       $1,423,443       $1,406,949
            ========       ========       ==========       ==========


Revenue Mix
 -
 Non-
 affiliated
 (in
 thousands)
  Medicare  $138,125   29% $137,857   29%    421,398   30%    417,059   30%
  Medicaid   194,936   41%  189,878   40%    574,856   40%    559,358   40%
  Private
   and
   Other     113,610   24%  114,143   25%    339,492   24%    341,424   24%
  Managed
   Care /
   Insurance  24,178    5%   24,393    5%     72,636    5%     76,591    5%
  Veterans     5,148    1%    4,373    1%     15,061    1%     12,517    1%
            --------  ---  --------  ---  ----------  ---  ----------  ---
    Total   $475,997  100% $470,644  100% $1,423,443  100% $1,406,949  100%
            ========  ===  ========  ===  ==========  ===  ==========  ===


Inpatient
 Services
 Stats
 Number of
  centers:       202            202              202              202
 Number of
  available
  beds:       22,407         22,331           22,407           22,331
 Occupancy
  %:            86.9%          88.1%            87.1%            88.3%


 Payor Mix
  % based
  on
  patient
  days:
   Medicare
    - SNF
    Beds        14.7%          15.3%            15.2%            15.8%
   Managed
    care /
    Ins. -
    SNF
    Beds         3.9%           3.9%             4.0%             4.1%
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
     Total
      SNF
      skilled
      mix       18.6%          19.2%            19.2%            19.9%
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
  Medicare      13.4%          14.0%            13.9%            14.4%
  Medicaid      62.5%          60.6%            62.2%            60.4%
  Private
   and
   Other        19.4%          20.8%            19.1%            20.4%
  Managed
   Care /
   Insurance     3.5%           3.6%             3.6%             3.8%
  Veterans       1.2%           1.0%             1.2%             1.0%

 Revenue
  Mix % of
  revenues:
   Medicare
    - SNF
    Beds        31.1%          32.2%            31.9%            32.9%
   Managed
    care /
    Ins. -
    SNF
    Beds         6.0%           6.1%             6.0%             6.4%
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
     Total
      SNF
      skilled
      mix       37.1%          38.3%            37.9%            39.3%
            --------       --------       ----------       ----------
  Medicare      31.4%          31.9%            32.2%            32.4%
  Medicaid      46.0%          45.2%            45.4%            44.7%
  Private
   and
   Other        15.8%          16.1%            15.5%            15.8%
  Managed
   Care /
   Insurance     5.6%           5.8%             5.7%             6.1%
  Veterans       1.2%           1.0%             1.2%             1.0%


 Revenues
  PPD:
  LTC only
   Medicare
   (Part A) $ 463.36       $ 457.79       $   464.46       $   454.15
  Medicare
   Blended
   Rate
   (Part A
   & B)     $ 505.73       $ 496.11       $   504.05       $   491.94
  Medicaid  $ 173.49       $ 172.06       $   173.29       $   170.86
  Private
   and
   Other    $ 182.95       $ 175.29       $   184.95       $   175.82
  Managed
   Care /
   Insurance$ 375.76       $ 371.09       $   369.09       $   373.86
  Veterans  $ 238.74       $ 234.74       $   241.44       $   229.95

Rehab
 contracts
Affiliated       132            121              132              121
Non-affiliated   344            328              344              328

Average
 Qtrly
 Revenue
 per
 Contract
 (in thou-
 sands)     $    109       $    100       $      107       $       99






                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

               NORMALIZING ADJUSTMENTS - QUARTER COMPARISON
                  (in thousands, except per share data)

                             AS REPORTED - 3rd QUARTER 2010
             -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Income
                                                   from
                     Adjusted  Adjusted         Continuing  Disc     Net
             Revenue  EBITDAR   EBITDA  Pre-tax Operations   Ops    Income
             -------- -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

As Reported
 3rd QUARTER
 2010        $475,997 $55,858  $36,904  $13,557  $ 7,998  $  (442) $ 7,556
  Percent of
     Revenue             11.7%     7.8%     2.8%     1.7%    -0.1%     1.6%
Normalizing
 Adjustments:

 REIT
  separation
  transaction
  costs             -   4,747    4,747    4,747    2,801        -    2,801
             -------- -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

Normalized
 As Reported
 - 3rd
 QUARTER
 2010        $475,997 $60,605  $41,651  $18,304  $10,799  $  (442) $10,357
             ======== =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
  Percent of
     Revenue             12.7%     8.8%     3.8%     2.3%    -0.1%     2.2%

Diluted EPS:
 As Reported                                     $  0.13  $     -  $  0.13
 As Normalized                                   $  0.18  $ (0.01) $  0.17



Weighted average
 number of common
 and common
 equivalent
 shares
 outstanding
 on a diluted                                                      Diluted
 basis:                                                             Shares
                                                                   -------

 As Reported
  / As
  Normalized
  diluted
  shares                                                            59,538
 Stock
  offering
  impact on
  diluted
  shares                                                           (15,412)
                                                                   -------

 As Adjusted
  diluted
  shares                                                            44,126
                                                                   =======






                             AS REPORTED - 3rd QUARTER 2009
             -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Income
                                                   from
                     Adjusted  Adjusted         Continuing  Disc     Net
             Revenue  EBITDAR   EBITDA  Pre-tax Operations   Ops    Income
             -------- -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

As Reported
 - 3rd
 QUARTER
 2009        $470,644 $60,509  $42,319  $17,759  $10,539  $  (881) $ 9,658
Percent of
 Revenue                 12.9%     9.0%     3.8%     2.2%    -0.2%     2.1%
Normalizing
 Adjustments:

 Restructuring
  costs             -       -        -      872      514        -      514
             -------- -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

Normalized
 As Reported
 - 3rd
 QUARTER
 2009        $470,644 $60,509  $42,319  $18,631  $11,053  $  (881) $10,172
             ======== =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
  Percent of
     Revenue             12.9%     9.0%     4.0%     2.3%    -0.2%     2.2%

Diluted EPS:
 As Reported                                     $  0.24  $ (0.02) $  0.22
 As Normalized                                   $  0.25  $ (0.02) $  0.23





See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
"Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."

Normalizing adjustments are transactions or adjustments not related to
ongoing operations and consist of REIT separation transaction costs and
restructuring costs.

Normalizing adjustments do not include any adjustment for the August 2010
equity offering or the use of proceeds to pay down debt, avoiding interest
expense.

Since normalizing adjustments are not measurements determined in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and are thus
susceptible to varying calculations and interpretations, the information
presented herein may not be comparable to other similarly described
information of other companies.









                SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NORMALIZING ADJUSTMENTS - YEAR TO DATE COMPARISON
                  (in thousands, except per share data)

                             AS REPORTED -NINE MONTHS 2010
             -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Income
                                                     from
                                                  Continuing
                        Adjusted  Adjusted   Pre-   Opera-   Disc     Net
              Revenue   EBITDAR    EBITDA     tax   tions     Ops   Income
             ---------- --------  --------  ------  ------  ------  ------

As Reported
 - Nine
 Months 2010 $1,423,443 $177,609  $121,303 $49,205 $29,215 $(1,488)$27,727
  Percent of
     Revenue                12.5%      8.5%    3.5%    2.1%   -0.1%    1.9%

Normalizing
 Adjustments:

 REIT
  separation
  transaction
  costs               -    6,995     6,995   6,995   4,127       -   4,127
             ---------- --------  --------  ------  ------  ------  ------

Normalized
 As Reported
 - Nine
 Months 2010 $1,423,443 $184,604  $128,298 $56,200 $33,342 $(1,488)$31,854
             ========== ========  ========  ======  ======  ======  ======
  Percent of
     Revenue                13.0%      9.0%    3.9%    2.3%   -0.1%    2.2%

Diluted EPS:
 As Reported                                        $ 0.58  $(0.03) $ 0.55
 As
  Normalized                                        $ 0.66  $(0.03) $ 0.63




Weighted average
 number of common and
 common equivalent
 shares
 outstanding
 on a diluted                                                      Diluted
 basis:                                                             Shares
                                                                    ------

 As Reported
  / As
  Normalized
  diluted
  shares                                                            50,251
 Stock
  offering
  impact on
  diluted
  shares                                                            (5,879)
                                                                    ------

 As Adjusted
  diluted
  shares                                                            44,372
                                                                    ======





                             AS REPORTED - NINE MONTHS 2009
             -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Income
                                                     from
                                                  Continuing
                        Adjusted  Adjusted   Pre-   Opera-   Disc     Net
              Revenue   EBITDAR    EBITDA     tax   tions     Ops   Income
             ---------- --------  --------  ------  ------  ------  ------

As Reported
 - Nine
 Months 2009 $1,406,949 $182,485  $127,730 $56,066 $33,271 $(3,275)$29,996
  Percent of
     Revenue                13.0%      9.1%    4.0%    2.4%   -0.2%    2.1%

Normalizing
 Adjustments:

 Restructuring
  costs               -        -         -     872     514       -     514
 Prior
  periods'
  self-
  insurance
  costs               -    4,300     4,300   4,300   2,537     348   2,885
             ---------- --------  --------  ------  ------  ------  ------

Normalized
 As Reported
 - Nine
 Months 2009 $1,406,949 $186,785  $132,030 $61,238 $36,322 $(2,927)$33,395
             ========== ========  ========  ======  ======  ======  ======
  Percent of
     Revenue                13.3%      9.4%    4.4%    2.6%   -0.2%    2.4%

Diluted EPS:
 As Reported                                        $ 0.76  $(0.08) $ 0.68
 As Normalized                                      $ 0.83  $(0.07) $ 0.76



See definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in the table
"Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR."

Normalizing adjustments are transactions or adjustments not related to
ongoing operations and consist of REIT separation transaction costs,
restructuring costs and prior periods' self-insurance costs.

Normalizing adjustments do not include any adjustment for the August 2010
equity offering or the use of proceeds to pay down debt, avoiding interest
expense.

Since normalizing adjustments are not measurements determined in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and are thus
susceptible to varying calculations and interpretations, the information
presented herein may not be comparable to other similarly described
information of other companies.

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of advanced radiation therapy solutions for cancer care, today
released financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter 2010 revenue was $43.6 million, an increase of 27% from $34.4
million in the third quarter of 2009. Revenue from product sales was $29.8
million in the third quarter of 2010, up 23% compared to the same quarter
last year, and revenue from service and other was $13.8 million in the
third quarter of 2010, up 37% compared to the same quarter last year. The
company reported a third quarter 2010 loss from operations of $14.6
million, a 10% decrease from the $16.1 million loss from operations for the
same period last year.

The company incurred a net loss attributable to shareholders of $10.9
million, or $0.21 per share, for the third quarter of 2010, compared to a
net loss of $13.9 million, or $0.27 per share, for the third quarter of
2009.

As of September 30, 2010, the company had $140.0 million of cash, cash
equivalents and short-term investments, representing a $5.6 million
decrease from June 30, 2010. There were no borrowings against the
company’s credit facility during the quarter.

As of September 30, 2010, the company had a revenue backlog of $146.4
million, a 5% increase from the $139.2 million backlog as of June 30, 2010.
The backlog includes $35.0 million of equipment orders received during the
third quarter of 2010. Backlog includes firm orders that the company
believes are likely to ship within the next two years, as well as the
minimum payments for system rental contracts. Backlog does not include any
revenue from service contracts, which represents a growing portion of the
company’s overall revenue.

“We are encouraged by our third quarter financial performance, which
reflects substantial improvement from the same period last year and
demonstrates that our efforts on several key fronts are yielding results,”
said Fred Robertson, TomoTherapy’s CEO. “Importantly, our year-over-year
revenue growth is attributable to strength in product sales as well as
service. On the product side, we have increased our backlog for two
consecutive quarters as a result of a stronger, more integrated global
sales and marketing efforts combined with the market’s demand for our new,
more diverse product offerings. Service and other sales also continued to
grow at a significant rate in comparison to the prior year, and at the same
time, we maintained leading customer service rankings. We are focused on
driving product sales in the geographic regions we have targeted, while
simultaneously continuing to improve the reliability of our systems,
including enhancing machine uptime and reducing maintenance required, as we
continue on our path to return to profitability.”

Nine-Month Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, revenue was $133.3 million, a
26% increase from $106.1 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2009. Revenue from product sales was $93.2 million in the first nine
months of 2010, up 23% compared to the first nine months of 2009, and
revenue from service and other was $40.1 million in the first nine months
of 2010, up 33% compared to the first nine months of 2009.

The company reported a year-to-date 2010 loss from operations of $28.9
million, a 27% decrease from the loss from operations of $39.8 million
during the first nine months of 2009. The company incurred a net loss
attributable to shareholders of $22.5 million, or $0.43 per share, for the
nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to a net loss attributable
to shareholders of $34.0 million, or $0.67 per share, for the same period
last year.

During the first nine months of 2010, the company’s cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments decreased by $14.3 million. In the same period,
the company’s backlog increased by $10.6 million, from $135.8 million as of
December 31, 2009 to $146.4 million as of September 30, 2010.

Outlook

The company is revising upward its revenue guidance for full-year 2010.
Management now expects 2010 revenue to be $175 million to $185 million, as
compared to the previous range of $160 million to $180 million.
Additionally, the net loss attributable to shareholders is now projected to
be in the range of $0.65 to $0.75 per share, as compared to the previous
projection of $0.65 to $0.85 per share.

Robertson concluded, “Our year-to-date results continue to show improving
revenue and margins. Coupled with our backlog growth, we now expect
stronger top-line results than we had anticipated earlier in the year.
While global market conditions remain difficult to assess, there have been
positive indications recently that demand is stabilizing. We are seeing
strong indications of interest in our new product offerings throughout
North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region and continue to believe
there are significant growth opportunities across these geographies.
Moreover, based on many published reports regarding TomoTherapy treatment,
we believe that the market is increasingly recognizing the benefits of this
radiation therapy approach.”

Investor Conference Call

TomoTherapy will conduct a conference call regarding its third quarter 2010
results at 5:00 p.m. ET today, October 27, 2010 (4:00 p.m. CT). To hear a
live Webcast or replay of the call, visit the Investor Relations page at TomoTherapy.com, where it will
be archived for two weeks. To access the call via telephone, dial
1-800-638-4817 from inside the United States or 1-617-614-3943 from outside
the United States, and enter pass code 19539609. The replay can be
accessed by dialing
1-888-286-8010 from inside the United States or
1-617-801-6888 from outside the United States and entering pass code
40905886. The telephone replay will be available through 10:59 p.m. CT on
November 3, 2010.

About TomoTherapy Incorporated

TomoTherapy Incorporated develops, markets and sells advanced radiation
therapy solutions that can be used to efficiently treat a wide variety of
cancers, from the most common to the most complex. The ring gantry-based
TomoTherapy® platform combines integrated CT imaging with conformal
radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed
and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy
tissue. TomoTherapy’s suite of solutions includes its flagship Hi-Art®
treatment system, which has been used to deliver more than three million
CT-guided, helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment
fractions; the TomoHD™ treatment system, designed to enable cancer centers
to treat a broader patient population with a single device; and the
TomoMobile™ relocatable radiation therapy solution, designed to improve
access and availability of state-of-the-art cancer care. TomoTherapy’s
stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “TOMO.”
To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements
concerning market acceptance of the company’s technology; growth drivers;
the company’s orders, revenue, backlog or earnings growth; future financial
results and any statements using the terms “should,” “believe,” “outlook,”
“expect,” “anticipate” or similar statements are forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and
uncertainties include: demand for the company’s products; impact of sales
cycles and competitive products and pricing; the effect of economic
conditions and currency exchange rates; the company’s ability to develop
and commercialize new products; its reliance on sole or limited-source
suppliers; its ability to increase gross margins; the company’s ability to
meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agency
product clearance and compliance requirements; the possibility that
material product liability claims could harm future revenue or require the
company to pay uninsured claims; the company’s ability to protect its
intellectual property; the impact of managed care initiatives, other health
care reforms and/or third-party reimbursement levels for cancer care;
potential loss of key distributors or key personnel; risk of interruptions
to the company’s operations due to terrorism, disease or other events
beyond the company’s control; and the other risks listed from time to time
in the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
which by this reference are incorporated herein. TomoTherapy assumes no
obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this
release because of new information, future events or otherwise.

                TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                  (In thousands, except per share data)
                                (unaudited)



                                 Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                    September 30,         September 30,
                                --------------------  --------------------
                                  2010       2009       2010       2009
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Revenue:
 Product                        $  29,759  $  24,252  $  93,230  $  75,937
 Service and other                 13,823     10,126     40,062     30,144
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total revenue                    43,582     34,378    133,292    106,081
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Cost of revenue:
 Product                           16,233     13,782     46,372     39,779
 Service and other                 20,339     17,038     54,848     51,690
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total cost of revenue            36,572     30,820    101,220     91,469
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
   Gross profit                     7,010      3,558     32,072     14,612
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating expenses:
  Research and development          8,228      7,218     24,728     20,086
  Selling, general and
   administrative                  13,342     12,470     36,286     34,347
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
   Total operating expenses        21,570     19,688     61,014     54,433
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Loss from operations              (14,560)   (16,130)   (28,942)   (39,821)
Other income (expense):
  Interest income                     342        617      1,289      2,009
  Interest expense                     (4)       (18)       (27)       (47)
  Other income (expense), net       1,539        105        513       (258)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
   Total other income (expense)     1,877        704      1,775      1,704
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Loss before income tax and
 noncontrolling interests         (12,683)   (15,426)   (27,167)   (38,117)
  Income tax expense (benefit)         47        256         13       (162)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net loss                          (12,730)   (15,682)   (27,180)   (37,955)
  Noncontrolling interests          1,842      1,802      4,691      3,953
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net loss attributable to
 shareholders                   $ (10,888) $ (13,880) $ (22,489) $ (34,002)
                                =========  =========  =========  =========

Weighted-average common shares
 outstanding -
 basic and diluted                 51,934     50,748     51,739     50,645
                                =========  =========  =========  =========

Loss per common share - basic
 and diluted                    $   (0.21) $   (0.27) $   (0.43) $   (0.67)
                                =========  =========  =========  =========



                TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                              (In thousands)
                                (unaudited)

                                                 September 30, December 31,
                                                      2010         2009
                                                  ------------ ------------
                   ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                         $    110,424 $     76,108
Short-term investments                                  29,612       78,225
Receivables, net                                        34,454       33,559
Inventories, net                                        53,014       47,669
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                3,352        3,633
                                                  ------------ ------------
  Total current assets                                 230,856      239,194
Property and equipment, net                             21,305       18,628
Other non-current assets, net                           11,168       12,429
                                                  ------------ ------------
 TOTAL ASSETS                                     $    263,329 $    270,251
                                                  ============ ============


           LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable                                  $     14,095 $      6,269
Accrued expenses                                        23,415       19,588
Accrued warranty                                         4,115        4,173
Deferred revenue                                        30,877       34,145
Customer deposits                                       14,801       13,266
                                                  ------------ ------------
  Total current liabilities                             87,303       77,441
Other non-current liabilities                            3,213        5,475
                                                  ------------ ------------
  TOTAL LIABILITIES                                     90,516       82,916

Total shareholders' equity                             167,007      183,424
Noncontrolling interests                                 5,806        3,911
                                                  ------------ ------------
  TOTAL EQUITY                                         172,813      187,335
                                                  ------------ ------------
  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                    $    263,329 $    270,251
                                                  ============ ============

CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) –  Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (SMEMC) is among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for stroke care, gastrointestinal surgery and gastrointestinal care, according to a newly published health care study.

SMEMC ranks fifth in the state for gastrointestinal surgery and gastrointestinal care.

The nation’s nearly 5,000 hospitals were included in this sweeping study, which examined mortality rates and complication rates. The 13^th Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study, the largest annual report of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes from nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2007 to 2009. HealthGrades, an independent ratings company, conducted the study.

For 2011, SMEMC was recognized with nine clinical achievements:

• HealthGrades Stroke Care Excellence Award™ (second year in a row)
• HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award™
• HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award™
• Five-star ratings, the highest level, in six areas — heart attack, pneumonia, sepsis (complication of a serious bacterial infection), gastrointestinal bleed, bowel obstruction and cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)

“Our mission — since we opened our doors 123 years ago — is to provide patients with the highest level of quality care,” said Margaret McDermott, executive vice president/chief executive officer, SMEMC. “I am proud of our entire health care team for their commitment to delivering excellent care with excellent results.”

McDermott said patients are increasingly seeking independent information on hospital quality performance. “I hope this study will help guide individuals confronted with important health care decisions,” she said.

According to the study, top-performing hospitals had dramatically lower mortality rates than other hospitals. HealthGrades analyzed mortality rates for 17 procedures and diagnoses. Results showed that patients at hospitals ranking in the top 5 percent had a 72 percent lower chance of dying when compared with the lowest-performing hospitals, and a 53 percent lower chance of dying when compared to the U.S. national average.

HealthGrades rates hospitals independently based on data that hospitals submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To read the full study and FAQ, visit http://www.reshealth.org/sub_smemc/about/healthgrades/default.cfm.

About SMEMC
Part of Resurrection Health Care, SMEMC is an award-winning medical center on Chicago’s near northwest side and includes two campuses: Saint Mary Campus, 2233 W. Division St., and Saint Elizabeth Campus, 1431 North Claremont Ave. Visit smemc.reshealthcare.org.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA–(Marketwire – Oct. 27, 2010) – The Medical Tourism Association and the University of Richmond have launched a “Medical Tourism Certification” program, which will officially launch in 2011. The University of Richmond’s School of Continuing Studies will work in partnership with the Medical Tourism Association in creating a curriculum and selecting instructors.

The professional certificate program will require six courses to complete, and each course will be available in both English and Spanish. The courses will be offered completely online, allowing the program to reach an international audience. Each course will cost $199 and will take four weeks to complete. Students will be able to participate in these courses anywhere, at any time, and at their own pace during the four-week period.

In the online classroom, students will be able to view lectures and presentations, read articles, engage in discussions with other students and faculty, answer questions and take quizzes.

In addition to earning the Professional Studies Certificate from the University of Richmond, students will also earn Continuing Education Units, or CEUs, for each class they complete. Courses can be taken individually, or as part the entire certificate program. The Medical Tourism Certification will provide a standard of best practices for those who work in this field.

“This is the first certification program for medical tourism taught by an established and leading university and educational system. This program will be a great opportunity for those individuals in the industry who are looking for advanced education and to set them apart,” said, Renée-Marie Stephano, President of the Medical Tourism Association and Chief Editor of the Medical Tourism Magazine.

“We are very excited to partner with the Medical Tourism Association, who has clearly established itself as the leader in the industry. We feel this program will be invaluable to potential students from around the world who are looking for certification in medical tourism,” said Stephanie Bowlin, Non-Credit Program Manager at the University of Richmond. “We are looking forward to working with the MTA to put together a cutting edge curriculum and schedule and bringing in some of the leaders in medical tourism and international healthcare as professors and teachers for this online certificate program.” 

About the Medical Tourism Association

The Medical Tourism Association™ (Global Healthcare Association) is the international non-profit trade association for the medical tourism and global healthcare industry made up of the top international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators, insurance companies, and other affiliated companies and members with the common goal of promoting the highest level of quality of healthcare to patients in a global environment. Our Association promotes the interests of its healthcare provider and medical tourism facilitator members. The Medical Tourism Association™ (Global Healthcare Association) has three tenets: Transparency in Quality and Pricing, Communication and Education.

For more information about the MTA http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com.

About the University of Richmond

The University of Richmond is a highly selective, liberal arts university located on a 350-acre suburban campus located in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1830, the University of Richmond provides a learning environment unlike any other in higher education, offering students an extraordinary combination of the liberal arts with law, business, leadership studies, and continuing education. The School of Continuing Studies primarily serves non-traditional students, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees for adults as well as non-credit certification and professional development programs.

For More Information on University of Richmond: http://scs.richmond.edu/medical-tourism. 

For More Information about this Medical Tourism Certification or to request an opportunity to provide curriculum for the program, please contact:

Gaby Vicuña

Global Program Coordinator

[email protected]

US 561-791-2000

YPSILANTI, MI–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) –  Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc. (ISSYS) announced that the U.S Patent Office has granted a patent titled “Wireless Device and System for Monitoring Physiological Parameters” (US Patent No. 7,686,762) which covers the overall structure of ISSYS’ miniature, wireless, batteryless, implantable sensors for non-invasive monitoring of biological pressures for the effective management of chronic diseases.

ISSYS has also developed accompanying anchors and delivery systems that allow its wireless, batteryless, sensors to be implanted within the body via 3 distinct approaches: transcatheter delivery, open heart surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. 

Dr. Nader Najafi, ISSYS CEO, stated that “ISSYS’ intellectual properties (patents, know how, and trade secrets) cover a wide spectrum including MEMS pressure sensor, the overall system, delivery and anchoring, and a variety of medical applications. Another major competitive advantage for ISSYS is its newly expanded manufacturing facility that is capable of producing tens of thousands of the miniature implants per year. The particular targets of ISSYS products are cardiovascular disease, especially congestive heart failure (CHF), hydrocephalus (high brain pressure), and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). ISSYS plans to start its cardiovascular clinical studies in 2011.”

Company Background: ISSYS is a leader in advanced MEMS technologies for industrial, medical, microfluidic and scientific analytical sensing applications. Founded in 1995, ISSYS is one of the oldest independent MEMS companies in the US. ISSYS operates a comprehensive, state-of-the-art MEMS fabrication facility located near Ann Arbor, Michigan. ISSYS is currently ISO 9001:2008 certified and compliant to EN13980:2002 for its ATEX (intrinsically safe) and CE approved products. ISSYS Quality System is also designed to meet the ISO13485:2003 standard. ISSYS is a vertically integrated company dedicated to developing and manufacturing system-level products based on MEMS technology (MEMS Inside), please visit: http://www.mems-issys.com/

MONTVALE, NJ–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) –  SRS, the leading provider of productivity-enhancing technology and services for high-performance specialty practices, today announced that Advanced Pain Management has selected the SRS Hybrid EMR for its high-volume practice. Advanced Pain Management is headquartered in Annapolis, MD, with additional office locations throughout central and southern Maryland, and the eastern shore of Maryland.

“For over two years, we performed our due diligence and conducted site visits to find the EMR that would fulfill our practice needs,” says Dr. Paul W. Davies, managing partner & President, Advanced Pain Management. “The resulting reluctance to proceed was based on the reports of drastic productivity loss from virtually every physician we spoke with, even those at vendor-selected sites. The physicians also noted that using their EMR systems required so much attention that they could not give patients the time they needed. Even when vendor representatives were present, we were hard-pressed to find any physicians willing to make positive comments about the usability of their EMR. Our SRS site visit was dramatically different — it was the first time that we saw providers genuinely excited to share their experience. Physicians of all ages and levels of technological proficiency were uniformly delighted with the SRS Hybrid EMR, and the entire office staff was highly enthusiastic — they made these comments even when no one from SRS was present! Physicians reported no downtime during implementation and training, and no loss in productivity. Our own implementation went flawlessly and we are already enjoying the clinical and business benefits that we were anticipating.”

“Our hospital was offering its EMR product to practices whose members were on the medical staff, but we knew it would not meet our needs,” says Bill Hughes, Chief Operating Officer, Advanced Pain Management. “We know that we made the right choice — if we had any doubt at all, attending our first SRS User Summit has erased it completely. I have never seen so many satisfied and happy customers at any company-sponsored event.”

“We are seeing firsthand how, in an era of declining reimbursements and increased costs, physicians are using SRS to efficiently and cost-effectively manage their practices,” says Evan Steele, CEO of SRSsoft. “Advanced Pain Management adopted the SRS Hybrid EMR because they value both the clinical and business improvements for which SRS is recognized.”

About SRS
SRS is the leading provider of productivity-enhancing EMR technology and services for high-performance specialty practices — with a successful adoption rate unparalleled in the industry. Offered via the Unified Desktop™, the robust SRS Hybrid EMR, SRS CareTracker PM, and SRS PACS increase speed, free physicians’ time, boost revenue, and heighten patient care and satisfaction. For more information on SRS, visit www.srssoft.com, e-mail [email protected], fax 201.802.1301, or call 800.288.8369.

About Advanced Pain Management
Advanced Pain Management has assembled the top specialists in their region to offer the most advanced, minimally invasive treatments for spine pain. While they are experienced with all types of chronic pain, they specialize in neck and spine related conditions, the most common and often debilitating ailments affecting so many today. For more information, visit www.mypainspecialist.com.

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA–(Marketwire – Oct. 27, 2010) – DiaMedica (TSX VENTURE:DMA) today announces that DM-199 has been validated by demonstrating significantly increased insulin sensitivity in animals using the hyperinsulemic euglycemic clamp model. Type 2 diabetes is a severely debilitating condition characterized by high blood sugar primarily due to a decrease in insulin sensitivity, which results in a number health problems including cardiovascular disease. 

The amount of glucose being processed in an animal model of type 2 diabetes with DM-199 was measured using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, the gold standard method for characterizing the actions of insulin. Animals treated with a single dose of DM-199 had a 122% increase in maximal glucose infusion rate. This enabled animals to process 77% more total glucose compared to untreated animals. In a second study, DM-199 also had a pronounced anti-hypertensive effect on systolic blood pressure. This is important as approximately 70% of type 2 diabetes patients take multiple medications to treat high blood pressure.

“The clamp study clearly shows that treatment with DM-199 results in a major increase in insulin sensitivity in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. It is notable that the results of these studies actually provide an underestimate of the true effectiveness of DM-199. This is because the potency of DM-199 was so great that it was difficult to maintain the euglycemic clamp.” stated Dr. David Wasserman, Ron Santo Chair in Diabetes Research & Professor molecular physiology and biophysics at Vanderbilt University. “I very much look forward to seeing the future development of DM-199.”

“The results from both studies provide further validation of DM-199, our next generation form of DM-99, as a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and other diseases,” said Mr. Rick Pauls, CEO of DiaMedica. “This DM-199 data builds on compelling earlier animal and human proof of concept data with DM-99, and gives us confidence in moving forward with this very promising recombinant protein,” continued Mr. Pauls. “The dual benefits shown by DM-199 to increase the body’s ability to metabolize glucose and its positive effect on lowering systolic blood pressure may ultimately alleviate the need for diabetics to take multiple drugs for diabetes and hypertension.”

About DiaMedica

DiaMedica is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and other disorders. DiaMedica has completed two successful proof-of-concept Phase II studies with DM-71 and DM-99, which demonstrated human efficacy in lowering blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

DiaMedica’s lead product DM-199 is a novel recombinant next generation form of DM-99, which has shown the potential to increase insulin sensitivity, reduce the autoimmune attack and trigger proliferation of pancreatic beta cells, neural stem cells and bone marrow cells. DiaMedica is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “DMA”. For further information please visit www.diamedica.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities legislation (collectively, the “forward-looking statements“). These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, DiaMedica’s objectives, goals, targets, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, estimates and outlook, and can, in some cases, be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may” and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding matters such as, but not limited to, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, management’s assessment of DiaMedica’s future plans, information with respect to the advancement of DiaMedica’s research and development programs, and DiaMedica’s other estimates and expectations. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things: uncertainties and risks related to our research and development programs, the availability of additional financing, risks and uncertainties relating to the anticipated use of proceeds, changes in debt and equity markets, uncertainties related to clinical trials and product development, rapid technological change, uncertainties related to forecasts, competition, potential product liability, additional financing requirements and access to capital, unproven markets, the cost and supply of raw materials, management of growth, effects of insurers’ willingness to pay for products, risks related to regulatory matters and risks related to intellectual property matters.

Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found in the body of this news release, as well as under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in DiaMedica’s 2009 annual information form. DiaMedica cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on DiaMedica’s forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to DiaMedica, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions regarding the availability of additional financing for research and development companies, and general business and economic conditions. These risks and uncertainties should be considered carefully and investors and others should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, DiaMedica cannot provide assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. DiaMedica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. 

REDWOOD CITY, CA–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) –  Medagate Corporation, a leading provider of over-the-counter (OTC) health care benefit platform solutions and services, in partnership with InComm, the leader in sales and marketing of prepaid products and innovator of transaction processing, today launched OTCNetwork™, the first national Over-The-Counter (OTC) benefits program for Medicare Advantage plans and their members. OTCNetwork features patented and patent pending technology with acceptance at national, regional, and local retailers. Initial retailer rollout will start immediately in New York, with expanded national rollout slated for early 2011, comprising in total 20,000 retail locations in all 50 states. Health Plus Elite and Access Medicare will be the first to leverage Medagate’s new OTCMedicare™ branded health benefits card to make OTC Medicare benefits more accessible to their Medicare Advantage members for use in self-care, and in an effort to increase member satisfaction and reduce member healthcare costs.

“Over 11 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, which provide $5.5 billion in OTC Medicare benefits annually. Yet, only four percent of those benefits are actually consumed each year because plan members do not have convenient access to their benefits for use in self-care,” said Devin Wade, President & Founder of Medagate. “This lack of OTC benefit access costs Medicare billions of dollars in unnecessary doctor and hospital visits, resulting from patients seeking care for less serious ailments treatable with OTC medications or for ailments that go untreated and later require urgent care. Increasing member overall health and self-care through OTC items dramatically reduces healthcare costs, and increases member satisfaction and re-enrollment rates.”

“Our retailers recognize the future of healthcare will include a heavy dose of self-care programs in an effort to improve general health and reduce costs,” said Mark Leonard, EVP of InComm. “With an increasing demand for more convenient access to OTC items, Medagate is a key partner for InComm, offering this retail OTC benefits program not just for our drug channel retail partners but also for our extensive network of discount, grocery, and convenience store retail locations nationally. For the first time, Medicare Advantage plan members will be able to use their benefits for self-care via OTC items when they need them.”

“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer our Medicare Advantage plan members more convenient access to their OTC Medicare benefits via the OTCMedicare benefits card,” said Dr. Clifford D. Marbut, Chief Medical Officer of Health Plus Elite. “This will empower our members with the ability to maintain better health to treat non-serious health ailments immediately and reduce patient doctor visits.”

Deployed for acceptance at leading retailers nationally, OTCNetwork is the first national OTC benefits program for Medicare Advantage plans and their members. Medicare Advantage plans load monthly OTC Medicare benefits onto OTCMedicare branded, re-loadable benefit cards, which plans distribute to their members. Medicare Advantage plan members can then access their benefits via participating retailers nationally using their OTCMedicare benefits card, which is restricted to the purchase of OTC Medicare eligible items only for use in self-care.

About InComm:
InComm is the industry leading marketer, distributor and technology innovator of stored-value gift and prepaid products using its state-of-the-art point-of-sale transaction technology to revolutionize retail product sales and customer experiences. With nearly $10 billion in retail sales transactions processed in 2009, InComm is the nation’s largest provider of gift cards, prepaid wireless products, reloadable debit cards, digital music downloads, content, games, software and bill payment solutions. InComm partners with consumer brand leaders around the world to provide more than 225,000 retail locations the products and services their customers demand. Since 1992, InComm’s patented technologies have made the buying process easier for consumers while streamlining the selling process for product and retail partners. InComm is headquartered in Atlanta, GA with offices in Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, and Texas. To learn more about InComm, visit www.incomm.com or call 1.800.352.3084.

About Medagate Corporation:
Medagate Corporation is a leading provider of health care benefit platform solutions and services. Medagate’s innovative technology, products, and services empower consumers with greater access to health care benefits for use in self-care. Medagate powers the OTCNetwork™ in partnership with InComm — the leading issuer and processor of gift cards, processing over $15 billion in transactions annually. OTCNetwork acceptance is today integrated into front-of-store Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminals at over 20,000 retail locations in all 50 states. Medagate’s OTCMedicare™ branded re-loadable prepaid cards are the first to restrict spending exclusively to OTC Medicare benefits eligible items. For information on Medagate, OTCMedicare prepaid cards, and the OTCNetwork, please visit: www.otcnetwork.com.

id=”nav_links”>

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) –  TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of advanced radiation therapy solutions for cancer care, announced today that University Radiotherapy Center of Antwerp, Belgium, has begun installation of the world’s first TomoTherapy^® TomoHD^™ treatment system, a comprehensive radiation therapy system that enables cancer centers to efficiently handle both common and complex tumors with a single device. University Radiotherapy Center Antwerp is a collaboration between the Antwerp University Hospital and the Antwerp Hospital Network (ZNA).

The TomoHD treatment system combines technologies previously only available as options to TomoTherapy’s flagship system, as well as beamline components redesigned for enhanced performance.

Specifically, the TomoHD system includes TomoHelical^™ and TomoDirect^™ delivery modes. The TomoHelical technique enables continuous 360-degree treatment delivery for targeting complex volumes, while TomoDirect offers a discrete-angle delivery option to support highly efficient intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) for more routine cases. In addition, the TomoHD treatment system offers standard 1 cm beam commissioning for enhanced stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) capabilities.

The TomoHD system also includes the Tomo Quality Assurance (TQA™) application, which simplifies collection and analysis of system performance information and provides trending and reporting tools for monitoring machine performance.

“We were interested in adding a TomoTherapy system at our center, but waited for the TomoHD system because we recognize that this integrated solution will enable us to improve the efficiency with which we are able to treat patients with high quality radiation therapy. And the integration of the TomoDirect technique provides us a way to bring the benefits of IG-IMRT to a broader patient base with a single system,” said Prof. Dr. Danielle Van den Weyngaert, head of the department at University Radiotherapy Center. “More importantly, we believe that TomoHD will be the platform we need for supporting future advancements in radiation therapy.”

Patient treatments are expected to commence using the TomoHD treatment system in December. This is the third TomoTherapy system purchased by University Radiotherapy Center. The first two systems were installed in 2007 and have been used to treat patients with advanced image-guided IMRT, and to train TomoTherapy users from institutions across Europe.

With the TomoHD treatment system, University Radiotherapy Center will be able to advance its ability to treat patients with head and neck tumors, particularly those extending into the ocular region, as well as those in the abdominal and lung region where healthy tissue and organs are at risk to radiation exposure. Additionally, the TomoDirect technique will expand the center’s ability to address breast cancer with a fixed angle radiation delivery mode.

“We are pleased to announce that the first TomoHD treatment system installation has begun, less than a year after its commercial introduction to the market,” said TomoTherapy CEO Fred Robertson. “We are honored to work with University Radiotherapy Center of Antwerp to bring this advanced treatment solution to patients in Belgium and beyond.”

The TomoHD treatment system will be on display in the TomoTherapy booth (#3101) at the 52nd annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 2010.

About University Radiotherapy Center of Antwerp
The University Radiotherapy Center Antwerp is a collaboration between the Antwerp University Hospital and the Antwerp Hospital Network (ZNA). Both hospitals offer comprehensive care for patients with complex disorders. Together, the hospitals treat in excess of 300,000 patients every year. The Radiotherapy Center treats patients in two major locations in Antwerp. TomoTherapy^® technology has mainly been used used to treat cancers of the head and neck. The radiotherapy center is also being used as the European TomoTherapy^® training center for physicists and engineers working with the system.

About TomoTherapy Incorporated
TomoTherapy Incorporated develops markets and sells advanced radiation therapy solutions that can be used to treat a wide variety of cancers, from the most common to the most complex. The ring gantry-based TomoTherapy® platform combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. TomoTherapy’s suite of solutions include its flagship Hi·Art® treatment system, which has been used to deliver more than three million CT-guided, helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment fractions; the TomoHD™ treatment system, designed to enable cancer centers to treat a broader patient population with a single device; and the TomoMobile™ relocatable radiation therapy solution, designed to improve access and availability of state-of-the-art cancer care. TomoTherapy’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release regarding future products or product capabilities, events, expectations and other similar matters, including but not limited to statements using the terms “believe,” “may,” “should,” “suggests” or “expects” constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including but not limited to factors such as our ability to integrate acquired assets, ability to protect intellectual property, risks of interruption due to events beyond the company’s control, and the other risks listed from time to time in TomoTherapy’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. These forward-looking statements represent TomoTherapy’s judgments as of the date of this press release. TomoTherapy assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events or otherwise.

©2010 TomoTherapy Incorporated. All rights reserved. TomoTherapy, Tomo, TomoHD, Hi·Art, TomoHelical, TomoDirect, TQA, and the TomoTherapy logo are among trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of TomoTherapy Incorporated in the United States and other countries.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – October 27, 2010) –  Speech therapy is an industry that has historically shown limited adoption of technology, unlike most health care fields. The inability to produce speech sounds correctly affects approximately 6% of school age children. Articulate Technologies, Inc., has just launched Speech Buddies — a new line of products to help young children overcome speaking disorders. Speech Buddies (www.speechbuddy.com) are a new kind of helper: a family of practical, handheld devices that accelerate learning with the hardest problem sounds: R, S, L, CH, and SH.

Speech Buddies work by providing targets inside the mouth for children to feel correct tongue placement when attempting to pronounce problem sounds. Speech Buddies can quickly help children turn their Wabbits into Rabbits, Wessons into Lessons, and Thocks into Socks. This tactile feedback within the mouth is often just what kids need to achieve learning breakthroughs.

Parents can choose to use Speech Buddies at home with their child or bring their Buddy to speech therapy lessons with the goal of accelerating learning and correcting problem sounds.

“Parents and children have been thrilled about Speech Buddies and this new approach has been well received by the professional community,” says Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP, speech therapist and Chief Scientific Officer of Articulate Technologies. “For years, speech professionals have not had the benefit of technology in their treatment of speech disorders and have used household items like coffee stirrers, spoons, and peanut butter to try and help their clients. Speech Buddies are more sophisticated, produce better outcomes, and are applicable to a wide variety of cases. Getting parents involved in the learning process either on their own at home or in combination with traditional therapy, gives families a sense of empowerment as they see improvement quickly.”

Speech Buddies were invented by a pair of high school classmates who put together an interdisciplinary team of MIT engineers and speech therapists across the country to help develop the solution. After hundreds of prototypes and refinements over the course of several years, the first-in-class system is finally accessible to both parents and speech therapists. Prices range from $149 for single Speech Buddies (R, S, L, CH or SH) to $299 for the Professional Set of all five Speech Buddies.

A clinical trial, INTACT (Intra-Oral Tactile Biofeedback), is currently underway to examine the efficacy of Speech Buddies in children aged 5-8 years old. It is a randomized, controlled, single blind clinical study; preliminary results are extremely encouraging and peer reviewed publication is pending.

Visit www.speechbuddy.com for information and videos on how Speech Buddies work.

SPRINGFIELD, OH–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) – AdCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ADK), a recognized innovator in senior living and health care facility management, has closed a private placement of $11,050,000 of unsecured subordinated convertible notes due October 2013 to certain accredited investors.

The notes, which are unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to existing and future senior indebtedness, will pay interest quarterly at an annual rate of 10.0% and are convertible into shares of common stock of AdCare at an initial conversion price of $4.13 per share, which is equal to an initial conversion rate of 242.13 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the notes. The initial conversion price, which is equal to 115% of the 15-day volume-weighted average price of AdCare’s common stock prior to the closing of the transaction, is subject to full-ratchet anti-dilution protection, subject to customary exclusions as set forth in the notes.

If after six (6) months from the closing of the transaction, AdCare’s common stock trades at or above 200% of the conversion price for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days, with an average daily trading volume of over 50,000 shares, then AdCare may, subject to the satisfaction of certain other conditions, redeem the notes in cash at a price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal being redeemed plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the principal, plus late charges, if any.

Approximately $3.5 million in principal amount of the notes were issued in exchange for, and as a result of the cancellation of, an equal principal amount of promissory notes previously issued on September 30, 2010, as reported by AdCare in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2010. 

AdCare expects to use the proceeds from this financing for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of two nursing home facilities in Alabama, and general and administrative expenses.

C. K. Cooper & Company acted as lead placement agent for the offering, with GVC Capital, LLC and Cantone Research Partners serving as co-placement agents.

The notes were offered and issued only to accredited investors in a private placement transaction under Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Accordingly, the securities offered in this placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or state securities laws, and cannot be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. As part of the transaction, AdCare has agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the resale of the shares of common stock to be issued upon conversion of the notes.

This news release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities discussed herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state.

About AdCare Health Systems
AdCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ADK) is a recognized innovator in senior living and health care facility management. AdCare develops, owns and manages assisted living facilities, nursing homes and retirement communities, as well as provides home health care services. Since its inception in 1988, AdCare’s mission has been to provide the highest quality of healthcare services to the elderly. For more information about AdCare, visit www.adcarehealth.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal law. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management, and involve known and unknown risks, results, performance or achievements of the company which may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such factors are identified in the public filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include, among others, the company’s ability to secure lines of credit and/or an acquisition credit facility, find suitable acquisition properties at favorable terms, changes in the health care industry because of political and economic influences, changes in regulations governing the industry, changes in reimbursement levels including those under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and changes in the competitive marketplace. There can be no assurance that such factors or other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements. Except where required by law, AdCare undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

LOS GATOS, CA–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) – SCI Solutions, the premier Access Management solution provider for healthcare, today announced it has completed its 2010 fiscal year with another record-setting sales period. SCI Solutions signed 42 new customer contracts representing 86 hospitals, for its award-winning Access Management Solutions: Order Facilitator®, Schedule Maximizer®, Revenue Accelerator® and Consumer and Provider self-scheduling Portals. Schedule Maximizer is an Internet-based, enterprise Access Management solution that combines sophisticated workflow technology to streamline a hospital’s complex patient and resource scheduling requirements. Order Facilitator is an Internet-based web solution for automating outpatient orders for hospital services from community physicians. Revenue Accelerator is a revenue cycle workflow system that streamlines pre-registration, prepares patients for arrival and expedites service delivery. SCI’s self-service scheduling portals provide 24×7 self-service scheduling options to both consumers and physicians.

Founded in 1999, SCI Solutions, then known as scheduling.com, brought web-native technology and a dramatically new business model to healthcare. With a focus on improving the increasingly complex nature of scheduling healthcare services and procedures, SCI was the first to offer effective, mission-critical, enterprise solutions via the Internet. Over the past ten years, SCI has demonstrated how a focus on efficient, effective, patient access processes can generate significant benefits for integrated delivery networks and healthcare communities. SCI’s current customer base is comprised of over 390 healthcare delivery systems dedicated to improving customer service, maximizing resources, ensuring accurate data collection, and improving overall access to care.

According to Stuart Hammond, SCI’s Senior Vice President of Sales, “Despite the economic challenges faced by the healthcare industry this year, SCI has successfully proven the value of advanced healthcare Access Management solutions.” He continued, “Our new and existing customers truly understand how the impact of improved access and revenue cycle directly affects the profitability and overall health of their organization.”

“SCI’s customer base ranges from Alaska to Florida encompassing many of the 50 states,” stated John Holton, SCI’s President and CEO. He continued, “This is a testament to the range of healthcare facilities nationwide that have turned to advanced Access Management solutions to honor their commitment to organizational and financial improvements.”

About SCI Solutions
SCI Solutions is transforming healthcare Access Management with products and services that facilitate the efficient and secure exchange of clinical and financial information between patients, physicians and healthcare facilities. SCI provides a variety of products and self-service portals that help physicians and patients interact easily and at their convenience for many of their access-related needs. From a hospital’s clinical departments, to its financial executives, to its physicians, SCI improves their effectiveness while making the patient’s service experience first class.

SCI Solutions is headquartered in Los Gatos, CA with additional offices in Tucson, AZ, Pensacola, FL and employees throughout the United States. For more information about SCI Solutions visit www.scisolutions.com.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

SAN JOSE, CA–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) – Esfuerzos para educar a los norteamericanos
sin seguro médico que no están conscientes de los programas de salud
actuales financiados por el gobierno y de bajo costo han recibido un
impulso con La Fundación para la Educación sobre Cobertura de Salud
(conocido por sus siglas en ingles FHCE) con el lanzamiento de una edición
en español de su sitio pionero www.CoverageForAll.org.

Esta organización sin fines de lucro fue capaz de traducir
CoverageForAll.org y así ampliar su alcance a la comunidad hispana con el
apoyo monetario de $ 30,000 de la Fundación Aetna, la rama filantrópica
independiente de Aetna Inc. La versión en español
http://espanol.coverageforall.org proporcionará a los visitantes de habla
hispana el mismo contenido que se encuentra en el directorio de programas
de cobertura públicos y privados de FHCE de estado por estado, el cual ha
educado norteamericanos sin seguro medico sobre sus opciones de cobertura
desde el 2004.

“En un momento en que la legislación de reforma de salud requiere que la
gente tenga cobertura de seguro de salud, tenemos que avanzar con mayor
urgencia para romper las barreras, como el lenguaje, para informar sobre
los programas de bajo costo o programas financiados por el gobierno,” dijo
Anne C. Beal, M.D., M.P.H., presidente de la Fundación Aetna. “Nos alienta
que la nueva versión en español de CoverageForAll.org permitirá a un
importante segmento de la población de norteamericanos tener un acceso a
nuestro sistema de salud. El establecimiento de condiciones equitativas
para todos los grupos raciales y étnicos para obtener una buena atención
médica es un área de programas prioritarios de la Fundación Aetna.”

Con este nuevo realce, los visitantes de CoverageForAll.org simplemente
podrán hacer clic en http://espanol.coverageforall.org y aprender sus
opciones de seguro de salud en español a través de un cuestionario de
elegibilidad de FHCE de 5 preguntas o pueden llamar 24/7 a la multilingüe
Línea de Ayuda Nacional (1-800-234-1317) para personas sin seguro medico y
hablar con un especialista de seguros médico, de habla hispana que va
ayudar a revisar las preguntas con ellos. Esta revisión de elegibilidad es
un punto de partida para los consejeros del centro de llamadas con sede en
Fresno, California, quienes guían a cada persona que llama a través de sus
opciones y los dirigen a los programas apropiados por el Estado. Además de
tomar el cuestionario de elegibilidad, los visitantes también tienen la
oportunidad de aprender acerca de la cobertura de COBRA a través de la
versión en español de COBRA con el folleto de FHCE o puede descargar el
Matrix de Opciones de Atención, una guía amistosa del consumidor fácil de
usar para todos los programas de cobertura médica en su estado.

El propósito de FHCE de traducir el sitio fue para ampliar su misión de
reducir las filas de las personas sin seguro, específicamente alcanzar al
32% de norteamericanos hispanos que muestra el Censo de EE.UU. viven si
cobertura de salud. La donación de la Fundación Aetna abrió una
oportunidad aún mayor para ayudar a la lista de socios colaboradores
actuales de FHCE, la Asociación Americana del Cáncer, la Asociación
Americana del Corazón, la Asociación Americana de los Pulmones, la
Asociación Americana de Diabetes, y el Departamento de Desarrollo de
Empleados de California y el Departamento de Seguros en ayudar su población
de hispanos.

“FHCE ha ayudado a mas de dos millones de personas a encontrar cobertura
medica a través de CoverageForAll.org y nuestra Línea de Ayuda Nacional,”
dijo Ankeny Minoux, presidente de FHCE. “Con los fondos recibidos de la
Fundación Aetna para una versión en Español de CoverageForAll.org, podemos
seguir proporcionando a norteamericanos sin seguro médico una forma fácil y
eficiente de tener acceso a la información sobre sus opciones de cobertura
medica en su propia lengua.

Acera de la Fundación Aetna :

La Fundación Aetna es la rama caritativa y filantrópica independiente de
Aetna Inc. Desde 1980, Aetna y la Fundación Aetna han contribuido con más
de $379 millones, incluyendo más de $20 millones en el 2009. Siendo una
fundación nacional de salud, promovemos el bienestar, la salud y el acceso
a la atención medica de alta calidad para todos. Esta labor se ve
reforzada por el compromiso y tiempo de los empleados de Aetna, que han
ofrecido casi dos millones de horas desde 2003. Nuestras donaciones
actuales se centran en hacer frente a la creciente tasa de obesidad
infantil y de adultos en los estadounidenses, en promover la igualdad
racial y étnica en el cuidado de salud y avanzar en el tratamiento
integrado de salud. Para mas información visite nuestra página
www.AetnaFoundation.org.

Acerca de La Fundación para la Educación sobre Cobertura de Salud:

La Fundación para la Educación sobre Cobertura de Salud es una organización
sin fines de lucro 501 (c) 3 organización con la misión de ayudar a
simplificar la información de acceso de elegibilidad de seguros públicos y
privados para que mas personas sin seguro tengan acceso a cobertura. Además
de su Línea Nacional de Ayuda para personas sin seguro (800) 234-1317 y su
pagina www.CoverageForAll.org, FHCE ofrece guías gratuitas a los
consumidores, tales como el Matrix de Opciones de Atención el cual está
disponible para todos los 50 estados

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNH) today announced details concerning the anticipated timing of Sun’s previously announced plan to restructure its business by separating its operating assets and its real estate assets into two separate publicly-traded companies. As previously described, the separation of Sun’s operating assets will occur by means of a spin-off transaction pursuant to which Sun will distribute to its stockholders on a pro rata basis (the “Distribution”) all of the outstanding shares of common stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, SHG Services, Inc. (“New Sun”). Following the Distribution, Sun will merge with and into its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Sabra”). Immediately following completion of both transactions, New Sun will be renamed Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. and will own all of Sun’s operating subsidiaries, while Sabra, through its subsidiaries, will own substantially all of Sun’s currently owned real property assets. 

Sun expects to make the Distribution on Nov. 15, 2010 to its stockholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 5, 2010. At the same time as it makes the Distribution, Sun also intends to make a cash distribution to the same stockholders of record. The amount of the cash distribution is currently expected to equal approximately $0.17 per share (for an aggregate cash distribution to Sun’s stockholders of approximately $13 million), although the actual amount of the cash distribution will not be determined until the time the Distribution is declared by Sun’s board of directors. The merger of Sun with and into Sabra (the “REIT Conversion Merger”) is expected to be completed on Nov. 15, 2010, following the Distribution.

The actual record and distribution dates for the Distribution and cash distribution, and the actual amount of the cash distribution, are subject to approval and declaration by Sun’s board of directors, which is currently expected to occur on Nov. 4, 2010, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including approval of the Distribution and REIT Conversion Merger by Sun’s stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders to be held on Nov. 4, 2010.

Commenting on the restructuring plan, Richard K. Matros, Sun’s chairman and chief executive officer, remarked, “The management teams of both Sabra and New Sun look forward to the completion of the transactions and the opportunity to enhance stockholder value through the growth of both companies.”

In connection with the Distribution, each Sun stockholder will receive one share of New Sun common stock for every three shares of Sun common stock held at the close of business on the record date for the Distribution. In addition, in connection with the REIT Conversion Merger, each Sun stockholder will receive one share of Sabra common stock in exchange for every three shares of Sun common stock held at the effective time of the REIT Conversion Merger. Sun stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of New Sun common stock and Sabra common stock to which such stockholders would otherwise have been entitled.

Shares of Sun common stock will continue to trade “regular way” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SUNH” through the distribution date for the Distribution. Any holders of Sun common stock who sell their Sun shares regular way on or before the distribution date will also be selling their right to receive shares of New Sun common stock in connection with the Distribution and the additional cash distribution. Holders of Sun common stock also will not be entitled to receive shares of Sabra common stock in connection with the REIT Conversion Merger if they do not own Sun common stock at the effective time of the merger. Shares of Sun common stock will cease trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market at the close of business on the date of the Distribution and REIT Conversion Merger. Investors are encouraged to consult with their financial advisors regarding the specific implications of buying or selling Sun common stock prior to this time.

New Sun common stock is expected to begin trading on a “when-issued” basis on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SUNHV” beginning on Nov. 8, 2010, the first business day after the record date for the Distribution. When-issued trading of New Sun common stock is expected to end and “regular-way” trading under the symbol “SUNHD” is expected to begin on Nov. 16, 2010, the first business day after the distribution date for the Distribution. Trading of New Sun common stock under the symbol “SUNHD” is expected to continue for approximately 20 trading days following the date of the Distribution. After this time, New Sun common stock will trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SUNH.”

Sabra common stock also is expected to begin trading on a “when-issued” basis on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SBRAV” beginning on Nov. 8, 2010. When-issued trading of Sabra common stock is expected to end and “regular-way” trading under the symbol “SBRA” is expected to begin on Nov. 16, 2010, the first business day after the REIT Conversion Merger. 

About Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.

Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SUNH) subsidiaries provide nursing, rehabilitative and related specialty healthcare services principally to the senior population in the United States. Sun’s core business is providing, through its subsidiaries, inpatient services, primarily through 166 skilled nursing centers, 16 combined skilled nursing, assisted and independent living centers, 10 assisted living centers, two independent living centers and eight mental health centers. On a consolidated basis, Sun has annual revenues of $1.9 billion and approximately 30,000 employees in 46 states. At Oct. 1, 2010, SunBridge centers had 23,189 licensed beds located in 25 states, of which 22,407 were available for occupancy. Sun also provides rehabilitation therapy services to affiliated and non-affiliated centers through its SunDance subsidiary, medical staffing services through its CareerStaff Unlimited subsidiary and hospice services through its SolAmor subsidiary.

Forward-Looking Statements 

Statements made in this release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements containing words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ are identified in the public filings made by Sun with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and include Sun’s ability to complete the Distribution and REIT Conversion Merger on terms and conditions satisfactory to Sun or at all, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in Sun’s SEC Commission filings. More information on factors that could affect the business and financial results are included in Sun’s public filings made with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which are available on Sun’s web site, www.sunh.com. The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond Sun’s control. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements made by Sun are not guarantees of future performance. Sun disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Additional Information

In connection with the transactions described in this release, SHG Services, Inc. has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4, each containing an identical prospectus and proxy statement for the special meeting. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus was mailed to Sun stockholders on Oct. 4, 2010. Before making any voting or investment decision, Sun stockholders and investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transactions. Stockholders will be able to obtain these documents free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and stockholders of Sun may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by contacting Sun’s investor relations department at (505) 468-2341 (TDD users, please call (505) 468-4458) or by sending a written request to Investor Relations, Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. 101 Sun Avenue N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87109. Investors and stockholders may also obtain a copy of these documents by requesting them in writing from Sun’s proxy solicitation agent, Innisfree M&A, at 501 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at
(212) 750-5833.

Sun and its directors and executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Sun in connection with the transactions described in this release. Information about the directors and executive officers of Sun and their ownership of shares of Sun common stock are set forth in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting.

IRVING, TX–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  VHA Inc., the national health care network, has hired David J. Robertson as senior vice president and executive officer over its Oklahoma and Arkansas region. The VHA Oklahoma/Arkansas office coordinates and directs VHA efforts to serve 43 member hospitals and hundreds of non-acute care organizations in the two states. 

Robertson assumes his new duties at VHA on Feb. 1, 2011. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Monongalia Health System in Monogalia, W.V., a position he’s held since January 2003. Prior to that, for 18 years he served as CEO of Duncan Regional Hospital in Duncan, Okla., after spending five years as CEO of Shelby County Myrtue Hospital in Harlan, Iowa.

“Dave brings to this position more than 30 years of experience as a hospital leader, and his extensive knowledge of hospital priorities and challenges gives him a solid platform to direct VHA resources to have the maximum benefit for members in the region,” said Gary Ford, group senior vice president at VHA.

Robertson holds a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in health administration and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing, obtaining both degrees from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan. He is the recipient of numerous awards in the health care industry, including being named the outstanding young health care administrator in Iowa and Oklahoma.

The VHA Oklahoma/Arkansas region, with offices in Little Rock and Oklahoma City, deploys staff to help members implement supply chain efficiency strategies, improve clinical performance and accelerate knowledge transfer to improve health care operations overall. The region also supports AROK, a regional supply network; and LifeCare Health Services, a regional business that provides employee benefit management services, a nurse advice line, a managed care consultancy and clinical and operational risk management support services. 

About VHA
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. Formed in 1977, through its 16 regional offices, VHA serves 1,400 hospitals and more than 30,000 non-acute care providers nationwide. VHA was ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 7th best place to work in health care in 2009.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  In 2009, the adult in flu vaccine market in Europe reached new heights with nearly $1.6 billion in revenues, up a whopping 81.4% from the prior year. According to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information’s newly published “European Vaccine Markets,” this surge in flu vaccine sales was due to products developed to address the H1N1 flu pandemic.

Influenza vaccines are responsible for almost half of the adult vaccine market in 2010. Although Kalorama does not foresee the same kind of growth witnessed in 2009, the publisher expects strong demand for flu vaccines to continue, tempered by a near term decrease in demand for pandemic vaccines. Flu vaccine revenues should reach $2.6 billion by 2014, supported by an aging population and expanded recommendations for adult influenza vaccinations.

“The swine flu pandemic of 2009 prompted a flurry of activity in the flu vaccines market around the world, with a resulting surge in revenues,” says Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “This growth is unlikely to continue as governments overestimated the demand for H1N1 flu vaccines and found themselves with excess stock. Current development initiatives focus on products that protect against pandemic outbreaks, specific strains of influenza and alternative administration routes.”

In May 2008, GlaxoSmithKline received European approval for Prepandrix and Pandemrix; each contains the H5N1 (avian flu) inactivated split, monovalent virus. Prepandrix is designed to be given before or at the onset of a declared influenza pandemic to prevent influenza caused by H5N1. It is formulated with a novel proprietary adjuvant system, which is designed to achieve a high immune response at a low dose of antigen, and to be long-lasting and active against a broad range of H5N1 strains. Pandemrix is approved for use when an H5N1 influenza pandemic has been officially declared by the WHO or European Union.

In December 2008, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) issued a positive opinion for Baxter’s CELVAPAN, the first cell culture-based H5N1 pandemic vaccine, in the European Union. CELVAPAN is made using Baxter’s proprietary Vero cell technology, which speeds up the manufacturing process due to its ability to use the native virus which does not need to be modified in order to grow in chicken eggs. The shorter production time is critical in accelerating vaccine supply in response to an influenza pandemic.

Also of note are advancing efforts to develop a universal flu vaccine which would protect against multiple influenza strains, thereby significantly increasing effectiveness. While many companies over the years have investigated methods to achieve this, U.K.-based Immune Targeting Systems, with funding from a broad range of investors including Novartis’s venture capital group, is expected to begin studies of a product candidate in 2010.

More information on flu and other types of vaccines in the European market can be found in Kalorama Information’s “European Vaccine Markets.” This report presents market estimates and forecasts, product reviews and pipelines, issues and trends, and company profiles for pediatric and adult vaccines. The report can be found at: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=79864&productid=2833006.

About Kalorama Information
Kalorama Information supplies the latest in independent market research in the life sciences, as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/KaloramaInfo) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2177845&trk=hb_side_g).

Click here to see all recent news from this company

SAN FERNANDO, CA–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  Precision Dynamics Corporation, the global leader in healthcare identification solutions, announced today that all of its direct thermal bar code ID products now feature its patented PermaPrint surface technology. Unlike traditional direct thermal patient wristbands and tags, PDC PermaPrint products provide optimized thermal heat transfer, which results in higher quality images when printing. It also provides stronger resistance to solvents and harsh storage environments, which can corrupt patient data.

“In talking to hospital staff, a common challenge with thermal printing is the consistency of the imprint,” said Kim Canchola, Product Manager for PDC. “Traditional thermal ID products have a layer of varnish that absorbs heat and disperses it unevenly along the wristband. With PDC’s PermaPrint wristbands and tags, heat is transferred evenly and consistently along the surface, resulting in higher quality images and more accurate readings versus standard thermal ID products.” Also, unlike traditional thermal ID products, PDC’s PermaPrint surface can be imprinted within a wide range of print head temperatures without compromising the quality of the imprint. This helps meet the needs of hospitals that use a variety of printers.

The PermaPrint surface is also designed to resist moisture and chemicals, which can blemish the surface of traditional direct thermal ID products, leading to potential patient misidentification. During laboratory testing at PDC, hand sanitizer was rubbed on the surface of the PDC Scanband^® wristband and two competitor direct thermal wristbands. “While the competitor wristbands immediately became blemished, discoloring the wristband data, the PDC Scanband was unaffected,” said Canchola. The PermaPrint surface withstands hand sanitizer, as well as other chemicals including betadine iodine, isopropyl alcohol, hand lotion, and sunscreen.

“Having a wristband that stands up to moisture and chemicals during the full duration of the patient’s hospital stay protects patients and hospitals by preventing critical misidentification errors,” said Canchola.

In addition to solvents, product transport and storage conditions can also affect the quality and legibility of direct thermal products, which can be vulnerable to higher exposure to heat, direct sunlight, and humidity. Based in side-by-side product testing in more extreme heat and humidity conditions, standard direct thermal products became discolored, corrupting the data on the wristbands and tags, while PDC’s PermaPrint products showed no signs of discoloring or blemishing.

The PDC PermaPrint surface can also increase the lifespan of the printer’s print head. Traditional thermal ID products can transfer varnish to the print head, which can cause damage and lead to costly replacement. Print head longevity is also enhanced because PermaPrint requires less heat to print an image.

Printer speed can also impact the performance of direct thermal wristbands and tags, which have higher sensitivity compared to PDC PermaPrint products. This can affect the quality of the imprint when printing at high speeds. Because PermaPrint has a lower sensitivity, its imprint quality is unaffected by printer speed.

PDC PermaPrint Direct Thermal ID products meet current Joint Commission, AHA, and HIPAA requirements.
For more information, please visit: www.pdcorp.com/healthcare or contact PDC Customer Care at 800-772-1122.

About Precision Dynamics Corporation:
The Leading Provider of Positive ID and Positive Outcomes™
With more than 50 years of experience, Precision Dynamics provides accurate, reliable, and easy-to-use healthcare ID solutions that empower the flawless delivery of care and enhance outcomes across all major hospital functions. Our products are used in all of the leading hospitals worldwide and comprise a comprehensive range of wristband and labeling systems that provide positive ID and positive clinical outcomes.

Precision Dynamics products meet important guidelines of The Joint Commission, World Healthcare Organization, FDA, AHA, and HIPAA. As the developer of the first single-piece patient wristband, the first bar code wristband system, and the first Smart Band^® RFID wristband system, Precision Dynamics solutions are an integral part of some of the most successful patient safety initiatives. As an ISO 9001 certified company, Precision Dynamics follows a systematic, world-standard approach to ensure superior product design, manufacturing, and customer support services.

DENVER, CO–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) – Dean Evans & Associates, Inc. (www.dea.com), maker of the EMS line of facility and resource scheduling software, has completed an ambitious benchmarking survey initiative that will provide participants with valuable metrics on their meeting and event management operations.

More than 150 customers filled out the inaugural Facilities and Services Benchmark Survey, which is believed to be the first cross-industry survey of its kind, as it provides comparison data both within the participant’s industry and across the many industries that DEA serves. While detailed results will only be sent to participants, an Executive Summary is available to the public.

“We deeply appreciate the eagerness participants showed and the time they invested in answering the benchmark survey questions. As a result, we’re able to offer important data to our current and future customers,” said Kevin Raasch, vice president of Dean Evans & Associates. “Each participant can use their customized survey report as a yardstick to measure their performance and identify areas for improvement.”

The survey compared individual organizations’ key metrics, such as bookings-to-scheduling staff ratios, overall space utilization and service order numbers with their industry standards as well as with responses across all industries, generating powerful insights into facility scheduling best practices.

“Individual measurements such as number of bookings per year, number of staff members by job function and average hours of operation per day can be very helpful in and of themselves,” said Raasch. “But combining two or more of those numbers to get stats like the number of hours per day that your scheduling staff spends making reservations or the average number of service orders that each of your catering staff members is involved in each day can be very enlightening — especially when compared to other organizations in your industry.”

The survey also asked a number of subjective questions including some designed to identify trends. Event volume expectations, desired software integrations and anticipated shifts in technology were among them.

The 2011 Facilities and Services Benchmark Survey will be sent to customers and selected prospective customers next spring. To request a free copy of the Executive Summary from this year’s survey, please visit www.dea.com and click Benchmark Survey Summary under Quick Links.

LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (MMR) announced today it plans to offer U.S. Veterans the opportunity to maintain all their medical records and personal health information directly in a MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record (PHR) located at www.MyBlueButton.org. The service will be provided at no cost for the first year as a thank you for their service to our country. Each account will cover the Veteran and up to nine additional family members to securely store personal health information, medical records and medical images in addition to any important document needed in an emergency.

On August 2, President Obama announced the “Blue Button” initiative (http://www4.va.gov/bluebutton) that allows U.S. Veterans to download their personal health information from their My HealtheVet account. On April 30, 2011, at a special event at the Playboy Mansion honoring Veterans and Operation Mend at the UCLA Health System Medical Center, MMRGlobal will launch its www.MyBlueButton.org website linking to its MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record. The Company’s PHR can store the full range of medical records, from lab reports and doctor’s notes to immunizations and X-rays and other medical images, and also includes multiple special “lockbox” folders with secondary passwords for other important documents such as military discharge papers, gun permits, passports, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies and deeds of trusts.

“We appreciate the sacrifices made for our safety and security by the brave men and women of our armed forces,” said Robert H. Lorsch, Chairman and CEO of MMRGlobal. “Although no commercial enterprise can fully repay them, we want to offer Vets the opportunity to use their ‘Blue Button’ to store their most important records with the safety and security of our advanced patented technologies on our www.MyBlueButton.org site. This way, Veterans can be assured that their records can be shared in any emergency with doctors in or out of the VA system from any Internet-connected computer anywhere in the world. At the same time, our system ensures the highest level of privacy because users maintain control over who has access to their records and the Company does not use third party intermediaries to retrieve data. And unlike any other product of its kind, users are protected by a one million dollar Cyber Liability policy protecting their important information.”

MMR’s MyBlueButton.org program rides on the back of the government’s “Blue Button” initiative and branding and augments the Administration’s national calling for all Americans to have a Personal Health Record by 2014. Delivering the most comprehensive PHR product in the marketplace today, the MyMedicalRecords system is built on an integrated telecommunications platform incorporating Internet, fax and phone to transmit and store personal health information and other important data in one central secure online account with a single sign-on. This provides for the ultimate flexibility in communicating and accessing information which the Company believes is necessary to accelerate widespread adoption of Personal Health Records by 2014.

The MyMedicalRecords PHR also offers other valuable tools to help Vets and their families have greater control over their health and better manage their lives overall. In addition to its ease-of-use and availability in both English and Spanish, the system includes a family health history, a drug database and drug interaction tool that can automatically check for interactions between over 20,000 medications and also food allergies, and a reference center containing information on 3,000 conditions and diseases. Importantly, there is a separate Emergency Login that medical personnel and authorized users can access to retrieve potentially life-saving information in a crisis situation; and each account also comes with its own inbound and outbound e-fax capability which further expands the options for quickly and easily sharing information.

According to Lorsch, “The service will be free for a year and then additional years’ subscriptions will be provided by our Company at prices well below the cost of the personalized voice fax telecommunications services embedded in every account. Our numbers show that 99 percent of all MyMedicalRecords users do not cancel the service after the initial period. I also plan to work through the Robert H. Lorsch Foundation Trust to identify non-profits that can underwrite services for Veterans and their families in subsequent years.”

About MMRGlobal, Inc.

MMRGlobal, Inc., through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (MMR), provides secure and easy-to-use online Personal Health Records (PHRs) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions, serving consumers, healthcare professionals, employers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and professional organizations and affinity groups. MyMedicalRecords enables individuals and families to access their medical records and other important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance policies and wills, anytime from anywhere using the Internet. The MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record is built on proprietary, patented technologies to allow documents, images and voicemail messages to be transmitted and stored in the system using a variety of methods, including fax, phone, or file upload without relying on any specific electronic medical record platform to populate a user’s account. MMRGlobal’s professional offering, MMRPro, is designed to give physicians’ offices an easy and cost-effective solution to digitizing paper-based medical records and sharing them with patients in real time through an integrated patient portal. MMR is an Independent Software Vendor Partner with Kodak to deliver an integrated turnkey EMR solution for healthcare professionals. MMR is also an integrated service provider on Google Health. To learn more about MMRGlobal, Inc. and its products, visit www.mmrglobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical matters are forward-looking statements, and some can be identified by the use of words (and their derivations) such as “need,” “possibility,” “offer,” “development,” “if,” “negotiate,” “when,” “begun,” “believe,” “achieve,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “maintain,” “plan,” “help” and “continue,” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. MMRGlobal, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on MMRGlobal, Inc.’s reasonable expectations as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The information discussed in this release is subject to various risks and uncertainties related but not limited to changes in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s business prospects, its results of operations or financial condition, government regulation and changes in healthcare initiatives, and such other risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

DENVER, CO–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national eating disorders recovery program providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, today announced that it will open a new behavioral hospital specifically designed to provide eating disorders care to children and adolescents. The hospital is slated to open in late November in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood. 

Eating Recovery Center’s newest treatment program will be led by a world-renowned expert in child and adolescent eating disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAM, FAED, CEDS. Dr. Bermudez will serve as the hospital’s new medical director. It will operate under the direction of the treatment center’s CEO and co-founder, Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, CEDS, and its chief clinical officer, Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS. 

“The child and adolescent hospital will offer comprehensive treatment for eating disorders for children and adolescents, males and females. Our comprehensive treatment model will blend traditional approaches like medical stabilization, psychiatric stabilization and nutritional rehabilitation with new approaches like Behavioral Family Therapy in the partial hospitalization phase of the treatment experience,” explains Dr. Bermudez. “We have carefully chosen an outstanding staff and, in addition, will use technologies to enhance patient care. Our goal is to be a center of excellence and to offer the best treatment to the patients and families we care for.”

The child and adolescent facility will offer a full spectrum of treatment options for children and adolescents ages 10 to 17, including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. In addition to treating eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, the treatment center will address “eating disturbances,” which include such behaviors as extreme pickiness, food fears and food avoidance.

Eating Recovery Center’s multidisciplinary treatment team will work closely with families and referring professionals to collaborate on traditional treatment experiences such as nutritional rehabilitation, medical care and psychotherapy. Eating Recovery Center will also introduce such innovative approaches as:

• Utilizing technology, such as heart monitoring, movement monitoring and biofeedback, to monitor for overactive behaviors and manage anxiety in children and adolescents.
• Introducing Behavioral Family Therapy at a later point in the treatment continuum — after a traditional phase of treatment in 24-hour care — to allow patients to manage nutritional deficiencies and medical issues prior to collaboration with family.

“Recent studies have shown that the involvement of family in the treatment process has a positive impact on recovery,” explains Dr. Weiner. “We will work closely with families to integrate recovery-focused behaviors and sustainable changes into family life, enabling family members and loved ones to become agents of change for our patients.”

Eating Recovery Center’s child and adolescent hospital will be located at 8140 E. 5th Ave., Denver, Colo., and is now accepting patients from across the country.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Denver-based facilities include a licensed behavioral hospital treating adults, an outpatient office and a facility treating children and adolescents scheduled to open in November 2010. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Weiner and Bishop, and the newest additions to our leadership team — Drs. Craig Johnson and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or [email protected] or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

HOUSTON, TX–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  SHAPE, The Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication (http://www.shapesociety.org), a nonprofit organization that promotes the early detection and treatment of heart attack risk in apparently healthy people, today awarded SHAPE Provider Certification to 10 medical providers from around the world. The newly certified providers include nine physicians in Lebanon and one registered nurse in Arizona.

“SHAPE Provider Certification focuses on best practices for reducing the incidence of acute coronary events and deaths from coronary artery disease, and we are pleased that medical providers around the world are finding it to be a valuable resource,” said JoAnne Zawitoski, chair of the SHAPE Board of Directors. “Through a rigorous process of training and examination, the program teaches how to identify clinically appropriate patients for non-invasive screening for coronary artery disease, which advances our mission of promoting the early detection of CAD.”

The nine newly certified physicians in Lebanon participated in a course facilitated by Hussain Isma’eel, M.D.

SHAPE Provider Certification adheres to the First SHAPE Guideline for screening to identify hidden CAD in apparently healthy patients. The SHAPE II Task Force will convene at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2010 on November 13^th and is expected to recommend updates that incorporate what has been learned through research and medical practice during the four years since the First SHAPE Guideline was introduced.

In addition to SHAPE Provider Certification, SHAPE encourages best practices in heart attack screening through SHAPE Certified Centers of Excellence. Unlike traditional cardiovascular clinics that are primarily focused on preventing a second heart attack, SHAPE Certified Centers of Excellence focus on the prevention of a first heart attack.

SHAPE’s exhibit at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2010 (Booth #1708) will showcase updates to the SHAPE Guideline as well as the SHAPE Certified Centers of Excellence program and SHAPE Provider Certification initiative.

SHAPE Certified Providers

United States

Kelly Coracides, RN
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Gilbert, AZ

Lebanon

Mohammad Dghaili, MD
Alaeedine Hospital
Sarafand, Lebanon

Mohammad Sleiman, MD
Beirut, Lebanon

Samir Arnaout, MD
Beirut, Lebanon

Adel Dimassi, MD
Beirut, Lebanon

Ali Jaffal, MD
Nabatieh, Lebanon

Imad Marji, MD
Beirut, Lebanon

Jihad Chebbo, MD
Saida, Lebanon

Ali Mansour, MD
Beirut, Lebanon

Gilbert Abi Nader, MD
Beirut, Lebanon

About SHAPE
Based in Houston, the Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE) is a non-profit organization that promotes education and research related to prevention, detection, and treatment of heart attacks. SHAPE is committed to raising public awareness about revolutionary discoveries that are opening exciting avenues to prevent heart attacks. SHAPE’s mission is to eradicate heart attacks in the 21st century. Additional information is available on the organization’s Web site at www.shapesociety.org.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

OTTAWA, CANADA–(Marketwire – Oct. 26, 2010) – Accentus Inc. the leading provider of Transcription Services for the Canadian healthcare industry announced today that it is launching two new services – Document Imaging and Remote Coding. These new services together with the company’s well entrenched Transcription Service will allow Accentus to offer a completely Integrated Medical Document Management Solution.

“Accessibility, availability, and usability of patient health information are of paramount importance to providing the best possible healthcare,” said Stephen Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, Accentus Inc. “Our services help healthcare organizations electronically capture and manage patient data from multiple sources and make it available at the click of a button to healthcare professionals facilitating more immediate diagnosis and more timely access to data for trending and funding activities.”

Accentus will offer archival, near real-time and real-time document imaging services bringing significant efficiency gains to each step in the document imaging process to save clients time and money. Using patented software Accentus Document Imaging Services automate otherwise manual processes in the document preparation and scanning stages greatly reducing man-hours and human-error. Accentus will also take a multi-tiered approach supported by industry-leading logic and intelligence software to fully automate image processing. Many functions such as content understanding, indexing, forms recognition, electronic content separation and sorting, content identification and/or extraction, rules based workflow management, and, exception handling will be carried out electronically.

Through Accentus Remote Coding Services healthcare organizations will have access to a team of certified Health Information Management professionals fully trained on the ICD-10-CA coding standard, as well as, coding tools such as computer assisted coding and auditing software and regulatory compliance functionality with submission interface.

Accentus’ multifunctional document management platform, eDoc, will support both new services. eDoc’s, integrated electronic content management (ECM) functionality allows for easy search and retrieval of scanned images, the extraction and use of information contained within those images, secure web enabled remote or shared access to documents, and easy management of chart content deficiencies. It can greatly enhance existing hospital electronic health records systems that are image-enabled or can be integrated with those that are not.

Business Process Management software further enhances eDoc’s ECM capability. Healthcare organizations can improve efficiency and productivity by fully automating and streamlining business processes, electronically distributing tasks, implementing and enforcing business rules, documenting and measuring performance, and accessing data for real-time and historical reporting.

Accentus offers a transactional fee structure, partial to full outsourcing flexibility, a highly skilled workforce, end-to-end workflow management, comprehensive reporting, SaaS based technology platform to support services, strict adherence to both provincial and national (PIPEDA) standards, and a strong commitment to quality.

About Accentus Inc.

Accentus provides Integrated Medical Document Management Solutions for the creation of electronic health records. Leading hospitals, medical clinics, and independent physicians across Canada rely on Accentus to capture accurate and timely patient health information. Combining state-of-the-art technology, human resources, industry knowledge, and value-add services, Accentus, delivers outsourced or co-sourced medical document management solutions based on a pay- and scale- as-you-go business model. Accentus Enterprise Services meet the needs of hospitals and large clinics and Accentus MD, is a hospital calibre transcription service specifically tailored to meet the needs of individual doctors and group practices. Accentus was founded in 2001, is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and privately funded.

PHILADELPHIA, PA–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  Gemino Healthcare Finance (“Gemino”) today announced it has received a rating upgrade from rating agency DBRS to A from BBB. The rating change was based upon the historical performance of the loan portfolio, underlying collateral pools and the structural integrity of the transactions.

Mike Gervais, Chief Executive Officer of Gemino, said, “Obtaining the upgrade to A was another milestone for Gemino. It validates the quality of our clients, credit team, and overall business. We have funded over 40 deals since we launched Gemino in 2007 and are very focused on continuing to expand our business.”

Gemino Extends WestLB Credit Facility
Gemino also announced that it has received a two year extension on its credit facility with WestLB.

“We are excited about extending our facility with WestLB and having them continue to support the growth of our business. They have been a valuable partner the last three years through a difficult lending environment,” said Stacy Allen, Vice President of Operations and Treasurer for Gemino.

Matt Tallo, Executive Director for WestLB, said, “WestLB is happy to continue to support Gemino. We have an extensive history with the team and look forward to working with them as they grow their business.”

About Gemino Healthcare Finance (www.gemino.com)
Gemino, a privately held commercial finance company, provides senior loans to healthcare service providers throughout the U.S., with typical financing needs ranging from $2 million and up in the form of revolving lines of credit and term loans.

Based in Philadelphia, with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles, Gemino provides loans to growing healthcare companies for working capital, recapitalizations, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes.

About WestLB Structured Finance
WestLB develops sophisticated structured solutions through a team of highly experienced investment banking professionals. WestLB has a long-standing presence in the corporate, structured and project financing sectors supporting clients’ needs with capital commitments, advisory services and innovative financing solutions. The bank’s global relationships, coupled with its unique understanding of local economies, industries and cultures, help WestLB bankers consistently deliver high quality advice and service. For more information, please visit www.westlb.com.

About WestLB
WestLB AG is one of Germany´s leading financial services providers and offers the full range of products and services of a universal bank, focusing on lending, corporate and structured finance, capital market and private equity products and transaction services. WestLB has total assets of EUR 251.2 billion, as of June 30, 2010. For more information, please visit www.westlb.com.

In the United States, certain securities, trading, brokerage and advisory services are provided by WestLB’s wholly owned subsidiary WestLB Securities Inc., a registered broker-dealer and member of the NASD and SIPC.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  Patients undergoing treatment for cancer at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital were recently treated to a vacation giveaway and a surprise visit by seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

The renowned cancer survivor and founder of LIVESTRONG was joined by LIVESTRONG President and CEO Doug Ulman and American Cancer Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin on a tour of the hospital’s chemotherapy infusion suite. In addition to personally interacting with the patients, the prominent visitors gained first-hand knowledge of the hospital’s quality-of-life initiatives for cancer patients. These include art, music, and massage therapy programs funded by the Helen Sawaya Fund, as well as the travel therapy program funded by Laura’s Journeys (www.laurasjourneys.org).

During the Sept. 22^nd visit, three vacations were awarded in the latest raffle from Laura’s Journeys, a support program for cancer patients at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and other institutions within the Continuum Health Partners network, designed to encourage and facilitate recreational travel for patients along with their family members or friends. The three winners and a runner-up were drawn by Messrs. Armstrong, Ulman, Seffrin and previous Laura’s Journeys winner Rodney Carroll from over 80 entrants, all currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Prior to the drawing, Mr. Carroll told patients and others in the infusion suite about the life-changing impact of his family’s week-long visit to Greece in late-spring.

The latest drawing’s grand prize went to Aida George, 41, a resident of Yonkers, N.Y. being treated for breast cancer. Ms. George won accommodations for seven nights in a fully-furnished, five-bedroom, three-bath vacation home, complete with a private swimming pool and hot tub. The accommodations were donated by Pytha Realty Group of Merritt Island, http://www.pytharealty.com. The winner will travel to Merritt Island with her husband, three children, and her mother, later this fall. In addition to relaxing at the house and beach, the family plans to travel to nearby Orlando, where they will go to Disney World and other theme parks, and visit with family members who live in that area. Laura’s Journeys is providing funding for the family’s travel expenses.

The second winner, who requested privacy, is a 58-year-old male from Westchester County undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer. He will travel with his wife this fall to the Berkshire Mountains for a two-night stay at The Summer White House, a bed & breakfast in Lenox, Mass. 

The third winner, Jean Scheller, a 44-year old resident of Weehawken, N.J. being treated for ovarian cancer, also won a two-night stay at the Summer White House, where she will travel with a friend this fall. In addition to the accommodations, Laura’s Journeys is providing both Berkshires trip winners with funds for meals and local attractions. 

Laura’s Journeys was created by Aberdeen, N.J. resident Bill Parness in memory of his wife Laura, who passed away in November 2008 at the age of 54 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. He developed the program based on the therapeutic benefits he and Laura derived from their extensive travels during the six years she was being treated for advanced breast cancer. Since its inception in late 2009, Laura’s Journeys has sent St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital patients on week-long cruises to the Caribbean and New England/Canada; week-long stays in Greece and Florida; and weekend getaways to the Berkshires. With these three latest trips, the program will have awarded nine vacations to patients in the space of a year. 

Laura Parness was a patient of Gabriel A. Sara, M.D., Medical Director of the Chemotherapy Infusion Suite and Executive Director of the Patient Services Initiative at Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, located at Roosevelt Hospital. As he was with Laura, Dr. Sara is a strong advocate for therapeutic travel for his patients.

“The benefits of our philanthropy programs — including Laura’s Journeys and the music, art and massage therapy programs funded by the Helen Sawaya Fund — are so immense that today, I can hardly imagine running the chemotherapy infusion suite without them,” said Dr. Sara. “Patients’ journeys are transformed as they feel they can play, dream and feel alive, all over again. The fact that LIVESTRONG and ACS chose to visit our unit because of our philanthropy program validates and reaffirms the power of our work. I hope it will help drum up financial support so we can continue to offer this life-altering support to our patients.”

He added: “Lance Armstrong’s visit was a very emotional experience for all of us. During his visit, he interacted with all of us and heard the testimonies of Fuad Sawaya and Bill Parness about their late wives, Helen and Laura, respectively. Lance was very engaged and curious to know more about these programs and how they have transformed the experience of patients and staff alike. During Lance’s interactions with every patient in our infusion suite, you could just feel that this was familiar territory and that he had been there, done that and survived a similar experience. It was touching to see him look into the patients’ eyes and inquire about their feelings. The patients, of course, were so moved. But the highlight of the visit was undeniably the Laura’s Journeys travel raffle. We always start by creating a certain atmosphere of festivity and playfulness. We gave out percussion instruments, and our music therapist played a Beatles song in the middle of the chemo suite, as guests, staff, patients and everyone began to sing. No one could believe this was a chemo suite in which 18 patients were receiving treatment.” 

In early 2010, LIVESTRONG announced they would recognize The Creative Center, a Manhattan-based group that runs the art therapy program at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and 19 other New York area hospitals, as a “Model Program” and would work with them to expand their Artist in Residence program to 20 new cities across the U.S. This commitment makes LIVESTRONG the largest funder of the program and was the driving force behind Mr. Armstrong’s visit.

“The Creative Center provides patients with a connection to the things they like to spend time doing,” said Mr. Armstrong. “Being exposed to art and music has created a community among the patients that is inspirational. It has been amazing to see the result of LIVESTRONG‘s funding affecting patients in such an overwhelmingly positive way.”

MILWAUKEE, WI–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  Prolitec Inc., a leading developer of air treatment and air care technologies, today announced the appointment of Suresh Bhandari, 45, as Director of Business Development.

 In his new position, Mr. Bhandari, who is based in the Washington, D.C. area, will be responsible for managing the company’s government sales effort nationwide.

Bhandari comes to Prolitec from First American Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and the leader in providing nationwide property information and analytics in support of the financial and real estate sectors, where he served as Director, Federal Solutions since 2007. In that capacity, he was responsible for managing sales, marketing and GSA/GWAC functions for the company’s federal business unit. 

 Prior to that, Bhandari established the Federal Practice for Global Consultants, a $200 million IT solutions and staffing company based in Herndon, Va. As General Manager, he directed all phases of the Federal Practice’s strategy, marketing, sales, operations, and client relationships.

Earlier in his career, Bhandari worked in sales and marketing at several software and information systems companies. He began his career in 1996 as a regional sales manager for Upspring Software, Inc., Lexington, Mass., and went on to serve as vice president of sales and marketing at Rjay Consultants, Inc., Sterling, Va.; director of marketing and strategic alliances at Invertix Corporation, Alexandria, Va.; and vice president, strategic relations, Artech Information Systems, McLean, Va., before joining Global Consultants in 2004.

Mr. Bhandari, a resident of Oakton, Va., earned a Master of Science degree in computer science from Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.; a Bachelor of Engineering in computer engineering and science from Bangalore University, Bangalore; and, concurrently, a Diploma in Commerce, with emphasis on marketing & sales, commerce, accounting and mercantile law from Davars College of Commerce, Bangalore. 

About Prolitec
Prolitec (www.prolitec.com) develops and deploys air-treatment and air care technologies for healthcare facilities, hotels, casinos, and other institutional and commercial facilities in the U.S. and 46 countries around the world. The company’s Aerobiology and Infection Control division is engaged in the development and deployment of airborne and surface antimicrobial systems to inhibit disease transmission. 

ST PAUL, MN–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  St. Paul Heart Clinic announced today that the first patients in Minnesota have been implanted with the world’s first known non-blood contacting mechanical heart assist system designed to help reverse the heart failure process for people with Class III/IV ambulatory heart failure. The C-Pulse Heart Assist System, developed by Eden Prairie-based Sunshine Heart, was implanted in two patients at the Nasseff Heart Hospital in St. Paul as part of an FDA-approved IDE feasibility study.

When patients are first diagnosed with (Class I & II) mild heart failure, the first lines of treatment include lifestyle changes and drug therapy. If the disease progresses to moderate (Class III) heart failure, cardiologists often recommend implantation of a biventricular pace maker, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), or both. Following these treatments, however, there are few, if any, FDA-approved therapies until the disease progresses to advanced Class IV (severe) heart failure. This stage requires more complicated interventions, such as left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), which take over the pumping function of the heart; or ultimately, heart transplants.

“A primary focus at St. Paul Heart Clinic is to address and stabilize heart failure at its earliest possible stages, before patients require later stage LVADs or heart transplants,” said Dr. Alan Bank, M.D., Cardiologist and Medical Director of the Research Division at St. Paul Heart Clinic.

The C-Pulse heart assist system is implanted during open heart surgery by placing a cuff around the aorta as it exits from the heart. This unique balloon counterpulsation technology is designed to assist the left ventricle by reducing the workload required to pump blood throughout the body. In addition, it increases blood flow to the coronary arteries. Combined, these potential benefits may help reverse the heart failure process or maintain the patient’s current condition, thereby preventing the need for later stage heart failure devices, such as LVADs or transplants. The C-Pulse System is one of just a few devices under investigation that may help alleviate heart failure symptoms and prevent the disease from advancing to a condition in which an LVAD or transplant is needed.

To date, Dr. Bank and Dr. John Grehan, Cardiovascular Surgeon at Nasseff Heart Hospital, have treated two Class III heart failure patients with the C-Pulse Heart Assist System: a 70-year-old male from Stillwater who was implanted with the device on September 24th, and a 64-year-old male patient from Faribault who was implanted on October 5th. The patients were just the 14th and 15th respectively in the United States implanted with C-Pulse, and the 20^th and 21^st in the world to receive this therapy. Both were discharged from the hospital within 8 days and have reported a reduction of shortness of breath and an increase in activity during their recovery. “I am impressed with the immediate effects provided by the C-Pulse and I look forward to seeing how patients improve over time,” added Dr. Bank.

St. Paul Heart Clinic is currently the only non-LVAD and transplant cardiology practice in the country with access to this technology that is participating in the C-Pulse IDE feasibility study. The study, which is expected to conclude later this fall, is available to men and women between the ages of 18 to 75 who suffer from moderate heart failure and for whom standard drug therapy has failed. The study will monitor each patient’s performance with the C-Pulse System at one-month, three-month and six-months following implantation.

“St. Paul Heart Clinic is an ideal cardiology practice to participate in the feasibility of the C-Pulse system,” said Dave Rosa, CEO of Sunshine Heart. “C-Pulse presents the opportunity for non-LVAD/transplant centers to potentially offer a therapy for Class III and Class IV ambulatory patients.”

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the C-Pulse clinical trials, please contact Glenda Morris, APRN at [email protected] or (651) 726-6967. To learn more about Sunshine Heart’s FDA-approved IDE feasibility study, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About St. Paul Heart Clinic
St. Paul Heart Clinic is one of the largest, most advanced heart clinics in the region, serving patients throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The clinic’s 31 cardiologists work in close partnership with primary care physicians to provide comprehensive cardiovascular care to their patients. The clinic’s subspecialties of heart care include noninvasive cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, advanced imaging and research. For more information, please visit: www.stphc.com.

About United Hospital
United Hospital, part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, is the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro area. It is a non-profit hospital providing a full range of health care services to more than 200,000 people each year. United offers a wide range of health services including a birth center, cardiac care in the Nasseff Heart Center, emergency care, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences and epilepsy, a pain center, rehabilitation, medical imaging and surgery. More information about United Hospital can be found at www.unitedhospital.com.

About Sunshine Heart^®
Sunshine Heart^® (ASX: SHC), a global medical device company focused on innovative technologies for the treatment of moderate heart failure, is commercializing the C-Pulse^® Heart Assist System, a minimally invasive, implantable, non-blood contacting, heart assist therapy for the treatment of moderate heart failure. The Company has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a 20-patient U.S. clinical trial with the C-Pulse^® System and the study has achieved eighty percent enrollment as of October 2010. Sunshine Heart is a Delaware-based Corporation headquartered in Minneapolis with a subsidiary presence in Australia. The Company has been listed on the ASX since September 2004. For more information, please visit www.sunshineheart.com.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

LINCOLN, NE–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  MacPractice, the leading Apple developer of practice management and clinical software on Macs and iPhones for medical, dental and chiropractic offices, today announced the release of MacPractice iPad Interface with ePrescribe. The solution was designed with Apple’s Web App development tools to provide remote and network communication from the iPad to a medical, dental or chiropractic office that uses MacPractice MD, MacPractice 20/20, MacPractice DDS or MacPractice DC.

“Doctors have overwhelmed us with requests to use an iPad with MacPractice and particularly to ePrescribe,” said Mark Hollis, President of MacPractice. “Today, we are announcing an iPad replacement for the index cards used by so many physicians to record hospital rounds, but this product can perform much more than that for physicians, dentists, and chiropractors.”

Among the capabilities that come along with the new MacPractice iPad Interface with ePrescribe: doctors can create new patient records in MacPractice from the iPad and post procedures and diagnosis from outside the office or in an exam room, daily practice activity reports can be reviewed easily from outside the office, reminders and notes may be sent between the office staff and the doctor, and email may be sent to patients and referring providers. MacPractice users can also see their office schedule as well as patient photos and demographic information. In addition, doctors and assistants may now review and record patient vital statistics and chronic diagnoses, and review prescription history and allergies when seeing a patient, all on an iPad.

With MacPractice ePrescribe for iPad, MacPractice users have all of the same capabilities of ePrescribe for MacPractice on the desktop in their office. When they write a prescription on the iPad, it is added automatically to their patient’s record in the office.

Additional content including automated allergy, drug information and review, herbals, managed care formularies, drug interactions, and leaflets for patient education in 18 languages are available. Managed care connectivity, as an option, provides an all-doctor drug history.

“We are pleased to contribute to the improvement of healthcare in America by offering doctors an ePrescribe solution on the iPad that improves efficiency and can increase Medicare reimbursement,” said Hollis. “Doctors who wish to meet the ONC’s definition of Meaningful Use must ePrescribe, and providing the ability to write a script on an iPad makes it just that much easier for them.”

MacPractice iPad Interface with ePrescribe and MacPractice Interface for iPhone may be purchased together for $800. Doctors will receive a $300 discount with a new purchase of MacPractice. The annual support and enhancements fee for either Interface is $200, and for the use of both is $400. ePrescribe is free to MacPractice clients already enrolled for ePrescribe.

Subsequent to ONC-ATCB certification of MacPractice 4, MacPractice will also release companion native iPad apps including EMR/EHR functionality.

MacPractice leverages Apple’s legendary ease of use, stability and low-cost maintenance to create affordable, intuitive and flexible Mac-native software for doctors.

MacPractice, which is currently used in some 3,500 medical, dental, and chiropractic practices, combines a state-of-the-art EHR/EMR solution with practice management tools in an easy-to-use, intuitive system that can improve patient care, efficiency and productivity. For more information about MacPractice solutions, visit www.macpractice.com.

About MacPractice, Inc.
MacPractice, Inc. is a client-centric practice management and clinical software development firm, comprised of highly experienced and caring individuals, dedicated to the development and support of best-of-class Macintosh software, hardware and associated services for physicians, dentists, chiropractors and eye doctors. For more information, visit www.macpractice.com.

BOCA RATON, FL–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) – David H. Fater, CEO of Vicor Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: VCRT), today announced that the Company has received approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for a study to assess concussions in competitive athletes using its PD2i Analyzer™. The study will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and Belhaven University. Vicor Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative, non-invasive medical devices using its patented, proprietary PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm and software. Vicor is currently in the process of commercializing diagnostics that accurately risk stratify specific target populations for future pathological events, including congestive heart failure patients for cardiac death resulting from arrhythmia or pump failure, diabetics for diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN), and trauma victims for imminent death absent immediate lifesaving intervention.

“We’re pleased to have approval from UMMC’s IRB permitting us to commence this important study of concussion status in competitive athletes — a first for the PD2i Analyzer™. Being able to effectively assess the extent of a concussion and risk of follow-on pathological events in athletes will enable all involved in assessing the extent of harm incurred during competitive play to better determine player need for advanced care and/or player ability to continue to play unharmed. With this approval, we will begin enrolling patients for this important and exciting clinical research study with an NCAA school, which could lead to other similar studies in the future,” stated Mr. Fater.

The IRB reviews research to ensure that the federal regulations for protecting human research participants outlined in UMMC policy, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulations (45 CFR 46) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations (21 CFR Parts 50 & 56), as well as other requirements, are met. 

About Vicor Technologies, Inc.
Vicor Technologies is a biotechnology company creating innovative non-invasive diagnostics employing its patented, proprietary point correlation dimension algorithm (PD2i^®). The PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm is a deterministic, nonlinear measure of electrophysiological potentials that predicts future pathological events with a high degree of accuracy in target populations.

Vicor currently has three products employing the PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm. The PD2i Analyzer™, which has FDA 510(k) marketing clearance, measures heart rate variability; physicians performing diagnostic tests with the PD2i Analyzer™ are able to receive reimbursement under existing CPT codes. The PD2i VS™ (Vital Sign), in clinical trials under a collaborative effort with the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research, risk stratifies combat and civilian trauma victims. The PD2i CA™ (Cardiac Analyzer), in multiple clinical trials, identifies patients at risk of cardiac death.

Vicor anticipates additional applications employing the PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm to enable early detection and risk stratification for a variety of other disorders and diseases. Additional information is available at www.vicortech.com.

Disclaimer
The appearance of name-brand institutions, such as the University of Mississippi Medical Center Institutional Review Board, NCAA, and the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research, in this media release does not constitute endorsement by institutions of the information, products or services contained therein.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current plans and expectations that are subject to uncertainties and risks, which could cause our future results to differ materially. The following factors, among others, could cause our actual results to differ: our ability to successfully complete the normal range study for PD2i^®values; our ability to generate revenues from the sale of the PD2i Analyzer™; our ability to obtain FDA approval of our 510(k) submission to secure a claim for the PD2i CA™(Cardiac Analyzer) for assessing patients undergoing tests for cardiovascular disease and our ability to obtain marketing clearance from the FDA for the PD2i VS™ (Vital Sign) for military and civilian applications; our ability to develop additional applications for the PD2i^®algorithm; our ability to continue to receive financing sufficient to continue operations and complete critical clinical trials; our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to successfully develop products based on our technologies; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate levels of third-party reimbursement for our products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; our ability to receive regulatory approval for our products; the ability of third-party contract research organizations to perform preclinical testing and clinical trials for our technologies; the ability of third-party manufacturers to manufacture our products; our ability to retain the services of our key personnel; our ability to market and sell our products successfully; our ability to protect our intellectual property; product liability; changes in federal income tax laws and regulations; general market conditions in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries; and other matters that are described in Vicor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of the press release, and we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements or the reasons why actual results could differ.

Release 10-21

Click here to see all recent news from this company

LOUISVILLE, KY–(Marketwire – October 26, 2010) –  All radiology practices specialize in the art of seeing — but St. Paul Radiology (SPR) has demonstrated that its vision extends far beyond x-rays and CT scans. The large radiology practice was the first of its kind in St. Paul, Minnesota 85 years ago; it was also a regional leader in adopting the most advanced equipment, techniques and services.

SPR’s most far-sighted move, however came with its debut of Emergency Radiology Services, LLC (ERS). The new subsidiary serves hospitals and radiology practices around the country, delivering remote, on-demand teleradiology consultations on a 24/7 basis along with a full range of business support services including practice management, accounting/finance and billing.

The opening of ERS turned what was already a large practice — St. Paul Radiology has seven standalone imaging centers serving hundreds of thousands of patients — into an enterprise with clients in all 50 states. Forty SPR billing specialists, in fact, now process claims from over 350,000 new patients every year.

“Once ERS caught on, our business exploded,” said Karla Krey, Billing IT Supervisor for St. Paul Radiology. “We started looking for ways to improve the efficiency of our clearinghouse services which, at the time, couldn’t handle the growing workload.”

Krey noted that remittances were a particular problem. Some individual Medicaid remittances were as long as 500 pages and each had to be posted manually. SPR needed a more sophisticated, comprehensive revenue cycle management partner that could speed such labor-intensive processes while also reducing the inevitable errors that found their way into submitted claims. At an industry conference, the St. Paul Radiology billing team asked for clearinghouse recommendations during a luncheon for attendees. “Several people told us that they used ZirMed,” Krey remarked. “That got us to take a look.”

ZirMed, a Web-based revenue cycle management software provider, covers the entire payment process from eligibility to claims management, check processing and cash management. It also offers a spectrum of reporting and analytical tools that help billing managers optimize claims payment. “ZirMed’s ERA [Electronic Remittance Advice] capabilities were very attractive to us,” said Krey. “We knew that the ability to auto-post remittances from virtually any payer and post them automatically in the system would save us hundreds of man-hours every month.”

Within months of working with ZirMed’s software as a service solutions, the SPR billing staff experienced not only a decrease in remittance work, but also a reduction in rejected claims caused by submission errors. “ZirMed helped us increase out productivity tremendously,” said Krey. “With our new auto-posting capability we were able to take a several-day process and complete it in just a couple of hours.”

St. Paul Radiology’s billing efficiency took a further step forward when it signed on with healthcare IT support company Harmony Healthcare IT. “Harmony has given us a number of ideas to improve our billing workflow. They also helped us quickly resolve some hardware issues we had onsite,” Krey stated. “Their customer service, whether on the phone or in person, is exceptional.”

The combination of ZirMed and Harmony has helped St. Paul Radiology maintain, or even increase, its efficiency levels at every point along its dramatic growth curve. Initial studies showed the introduction of ZirMed resulted in a 35-40% decrease in Accounts Receivable days — an improvement that Krey credits to ZirMed’s claims management solution and robust edits.

“ZirMed is our ‘holding tank’ for claim scrubbing before claims are submitted,” she pointed out. “It makes a huge difference in how quickly we can get paid. With just one payer alone, our remittance cycle dropped from a month to two weeks.”

While claims management and auto-posting are the two biggest pieces for St. Paul Radiology, it has added other services from the ZirMed solution suite. By replacing three other vendors for credit card payments with ZirMed’s “Z-Pay” Web-based credit and debit card solution for patient payment, it has simplified its paperwork, reduced the number of dedicated phone lines, and allowed card payments to be made from any PC. Krey also points to ZirMed’s Physician’s Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) dashboard that allows physicians to track PQRI payments and deal with an otherwise extremely complex payment system.

“We’re currently considering other ZirMed revenue cycle additions such as eligibility verification and printing and mailing services,” she noted. “I can’t say enough about the efficiencies ZirMed provides. It removes the tedious work and allows us to use our staff for more productive purposes.”

Showcasing at MGMA Annual Conference:
ZirMed will be demonstrating its revenue cycle management solutions at the MGMA Annual Conference, October 24-27 in New Orleans, from its exhibit at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Booth #838. For more information about ZirMed, visit the company’s MGMA exhibit or visit www.zirmed.com.

About ZirMed:
Founded in 1999, ZirMed is a nationally recognized leader in delivering revenue cycle management solutions to healthcare providers. ZirMed enables healthcare providers to leverage the power of technology to cure administrative burdens and increase cash flow. ZirMed solutions include eligibility verification, credit/debit card processing, check processing, claims management, coding compliancy and reimbursement management, electronic remittance advice, patient statements, patient e-commerce solutions, provider credentialing, and lock box services. ZirMed solutions are designed to complement provider workflow and to provide innovative, creative and flexible solutions for healthcare’s most pressing administrative challenges. For more information about ZirMed, visit www.zirmed.com/pr.

About Harmony Healthcare IT:
Harmony Healthcare IT delivers strategic planning, tactical execution and day-to-day support for healthcare information technology. Services include technical software support for practice management and electronic health records, HL7 integration, legacy data management, electronic data interchange, reimbursement analysis, financial and clinical, analytics, telecommunications, and a variety of IT services. In ambulatory and acute care settings, Harmony helps to safeguard patient information, ensure cash flow, and increase productivity. For more information, visit www.harmonyhit.com.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) – Sirona (NASDAQ: SIRO), the dental technology leader, today announced that the Company will report its fiscal 2010 fourth quarter and full year financial results on Thursday, November 18, 2010, at 6:30 AM E.T. Sirona’s management team will host an investor conference call at 8:30 AM that morning. A presentation relating to the call will be available at http://ir.sirona.com

To access the call, domestic participants may dial 866 730 5771 at least 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. International participants may dial 857 350 1595. Participants will be required to provide the Conference ID number 67107595.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available at http://ir.sirona.com. The webcast will be archived for a period of twelve months.

About Sirona Dental Systems, Inc.

Sirona, the dental technology leader, has served dealers and dentists worldwide for more than 130 years. Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a complete line of dental products, including CAD/CAM restoration systems (CEREC), digital intra-oral, panoramic and 3D imaging systems, dental treatment centers and handpieces. Visit http://www.sirona.com for more information about Sirona and its products.

LOUISVILLE, KY–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  ZirMed^®, a leading national provider of revenue cycle management solutions, today announced the creation of its free iPad application that is now available for download from the iTunes^® store. Current ZirMed customers wishing to immediately start checking patients in easier can download the app and integrate it with their existing account. New customers with iPads can download the App for use with a free ZirMed account.

Upon arrival to their doctor’s office, patients can use ZirMed’s Patient Kiosk App to enter and/or verify their personal information. The device can be used as a handheld, or can be mounted on a stand or other installation for stationary use. ZirMed Patient Kiosk will auto-populate patient information for repeat users, while first-time users will use the unique iPad interface to enter their information. After confirming or entering their demographic information, patients then enter symptoms and any other information they want to securely and privately convey to their physician or provider. Upon completion all information is sent wirelessly to ZirMed’s system and is available immediately.

“Our App for iPad is intended to replace the ubiquitous check-in clipboard presented to patients every day,” said Kevin Weinstein, Vice President of Marketing for ZirMed. “Patient data entry via the iPad decreases errors which can result in delays in care and unnecessary usage of staff time and resources. Integration with ZirMed’s system through electronic check-in is a first step in moving towards a 100% electronic practice.”

The App was created in-house by ZirMed’s technical team, and meets security accreditations including HIPAA compliance. Data passed from the iPad to the practice’s account in ZirMed is encrypted and only viewable by the practice’s designated ZirMed user(s).

Future planned capabilities of ZirMed’s App include real-time insurance eligibility verifications based on patient entered data, and financial services such as collection of co-payments directly from the iPad.

“ZirMed’s iPad App is further evidence of our technological capabilities in healthcare revenue management,” added Weinstein. “The App provides streamlined benefits for practices, and patients enjoy using its simple interface that turns a previously tedious task into something more fun and engaging.”

Showcasing at MGMA Annual Conference:
ZirMed will be showcasing its solutions October 24-27 at the MGMA Annual Conference, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. ZirMed will be demonstrating its revenue cycle management suite in Exhibit Booth 838. For more information about ZirMed, visit the company’s MGMA exhibit or www.zirmed.com.

About ZirMed:
ZirMed is a nationally recognized leader in delivering revenue cycle management solutions to healthcare providers. ZirMed enables healthcare providers to leverage the power of technology to cure administrative burdens and increase cash flow. ZirMed solutions include eligibility verification, credit/debit card processing, check processing, claims management, coding compliancy and reimbursement management, electronic remittance advice, patient statements, patient e-commerce solutions, provider credentialing, and lock box services. ZirMed solutions are designed to complement provider workflow and to provide innovative, creative and flexible solutions for healthcare’s most pressing administrative challenges. For more information about ZirMed, visit www.zirmed.com.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  The market for infusion pumps has exceeded six billion dollars, which has encouraged over 100 companies to participate in the market, according to a recent report from healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information. Kalorama’s new report, “Infusion Pump Markets (Large Volume, Ambulatory, Insulin, Enteral and Other Pumps),” estimates a worldwide market for infusion pumps of nearly $6.3 billion in 2010.

Infusion pumps are used to infuse necessary fluids, which include medications and/or nutrients, to a patient’s circulatory system, often where continuous monitoring and treatment by a nurse or other healthcare staff would be expensive, impractical, or unreliable. According to Kalorama Information, the market will increase just over three percent from last year due to growing competition in the field, declining hospital budgets and government restraints. But growth rates will be higher in specialty areas such as insulin delivery.

“This is a high dollar, low growth market with a lot of competition,” said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “That should be daunting for new entrants, but in the area of specialty pump markets there is more room for a niche player to develop and market a product.”

B. Braun, Care Fusion, Covidien and Hospira are among the large companies participating in this market. Medtronic is an example of a company that participates in the specialty areas of insulin infusion and implantable pumps. 

Profiles of key companies, market estimates and forecasts by product segment, as well as information on products and trends in the industry, can be found in Kalorama Information’s “Infusion Pump Markets (Large Volume, Ambulatory, Insulin, Enteral and Other Pumps).” The report is available at:
http://www.kaloramainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=79883&productid=2824936.

About Kalorama Information
Kalorama Information supplies the latest in independent market research in the life sciences, as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kaloramainfo) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2177845&trk=hb_side_g).

Click here to see all recent news from this company

ATLANTA, GA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  Medical device company Atlanta Catheter Therapies, Inc. (ACT) is generating high interest in its innovative intravascular catheterization which integrates drug delivery. The company has been selected to present at the upcoming 14^th Annual Tennessee Valley Venture Forum (TVVF) as well as the Southeast BIO (SEBIO) Investor Forum.

The TVVF will be held October 27 at the Crowne Plaza in Knoxville, Tennessee. Southeast BIO (SEBIO) Investor Forum being held November 3-4, 2010 at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia.

ACT is focused on developing innovative catheter technologies for the treatment of vascular disease and restenosis. ACT’s lead product, an innovative catheter that integrates drug delivery with vascular catheterization, has completed the prototyping phase.

The Occlusion Perfusion Catheter™ (OPC) allows endovascular specialists who have already cleared blocked blood vessels to then immediately circumferentially infuse the media with an agent or live cell to reduce or eliminate restenosis (re-blockage). The OPC follows the same guide wire used by the debulking catheter to deliver anti-restenosis agents or drugs and other therapies directly and precisely to the treatment site.

In addition to the OPC, the company is attacking the problem of vascular disease by developing leading edge technology for atherectomy, thrombectomy and other catheter-based devices. ACT currently has seven devices in its product development pipeline, including the OPC.

Southeast BIO (SEBIO) is a regional nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the growth of the Southeast’s life sciences industry. Presenting companies, which represent the best life science deals in the Southeast, are determined by a Selection Committee comprised of regional and national venture capitalists. Since 1999, companies that have participated in the SEBIO Investor Forum have raised over $2.5 billion in public and private offerings, making it the region’s most successful venue for linking industry investors with the Southeast’s top life sciences companies.

About Atlanta Catheter Therapies
Atlanta Catheter Therapies is an early stage research and development medical device company with an innovative and targeted portfolio of catheter technologies for the treatment of vascular disease and restenosis. Learn more at www.atlcath.com.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

IRVING, TX–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  VHA Inc., the national health care network, anticipates hosting nearly 100 supply chain executives from health systems across the nation, representing VHA regional supply networks at its first ever VHA SupplyNetworks™ Executive Summit, Oct. 27-29, at the Hilton Dallas at Southlake Town Square, Southlake, Texas.

Designed to promote peer-to-peer information sharing, the member-focused event will examine the latest innovative strategies and best practices that accelerate network savings and showcase the specific successes of VHA SupplyNetworks. The highly participatory program will include panel discussions, round tables and case studies and will feature remarks from leaders at VHA, Novation and VHA member organizations. 

“We find that both the savings and operational efficiencies we have realized from belonging to the Upper Midwest Consolidated Service Center have made an enormous difference in helping us maintain a healthier bottom line, despite today’s difficult environment,” said Kris Peterson, director, Supply Chain and Support Service, CentraCare Health System, St. Cloud, Minn. “The Summit promises to provide additional ideas about how to improve our network’s performance.” 

VHA members are joining regional VHA SupplyNetworks to aggregate their spending, reduce their supply chain costs and increase their operational efficiencies beyond what they could achieve individually. On average, members annually save between 8% and 12% through network contracts. Participants in VHA’s 25+ regional supply networks act as single entities to gain control of their supply chain by leveraging the power of economies of scale.

Through VHA SupplyNetworks, members:

• Accelerate supply savings through commitment and aggregation
• Reduce costs through network participation, operational consolidation and shared resources
• Maintain control over the targeted areas for supply savings
• Take advantage of VHA’s expertise in the formation and facilitation of networks
• Establish peer-to-peer connections to rapidly apply best practices and drive innovation

While members retain the ability to make independent decisions about product purchases, they agree as a group to aggressively pursue product standardization whenever possible.

“Hospitals are being squeezed from every direction and at the same time they are being held accountable for doing more than ever before for their patients, so they have to look ways to reduce costs without reducing staff,” said Taylor White, senior vice president, VHA SupplyNetworks. “Not only do they offer members the opportunity to reduce costs through aggregated volume and identify and promote opportunities for standardization, VHA supply networks also promote operational efficiencies that are unique to the health care industry.”

In their most mature form, VHA SupplyNetworks enable members to pursue higher value activities, such as centralized ordering and centralized logistics. VHA Supply Networks also provide innovative platforms for product utilization discussions because the collective expertise of the network members enables the hospitals to reach a clinically supportable consensus about which medical products to buy.

About VHA
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. In 2009, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.47 billion to members. Formed in 1977, through its 16 regional offices, VHA serves 1,400 hospitals and more than 30,000 non-acute care providers nationwide. VHA was ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 38^th best place to work in health care in 2010.

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  Medical offices owned by hospitals and health systems are the leaders in adopting electronic healthcare records (EHR) technology, according to the latest results of an ongoing survey released today by SK&A, A Cegedim Company, a leading provider of healthcare information solutions and research.

Results from the biannual survey, “Physician Office Usage of Electronic Healthcare Records Software,” show the greatest jump in adoption rates between January and October 2010 was with medical offices owned by hospitals and health systems.

According to the report, EHR adoption at hospital-owned offices grew from 44.1 percent to 54.9 percent (10.8% increase), and adoption at heath-system-owned offices grew from 50.2 percent to 61.2 percent (11% increase). Overall, U.S. medical office EHR adoption has grown from 36.1 percent to 38.7 percent, a 3 percent increase.

“It’s not surprising healthcare-system and hospital-owned medical offices have the highest adoption rates across the board,” said Proteus Duxbury, a managing consultant with PA Consulting Group, an international management and systems technology consulting firm. “Recently added exceptions to Stark Safe Harbor laws have made it possible for primary care physicians to receive aid from healthcare systems, or use the same EMRs, so they become the early adopters who can take the leap of faith with EMR technology.”

As the 2011 incentive payments for the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” near, U.S. physicians are steadily beginning to purchase and implement healthcare information technology systems. According to business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, the rate of EHR adoption among physicians is expected to increase over the next two to five years due to a combination of changes caused by healthcare reform, doubling 2009 EHR market revenues of $1.3 billion to an estimated $2.6 billion in 2012.

SK&A assumed a leading role in measuring medical-office adoption rates of EHR in August 2008 when it officially started the survey targeting every medical office in the U.S. Today, through its comprehensive survey methodology, SK&A offers deep insight for understanding adoption trends, validating the EHR market size and opportunity, and supporting the execution of sales and marketing campaigns.

“The results of the latest survey indicate substantial opportunities for EHR solution providers. Most of the opportunity is associated with small, mid-size, and privately owned practices that have yet to purchase and install EHR systems,” said Dave Escalante, SK&A’s Vice President of Data and Information Solutions. “SK&A’s EHR database is able to identify all the medical offices and physicians in the U.S. that represent a business opportunity for our health IT clients, allowing them to develop sales and marketing strategies and target by geography, specialty, office size, ownership, affiliation and other variables.”

SK&A is actively measuring the EHR brands that have been deployed in medical offices and the types of EHR software functionality being used by physicians in the office. The most commonly used EHR functions are electronic patient notes (28.4%), electronic labs/x-rays (27.3%) and electronic prescribing (25.9%). In addition, SK&A’s survey identifies the medical offices that have not adopted an EHR and is recording their expected timeframes for adoption, the primary factors and decision makers for making EHR purchases, and the awareness of available government incentives.

Other findings of the current report include:

• Physician offices with more exam rooms, more physicians on staff and higher daily patient volumes have the highest EHR adoption rates.
• Physician specialties with the highest adoption rates are radiology (59.9%), pathology (59.8%), aerospace medicine (59.5%), dialysis (59.3%) and emergency medicine (57.6 %).
• Northern (40.9%) and Southern (40.1%) states have the highest rates of adoption.
• The top three leading states for adoption are Minnesota (62.6%), Utah (55.4%) and Wisconsin (52.3%).

SK&A’s report is an ongoing study of U.S. physician offices, featuring EHR adoption data and summarized market research from 213,500 medical offices representing 643,000 physicians. In addition, SK&A is able to identify the IT-purchasing decision makers at the practice- and group-headquarter level who would most likely be responsible for making the EHR-solution decisions.

Editor’s Note: For a copy of the summary findings for publication, please contact Jack Schember, SK&A Director of Marketing, at 800-752-5478, ext. 1259.

About SK&A, A Cegedim Company:
SK&A is a leading provider of healthcare information solutions and research. SK&A, as part of Cegedim’s global OneKey® offering, researches and maintains contact and profiling information for over two million healthcare practitioners, including 800,000-plus prescribers. SK&A also offers the only 100-percent telephone-verified database of email addresses of U.S. prescribers and professionals working at active healthcare sites. SK&A’s customers include many of America’s most recognized healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceutical companies. Please visit www.skainfo.com for more information or www.skalivecounts.com for counts and ordering. 

About Cegedim:
Founded in 1969, Cegedim is a global technology and services company specializing in the healthcare field. Cegedim supplies services, technological tools, specialized software, data flow management services and databases. Its offerings are targeted notably at healthcare industries, life sciences companies, healthcare professionals and insurance companies. The world leader in life sciences CRM, Cegedim is also one of the leading suppliers of strategic healthcare industry data. Cegedim employs 8,600 people in more than 80 countries and generated revenue of EUR 874 million in 2009. Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).
To learn more, please visit: www.cegedim.com

Click here to see all recent news from this company

MASON CITY, IA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) – CURRIES Hollow Metal Doors and Frames, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand and an industry leader, is pleased to announce the availability of MicroShield^® antimicrobial technology on all factory finished doors and frames.

Bacterial contamination is an important issue in hygiene-sensitive facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and schools. Safeguarding your building with surfaces that suppress bacteria growth between normal cleaning procedures can be an extra countermeasure in the fight against the spread of germs. MicroShield antimicrobial technology is a silver-based resin that continuously destroys organisms in three ways — by attacking the cell wall, interrupting metabolism, and preventing reproduction.

CURRIES embeds the antimicrobial properties into the painting process so this durable finish won’t rub off. “MicroShield technology gives our customers and end-users another barrier of protection in the fight against the spread of germs and bacteria,” says Dean Peterson, Director of Sales Administration. “And with the coating already applied to the prefinished doors when they arrive at the job site, the protection process is seamless to everyone involved.”

When combined with the MicroShield offerings from ASSA ABLOY Group hardware brands, CURRIES MicroShield doors and frames will provide any facility with a total door opening antimicrobial solution.

For more information on CURRIES MicroShield doors and frames, please visit our website at www.curries.com or contact your local ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions sales team.

About CURRIES
Founded in 1958, CURRIES is an industry leader in the manufacture of hollow metal doors and frames. The company supplies a full line of custom and standard products for new and retrofit construction projects in the commercial, educational and healthcare markets. For more information, visit www.curries.com.

About ASSA ABLOY 
ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user demands for security, safety and convenience.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

NEW ORLEANS, LA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  Sage Healthcare Division, a unit of Sage North America, announced today at the MGMA 2010 Annual Conference that its electronic health record and practice management solution, Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition v 6.2, has been tested and certified under Drummond Group’s Electronic Health Records ONC-ATCB program. 

Drummond Group Inc. is an ONC Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) that provides meaningful use certification for EHR systems and applications. When a complete EHR system or EHR module(s) is certified by Drummond Group, the eligible providers and hospitals can use this certified EHR technology as part of their criteria for qualifying for Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) incentive payments.

“For Sage, the goal is not simply to meet the meaningful use criteria, but to exceed them by delivering in a way that enhances provider workflows, ensures a satisfying user experience and contributes to quality of care,” said Betty Otter-Nickerson, President of Sage Healthcare Division. “Attaining meaningful use certification is just one phase in our continued, yet renewed, commitment to delivering market leading products to physicians, and shows our customers that we are helping them move forward in the new healthcare economy.

“Sage chose to test with the Drummond Group for meaningful use certification because it is an independent certification agency. Certifications are its core competency,” said Otter-Nickerson. “Sage also will continue to maintain its existing comprehensive ambulatory EHR certification. Having two vendors testing our products provides a greater degree of confidence that our software meets the requirements of our customers, and we believe it provides greater credibility in the market.”

Sage Healthcare Division is a major provider of EHR and practice management software and solutions, serving approximately 80,000 physicians in North America. Certification of the Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition means clients seeking federal incentives will be technologically prepared to do so.

“Drummond Group has more than 10 years of software testing experience in several industries and we are pleased to bring that experience to the HIT marketplace. It is a privilege to carry out testing and certification in Electronic Health Records for HHS,” said Rik Drummond, CEO Drummond Group Inc. 

Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition is a comprehensive clinical, financial and administrative solution that empowers physicians to advance the quality and efficiency of care they deliver. The Sage Intergy family of products includes integrated practice management, electronic health records, clinical and business intelligence, and a Web-based portal for online patient engagement. Providers can access Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition from multiple practice locations, from home, or other remote locations either through a central patient database server, or as a Sage-hosted solution on a monthly subscription basis.

Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition easily tracks the details of a patient’s clinical history, shares and manages clinical information and combines complex medical practice functions into easy-to-navigate menus. Sage Intergy features centralized financial operations including billing, reporting, task management, and fully integrates with EDI services, Sage Intergy Practice Portal, Sage Intergy RIS and Sage Practice Analytics.

About Sage Healthcare Division
Sage Healthcare Division provides integrated electronic health records, EDI applications and practice management systems to approximately 80,000 physicians and thousands of ambulatory care practices throughout North America. These systems enable physicians and practice managers to better manage their practices and improve profitability. Sage Healthcare Division is based in Tampa, Fla., and is a division of Sage North America. For more information, please visit www.sagehealth.com or call (877) 932-6301.

About Sage North America
Sage North America is part of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services. Sage North America employs 4,000 people and supports 3.1 million small and midsized business customers including approximately 80,000 physicians. The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs 13,100 people and supports 6.2 million customers worldwide. For more information, please visit the website at www.sagenorthamerica.com.

Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition v 6.2 is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by an ONC-ATCB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

Sage Software Healthcare LLC, Date Certified: Oct. 22, 2010, Certification ID number: 10192010-4814-8, Clinical Quality Measures Certified NQF0013, NQF0421/PQRI128, NQF0041/PQRI110, NQF0024, NQF0028, NQF0038, NQF0031, NQF0034, NQF0059. Additional software relied upon for certification: email software, Windows OS, compression software, where applicable the certification criteria to which each EHR modules has been tested and certified.

(C) 2010 Sage Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Sage, the Sage logos, and the Sage product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Software, Inc. or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

BETHESDA, MD–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  GetWellNetwork, Inc. today announced that All Children’s Hospital, a premiere children’s hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, is giving each of its young patients access to an interactive bedside TV system that will not only entertain them, but educate and encourage them to take an active role in their health recovery. All Children’s Hospital is using GetWellNetwork’s pediatric solution called GetWell Town™ to provide its patients and families with the tools they need to become knowledgeable and engaged in their health care. 

Key features of GetWell Town are the clinical tools that help nurses and doctors deliver better patient-centered care. For instance, important messages about prescribed medications can be sent to patients even while they’re enjoying a movie or playing a game. The GetWell Town system can be programmed to interrupt entertainment content with actionable messages from their caregivers. In this way, although GetWell Town entertains its patients with superior internet browsing capabilities, e-mail, games and movies, it is always running clinical applications in the background that lead to better patient outcomes. 

“Using the bedside TV as a mechanism to engage young patients in their health care is a smart approach because we know kids will turn it on as soon as they’re in their rooms. We’re particularly impressed with the unique, kid-friendly design that really takes into account how today’s kids learn and absorb information,” said David Gardner, director of eHealth, All Children’s Hospital. “GetWellNetwork has worked with us every step of the way to ensure a smooth transition to our new facility; they’ve been a great partner.”

All Children’s is also leveraging GetWell Town in other areas of the hospital in addition to patient rooms. For children who come to the hospital for periodic blood transfusions or dialysis treatment for kidneys, the hospital has set up GetWell Town in treatment rooms to help make that time productive yet, fun. 

“The new hospital building is a tremendous expression of All Children’s dedication to the young patients and families they serve and we are honored to be a part of this,” said Shannon O’Neil, MSW, Director of Pediatrics, GetWellNetwork, Inc. “As children become better informed about their health, we believe better patient outcomes will result — which is why this partnership is so important.”

About GetWell Town
GetWell Town was developed in collaboration with GetWellNetwork’s National Children’s Hospital Task Force, comprised of 15 pediatric facilities across the U.S. as well as direct input from pediatric patients and their families. GetWell Town is designed to complement the kid-friendly spaces that children’s hospitals have worked hard to create and features exclusive content in partnership with KidsHealth® from Nemours.

About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork, Inc. uses the bedside TV to entertain, educate and empower hospital patients and caregivers to be more actively engaged in their care. This patient-centered approach improves both satisfaction and outcomes for patients and hospitals. GetWellNetwork is the leader in interactive patient care solutions and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) – Is there customer service in healthcare? When it comes to the billing process, many would say ‘no.’ As more patients deal with the burden of bill payments, healthcare providers are being challenged with maintaining patient relationships through improved communication, while increasing revenue during a sometimes difficult billing process. Most healthcare institutions regularly deal with a handful of insurance companies, but as a greater portion of financial responsibility for medical services moves toward patients, few are well-equipped to manage the payment process for literally thousands of individual consumers.

In this complimentary Webinar, Gregory VandenBosch, president at MedDirect, and Dr. George Gellert, MD, on behalf of Varolii Corporation, will share how the right conversation can inform patients about their healthcare expenses and increase payments more easily. They will also explain how effective revenue cycle management, helps healthcare organizations be more patient-centric and cost-effective at the same time. The session will also share real-world examples of how MedDirect and Varolii are revolutionizing the way providers and patients communicate.

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PT

WHAT: A complimentary Webinar highlighting how MedDirect helps patients manage their health expenses to resolve more accounts and improve patient satisfaction. The Webinar will help attendees discover:

• Why patients are reluctant to pay (it’s not what you think)  
• How healthcare providers can improve account resolution and improve patient satisfaction simultaneously
• Why the key findings from FierceHealthcare’s “Revenue Cycle Management 2010 Survey” matter

WHO: Gregory VandenBosch, president at MedDirect, helps leading healthcare providers increase patient-pay revenue and offload the retail revenue cycle process. Prior to co-founding MedDirect in 2000, VandenBosch worked in the banking industry and later joined ES Financial, Inc. He is a graduate of Hope College with a degree in Economics.

WHO: Dr. George Gellert, MD, is a physician epidemiologist and executive with 20 years of experience in health information and communication. Dr. Gellert is the former Chief Medical Officer and EVP for HCORP Inc. and Senior VP of Strategic Alliances at WebMD.

REGISTER: https://www.varolii.com/go/2010/rcmwebinar

MAYNARD, MA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  Healthcare organizations are moving steadily toward electronic health record (EHR) adoption to improve patient care but, at the same time, are aware of downtime’s potential to erode EHR’s benefits, according to a Stratus Technologies–ITIC survey.

More than 70 percent of healthcare organizations surveyed have either implemented on-premise EHR systems or plan to. The number rises to 81 percent when outsource EHR providers are factored in. While only 6 percent of respondents are in the process of deploying an EHR system now, 35 percent plan to launch an on-premise system within the next year and 37 percent within the next 20 months.

“The survey results show that the majority of healthcare organizations clearly recognize how electronic health records can reduce overhead expenses and improve patient care,” said Laura DiDio, principal at ITIC. “They also understand that those benefits are contingent on maximum uptime, and where downtime would have the most serious effect.”

Uptime’s importance is clear in responses to questions about disruptions to patient care and important administrative processes. Only 11 percent said that inability to access EHR files would cause minor disruptions; 64 percent said there would be notable disruptions, mainly administrative; processing insurance claims and scheduling patient appointments were the most frequently cited at 67 and 53 percent. However, nearly half the respondents — 49 percent — said EHR system disruptions can increase the potential for patient data recording errors and 32 percent said it could cause errors in prescribing medications.

Despite the broad awareness of uptime’s importance, almost 20 percent of respondents were still unsure how inaccessible health records would affect administration and patient care.

“It’s heartening to see that most healthcare IT professionals understand their uptime needs, though we still need to be concerned about the 20 percent that doesn’t seem to grasp the issue, or have yet to begin an EHR evaluation or implementation,” said Nelson Hsu, senior director, Avance product line. “Uptime isn’t a ‘nice to have’ in medical applications. If a healthcare organization can’t see where interrupted access to patient medical records affects care, then they don’t understand why they need reliable hardware and software infrastructures that provide continuous uptime. Without that, their EHR projects — on premise or outsourced — lead to business disruption and the potential for compromised patient care.”

To see the full survey results, please visit: http://www.stratus.com/~/media/Stratus/Files/About/PressReleases/2010/20101025-ppt.ppt.

Also, Hsu will speak on the role of high uptime technology in EHR applications at the Healthcare IT Solutions Exchange conference on Oct. 26 at the Doubletree Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Mass. His session, “It’s Not Meaningful If It’s Not Available,” will examine:

• how electronic health records are transforming the role of IT in healthcare;
• why server availability needs greater attention; and
• how to address the cost barrier. 

Case studies will demonstrate how providers met their ultimate goal of patient-centered care that in improves quality, affordability and outcomes for patients.

About Stratus Technologies
Stratus delivers the best uptime in the industry for the applications its customers depend on most for their success. With its resilient hardware and software products, monitored and managed with proactive service, Stratus helps to save lives and to protect the business and reputations of companies, institutions, and governments the world over. To learn more about worry-free computing, visit www.stratus.com.

© 2010 Stratus Technologies Bermuda Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stratus is a registered trademark of Stratus Technologies Bermuda Ltd. The Stratus Technologies logo is a trademark of Stratus Technologies Bermuda Ltd. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

IRVING, TX–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) – VHA Inc., the national health care network, has been named the 38th best place to work in health care by Modern Healthcare magazine. VHA is one of only 16 companies that have been ranked within the top 100 for three consecutive years and one of only six Texas-based health care-related companies to be included in this list. 

The magazine compiled this year’s list using information collected from thousands of health care workers at more than 300 health care companies nationwide, including hospitals, suppliers and service companies. Modern Healthcare asked a series of detailed questions related to:

• Leadership and planning
• Culture and communications
• Quality of working environment
• Training and development
• Compensation and benefits

VHA has 852 employees in Irving and an additional 662 employees throughout its 16 regional offices nationwide. VHA’s employee base includes 160 nurses, pharmacists and doctors, as well as many others who have worked in various roles in hospitals and in the health care industry.

About VHA
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. In 2009, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.47 billion to members. Formed in 1977, through its 16 regional offices, VHA serves 1,400 hospitals and more than 30,000 non-acute care providers nationwide. VHA was ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 38th best place to work in health care in 2010.

NEW ORLEANS, LA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (www.mmrglobal.com) today announced plans with Kodak to deploy a new version of the MMRPro system (www.mmrprovideos.com) operating through a proprietary customized interface on the new KODAK Scan Station Pro 550 at Booth 1709 at the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Annual Conference. MMRPro (www.mmrpro.com) is supported by Kodak’s transactional scanning solution(s) to help physician offices and other small practices get a firm handle on converting patient billing, forms and medical charts into digital, easily managed and accessed files. The new KODAK Scan Station Pro 550 incorporates the power of KODAK Capture Pro Software to enhance direct connection to MMRPro Software, MMRGlobal’s secure, web-based document management and imaging solution. This enables easy capture and access to paper-based patient documents and charts with the utmost security — extremely important to healthcare professionals and their patients.

“The MMRPro software solution directly addresses the document imaging and management needs of small medical offices, group practices, surgery centers and small hospitals that rely heavily on using transactions-based processes and forms, including patient billing, prescription data, and medical charts,” said Robert H. Lorsch, Chairman and CEO of MMRGlobal. “Using MMRPro today makes it easier for physicians to ultimately transition to a full-blown certified EMR system. This helps doctors qualify for stimulus dollars from the government and, additionally, from MMR’s proprietary stimulus program which can reward physicians with payments that could be far in excess of the government’s stimulus program.”

MMRPro also includes an e-prescribing module and an integrated patient portal, enabling patients to have timely access to their personal health information through MyMedicalRecords’ secure personal health records technology (www.mymedicalrecords.com). Patients can quickly and conveniently upload their health information to an MMR account in real time using any Internet-connected device.

“Meaningful use of electronic health records requires doctors to make personal health information available to their patients through a personal health record or patient portal by 2014. We believe that our patented product offering will exceed HIPAA requirements and is more user-friendly than any other PHR available today,” added Lorsch.

The transactional KODAK Scan Station Pro 550 features a customized solution using the capture and output capabilities found in KODAK Capture Pro Software, including barcodes, OCR, MICR and others. The new scanner incorporates an intuitive GUI touch panel allowing users to work seamlessly with the MMRPro Software, enabling the user to scan patient-related healthcare documents directly into MMRPro with the push of a single button. The MMRPro Software also allows updates for patient files via fax, e-mail or telephone messages, through secure, staff-based permissions.

“The solution with MMR is an example of how Kodak works with its network of Independent Software Vendor partners to create strategic, specific applications that do more at the point of capture,” said Brian Bagan, Director, Business Development, Document Imaging, United States and Canada, Kodak’s Business Solutions and Services Group. “Medical offices and other industries can use transactional scanning solutions to help automate their internal business processes, as well as improve the information sharing practices across offices.”

KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support, which is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi-vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging, data storage, and retail industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.

About MMRGlobal, Inc.

MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF), through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (MMR), provides secure and easy-to-use online Personal Health Records (PHRs) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions, serving consumers, healthcare professionals, employers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and professional organizations and affinity groups. MyMedicalRecords enables individuals and families to access their medical records and other important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance policies and wills, anytime from anywhere using the Internet. The MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record is built on proprietary, patented technologies to allow documents, images and voicemail messages to be transmitted and stored in the system using a variety of methods, including fax, phone, or file upload without relying on any specific electronic medical record platform to populate a user’s account. MMRGlobal’s professional offering, MMRPro, is designed to give physicians’ offices an easy and cost-effective solution to digitizing paper-based medical records and sharing them with patients in real time through an integrated patient portal. MMR is an Independent Software Vendor Partner with Kodak to deliver an integrated turnkey EMR solution for healthcare professionals. MMR is also an integrated service provider on Google Health. To learn more about MMRGlobal, Inc. and its products, visit www.mmrglobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical matters are forward-looking statements, and some can be identified by the use of words (and their derivations) such as “need,” “possibility,” “offer,” “development,” “if,” “negotiate,” “when,” “begun,” “believe,” “achieve,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “maintain,” “plan,” “help” and “continue,” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. MMRGlobal, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on MMRGlobal, Inc.’s reasonable expectations as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The information discussed in this release is subject to various risks and uncertainties related but not limited to changes in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s business prospects, its results of operations or financial condition, its relationship with Kodak, government regulation and changes in healthcare initiatives, and such other risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  Crystal Research Associates, LLC announced today it has issued an Executive Informational Overview® (EIO®) on Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation (RPC) (NYSE Amex: RPC). The full 64-page report can be found at www.crystalra.com.

Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Radient” or “the Company”) together with its wholly-owned subsidiary AMDL Diagnostics Inc. (ADI), is an in vitro (IVD) company commercializing Onko-Sure® (formerly DR-70®) — a non-invasive, IVD test kit that detects and monitors up to 19 types of cancer. Onko-Sure® helps physicians answer important clinical questions related to early disease detection and progression in order ultimately to improve patient outcomes and survival. The distinctive feature of Radient’s Onko-Sure® blood test is that it measures the accumulation of specific breakdown products in serum (blood) called fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs). Research has found that FDP levels rise dramatically as cancer progresses. A potentially life-saving IVD cancer test, Onko-Sure® is currently cleared to monitor colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment/recurrence in the U.S.; to detect and monitor lung cancer in Canada; for use as a general cancer marker in Australia, Europe, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam; and for use in CRC patients in South Korea. Radient is working to obtain additional regulatory clearances for indications in the U.S. and abroad. Radient’s subsidiary, ADI, operates research and development and quality control laboratories and an ISO 13485:2003-certified manufacturing facility for Onko-Sure® production.

For additional information on Radient Pharmaceuticals, ADI and its portfolio of products visit the Company’s corporate website at www.Radient-Pharma.com. For Investor Relations information contact Kristine Szarkowitz at [email protected] or 1.206.310.5323.

About Radient Pharmaceuticals:
Headquartered in Tustin, California, Radient Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to saving lives and money for patients and global healthcare systems through the deployment of its Onko-Sure® In Vitro Diagnostic cancer test. The company’s focus is on the discovery, development and commercialization of unique high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians answer important clinical questions related to early disease detection; treatment strategy; and the monitoring of disease progression, prognosis, and diagnosis to ultimately improve patient outcomes. Radient Pharmaceutical’s current Onko-Sure® cancer test is used to guide decisions regarding patient treatment, which may include decisions to refer patients to specialists, perform additional testing, or assist in the selection of therapy. To learn more about our company, people and potentially life-saving cancer test, visit www.radient-pharma.com.

About Crystal Research Associates, LLC:
Crystal Research Associates, LLC is an independent research firm that provides institutional-quality, fee-based research to small- and mid-cap companies. Crystal Research Associates’ unique and novel product, the Executive Informational Overview® (EIO®), is free of investment ratings, target prices, and forward-looking financial models. The EIO® presents a crystal clear, detailed report on a company (public or private) in a manner that is easily understood by the Wall Street financial community. The EIO® details a company’s product/technology/service offerings, market size(s), key intellectual property, leadership, growth strategy, competition, risks, financial statements, key events, and other such fundamental information. Crystal Research Associates has offices in New York City, West Palm Beach, Montréal, and Toronto. Crystal Research Associates has been compensated by the Company in cash of sixty-one thousand U.S. dollars and four hundred thousand, four-year warrants for its services in creating this report, for updates, and for printing costs.

Forward Looking Statements:
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained in this document include certain predictions and projections that may be considered forward-looking statements under securities law. These statements involve a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, the performance of joint venture partners, as well as other economic, competitive and technological factors involving the Company’s operations, markets, services, products, and prices. With respect to Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation, except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this document are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

SAN CLEMENTE, CA–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  Micro Identification Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MMTC) (MIT) announces that on October 27, 2010 at 1:00 PM (PDT) it will conduct a Webinar on the operation of the MIT 1000 Rapid Microbial Identification System. The objective of the Webinar is to demonstrate the speed and operational simplicity of performing bacteria identification (ID) tests using the MIT 1000 System and to give a brief education on the non-biological light scattering technology that is used to obtain an ID. The Webinar will be conducted by MIT’s Chief Technical Officer, Dr. David Haavig. Attendees may register for the Event at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/183951526. 

Michael Brennan, MIT’s Chairman and CEO, stated that “Based on feedback from current users and investors regarding our last Webinar, MIT plans to provide periodic Webinars to update the Company’s business and product achievements.” Mr. Brennan further stated, “We are certain the attendees at our upcoming Webinar will be impressed with both the technology and simplicity of use of our System.” 

About Micro Identification Technologies:

MIT is a California-based public company that has developed and patented a rapid microbial identification (ID) System that revolutionizes the pathogenic bacteria ID process and can annually save thousands of lives and tens of millions of dollars. The System IDs bacteria in minutes, not days, and at a significant per test cost savings when compared to any conventional method. It does not rely on chemical or biological agents, conventional processing, fluorescent tags, gas chromatography or DNA analysis. The process is totally GREEN requiring only clean water and a sample of the unknown bacteria. Revenues for all rapid testing methods exceed $5 billion annually — with food safety accounting for over $3 billion — having expanded at a rate of 9.2 percent annually since 1998. Current growth projections are at 30 percent annually with test demands driven by major health, safety and homeland security issues. www.micro-identification.com

MIT has demonstrated the ability to detect and identify, within several minutes, the microbes Escherichia coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogenic bacteria. MIT has performed over 300 tests for the identification of the aforementioned contaminants and scored 95% accuracy. The System can currently identify 23 species of bacteria and is easily expandable. The identification process has been verified by North American Science Associates, Inc. (NAMSA), an independent, internationally recognized biological testing laboratory. The NAMSA Test Report is available from the Company and, in MIT’s opinion, demonstrates the accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness of the System over conventional processes. www.namsa.com

This release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements are made based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to dependence on suppliers; short product life cycles and reductions in unit selling prices; delays in development or shipment of new products; lack of market acceptance of our new products or services; inability to continue to develop competitive new products and services on a timely basis; introduction of new products or services by major competitors; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; inability to expand our operations to support increased growth; and declining economic conditions, including a recession. These and other factors and risks associated with our business are discussed from time to time within our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BRAMPTON, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Oct. 25, 2010) – Adding to its market-leading portfolio of innovative medical technology for endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), announced today the Canadian launch of the Captivia(TM) Delivery System for the Valiant(R) Thoracic Stent Graft, a minimally invasive treatment for aneurysms and other lesions of the thoracic aorta. The Captivia Delivery System has been available internationally since the fall of 2009 and was approved by Health Canada on August 3, 2010.

The Captivia Delivery System features tip capture for enhanced control of the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft during deployment and a hydrophilic coating applied to the graft cover to facilitate iliac access and delivery through patients’ vasculature. The new Valiant Captivia system enables physicians to treat a wide range of anatomies with a highly conformable stent graft, with accuracy and ease of delivery to achieve optimal clinical results. Both the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft and Captivia Delivery System are investigational in the United States, where their use is limited to clinical trials approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Francois Dagenais, cardiac surgeon at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec in Quebec City, has performed 17 Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft implantations with the Captivia Delivery System. Dr. Dagenais is a global thought leader on thoracic endovascular repair and has pioneered this non-invasive treatment in Canada.

“The Captivia delivery system for the Valiant thoracic endograft allows for precise deployment, explained Dr. Dagenais,” Especially within the high cardiac output and angulated aortic arch the Captivia system minimizes the “windsock effect” and the asymmetric deployment occasionally encountered in this procedure. Such a controlled release mechanism may reduce embolic dislodgement by reducing arch manipulation and avoid inadvertent arch branch coverage. In addition, the Captivia Valiant endograft is covered with a hydrophilic coating facilitating insertion of the endograft in tight or tortuous iliac anatomy.”

Indicated for the treatment of a variety of thoracic aortic lesions, the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft has emerged as the minimally invasive “system of choice” for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outside the United States. In four years of clinical experience, more than 15,000 patients worldwide have received the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft. 

“Given the widespread acceptance and growing use of our Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft, the Captivia Delivery System represents an enhancement that provides physicians with outstanding ease of access and delivery, as well as deployment accuracy and control,” said Tony Semedo, vice president and general manager of Endovascular Innovations, part of the CardioVascular business at Medtronic. “Combined with the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft, which retains its hallmark attribute of conformability, the new system will expand endovascular treatment to more patients with complex aortic disease.”

A pioneer of EVAR, Medtronic has been an innovator and leader in the stent graft industry since the 1990s, with more than 175,000 patients treated with its devices. The company offers the broadest portfolio of stent grafts. Among these are the Talent(R) Abdominal and Thoracic Stent Grafts in the United States, as well as the Endurant(R) Abdominal and the Valiant(R) Thoracic Stent Grafts outside the United States.

Medtronic is committed to advancing the treatment of cardiovascular disease through collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

About Medtronic of Canada Ltd. 

Medtronic of Canada sells, services and distributes Medtronic products in Canada: medical devices used in cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, spinal and neurosurgery, and ear, nose and throat surgery. Medtronic of Canada employs over 420 Canadians, it is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, has regional offices in Vancouver and Montreal and an atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation catheter manufacturing facility – Medtronic CryoCath – in the Montreal metropolitan area.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

BRAMPTON, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – 25 oct. 2010) – En vue d’élargir sa gamme de produits médicaux inédits sur le plan technologique pour la réparation de l’aorte par technique endovasculaire, la société Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), a annoncé aujourd’hui le lancement au Canada du système Captivia(MC) pour la pose du greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valian(R), un traitement minimalement effractif des anévrismes et d’autres lésions de l’aorte thoracique. Le système de pose Captivia est offert à l’échelle internationale depuis l’automne 2009.

Le système de pose Captivia comporte un mécanisme de saisie des pointes rehaussant le contrôle du greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant lors de son déploiement, ainsi qu’un enduit hydrophile appliqué sur le greffon pour faciliter l’accès à l’artère iliaque et la pose de l’endoprothèse par le biais du système vasculaire des patients. Le nouveau système Captivia Valiant permet aux médecins de traiter facilement et avec précision un vaste éventail d’anatomies à l’aide d’un greffon endoprothèse ultraconfortable pour ainsi atteindre des résultats cliniques optimaux. Le système de greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant et le système de pose Captivia sont tous deux en phase de recherche aux États-Unis, alors que leur utilisation est restreinte aux essais cliniques approuvés par la Food and Drug Administration.

Le docteur François Dagenais, chirurgien cardiaque à l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, a effectué 17 implantations du greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant à l’aide du système de pose Captivia. Le docteur Dagenais est un chef de file de renommée mondiale en réparation endovasculaire thoracique; il a été un pionnier de ce traitement non effractif au Canada.

“Le système de pose Captivia de l’endogreffon thoracique Valiant permet un déploiement précis”, a expliqué le docteur Dagenais. “Particulièrement dans les limites d’un débit cardiaque élevé et d’un arc aortique angulé, le système Captivia minimise l’effet de manche à air et le déploiement asymétrique occasionnel associé à ce type d’intervention. Un tel mécanisme de dégagement contrôlé peut réduire le détachement embolique en réduisant la manipulation de l’arc et en prévenant le recouvrement par inadvertance de sa ramification. De plus, l’endogreffon Valiant du système Captivia est recouvert d’un enduit hydrophile facilitant son insertion dans l’artère iliaque serrée ou sinueuse.”

Indiqué pour le traitement de diverses lésions de l’aorte thoracique, le greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant s’est imposé comme le système minimalement effractif de choix pour la réparation de l’aorte thoracique par technique endovasculaire à l’extérieur des États-Unis. Après quatre années d’expérience clinique, plus de 15 000 patients ont ainsi reçu un greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant à l’échelle mondiale. 

“Compte tenu de l’adoption et de l’usage de plus en plus répandus de notre greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant, le système de pose Captivia constitue une autre amélioration procurant aux médecins un outil d’accès et de pose exceptionnellement simple, en plus de la précision et du contrôle lors du déploiement”, a déclaré M. Tony Semedo, vice-président et directeur général des Innovations endovasculaires, une unité intégrée au groupe des produits cardiovasculaires de Medtronic. “Lorsqu’on l’adjoint au greffon endoprothèse thoracique Valiant, qui se distingue toujours par sa grande conformité, le nouveau système élargit les possibilités de traitement endovasculaire pour inclure davantage de patients atteints de maladies complexes de l’aorte.”

À titre de pionnière de la technique endovasculaire pour les réparations de l’aorte, Medtronic est en tête de l’industrie des greffons endoprothèses depuis les années 90. Plus de 175 000 patients ont été traités à l’aide de ses dispositifs. La société propose la plus vaste gamme de greffons endoprothèses. De ceux-ci, mentionnons les greffons endoprothèses abdominaux et thoraciques Talent(R) offerts aux États-Unis, ainsi que les greffons abdominaux Endurant(R) et thoraciques Valiant(R) à l’extérieur des États-Unis.

Medtronic a comme mission de faire évoluer le traitement des maladies cardiovasculaires en collaboration avec les grands cliniciens, chercheurs et scientifiques du monde entier.

Au sujet de Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), dont le siège social se trouve à Minneapolis, est le chef de file mondial de la technologie médicale visant à soulager la douleur, rétablir la santé et prolonger la vie de millions de gens, à l’échelle planétaire.

Au sujet de Medtronic du Canada Ltée 

Medtronic du Canada Ltée vend, entretien et distribue les produits de Medtronic au Canada : des instruments médicaux pour le traitement des maladies cardiaques et vasculaires et du diabète, pour la chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale, la neurochirurgie ainsi que pour la chirurgie oto-rhino-laryngologique. Medtronic du Canada, dont le siège social se trouve à Brampton, en Ontario, emploie quelque 420 Canadiens répartis dans son centre d’opérations de Mississauga, ses bureaux régionaux de Vancouver et Montréal. Elle exploite également une usine de mise au point et de fabrication de cathéters d’ablation pour la fibrillation auriculaire (FA) – Medtronic CryoCath – dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal.

Toutes les déclarations sur les résultats financiers anticipés sont assujetties à des risques et à des incertitudes, tels qu’ils sont énoncés dans les rapports périodiques de Medtronic déposés auprès de la Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission des valeurs mobilières des États-Unis). Les résultats réels pourraient différer sensiblement des résultats anticipés.

LUND, SWEDEN and LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS–(Marketwire – October 25, 2010) –  NeuroVive Pharmaceutical and to-BBB, the Dutch drug brain delivery company, are entering into a joint program to develop therapies for stroke and other acute neurodegenerative diseases by combining their technologies.

NeuroVive Pharmaceutical is engaged in research and development of nerve cell-protecting and regenerative cyclosporin-based pharmaceuticals for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other neurological diseases. The Company’s first product NeuroSTAT®, is a novel, cremophor-free, cyclosporin-A lipid emulsion.

“The collaboration with to-BBB opens up the possibility of treating brain disorders beyond TBI. There is a tremendous unmet medical need in treating patients with acute neurodegeneration such as stroke, cardiac-arrest-induced brain damage and spinal cord injuries, where one can expect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to significantly prevent drug penetration to the central nervous system (CNS)”, says Dr Eskil Elmér, CSO of NeuroVive.

Pieter Gaillard, CSO of to-BBB, adds: “The BBB is indeed a significant obstacle in the treatment of CNS disorders. to-BBB’s proprietary G-Technology^® can safely enhance drug delivery to the brain and we are excited to address this with NeuroVive’s cyclosporin-based pharmaceuticals”.

“Currently there are no approved pharmacological or cellular primary neuroprotective treatments for stroke and spinal cord injuries. Consequently, the need to develop treatment for acute degenerative disorders has never been greater than it is today. The deal with to-BBB has the potential to generate drugs for large markets in CNS diseases such as stroke”, says Mikael Brönnegård, CEO of NeuroVive.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with NeuroVive,” says Willem van Weperen, CEO of to-BBB. We are convinced that synergies in research and clinical platforms as well as business and commercial strategies between to-BBB and NeuroVive will result in a very strong partnership that will benefit patients with these devastating CNS diseases”.

NeuroVive is funding the initial development up to preclinical Proof of Concept, after which the two companies have agreed to develop and commercialize the product jointly.

About NeuroVive

NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB is a Swedish drug development company. NeuroVive’s primary mission is to develop drugs which protect nerve cells. The company is currently conducting clinical trials with NeuroSTAT®. In addition to introducing NeuroSTAT® as the first cyclophilin-D-inhibiting mitochondrial protectant, NeuroVive is researching and developing variants of cyclophilin-inhibiting cyclosporins and new ways of transporting these drugs across the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system. NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (publ) shares are listed on the Swedish trading platform AktieTorget (www.aktietorget.se). The AktieTorget market is focused on emerging, entrepreneurial businesses and offers an electronic trading system supplied by the OMX Nordic stock exchange in Stockholm, Sweden.

About to-BBB

to-BBB is a Dutch biotechnology company in the field of enhanced drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. The company is developing novel treatments for brain disorders by combining existing drugs with its proprietary brain drug delivery platform. The company’s vision is that the treatment of currently unserved brain diseases will be best achieved by safely enhancing the blood-to-brain delivery of drugs.

to-BBB is headquartered in The Netherlands at the Leiden Bio Science Park and established a fully owned subsidiary, to-BBB Taiwan Ltd., in Taipei, Taiwan.

LOUISVILLE, KY–(Marketwire – October 24, 2010) –  ZirMed^®, a leading national provider of revenue cycle management solutions, today announced several significant company milestones.

This month, ZirMed processed its 750 millionth healthcare transaction. The company currently processes over 20 million monthly transactions that include patient payments, claims, remittances and eligibility verifications.

“We now process as many transactions in a month as we did in all of 2004,” said Jerry Merritt, president and chief executive officer of ZirMed Inc. “Our substantial organic growth is self-funded, not inflated by acquisitions. We have achieved growth through our partner relationships and integration of our solution into practice management and EMR systems.”

Over the last five years, ZirMed’s revenue has grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 39%.

To help manage and accelerate ZirMed’s growth, the company recently added two new senior executives.

Kevin Weinstein joins ZirMed as Vice President of Marketing and will oversee industry relations, messaging and new opportunity generation as well as managing the company’s brand. He was previously Vice President of Marketing and Sales Operations at Allscripts. Mr. Weinstein also worked as a management consultant with Oliver Wyman and earlier oversaw the investment process for an early stage venture capital fund. Mr. Weinstein earned a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Colgate University.

Kraig Brown joins ZirMed as the Vice President of Sales and will lead sales execution for the company. Mr. Brown comes to the company from PGi, a web, video conferencing and document delivery company, where he was Senior Vice President of Sales. While at PGi, Mr. Brown oversaw inside and web based sales, building significant industry partner relationships with companies such as Cisco Webex, Adobe, and Microsoft. Prior to joining PGi, Mr. Brown was Senior Vice President of Sales at Xpediate Consulting, a high-growth private company focused on healthcare compliance. Kraig Brown received his Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Georgia and his Master of Arts at David Lipscomb University.

Showcasing at MGMA Annual Conference:

ZirMed will be showcasing its solutions October 24-27 at the MGMA Annual Conference, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. ZirMed will be demonstrating its revenue cycle management solutions in Exhibit Booth #838. For more information about ZirMed, visit the company’s MGMA exhibit or visit www.zirmed.com.

About ZirMed:
ZirMed is a nationally recognized leader in delivering revenue cycle management solutions to healthcare providers. ZirMed enables healthcare providers to leverage the power of technology to cure administrative burdens and increase cash flow. ZirMed solutions include eligibility verification, credit/debit card processing, check processing, claims management, coding compliancy and reimbursement management, electronic remittance advice, patient statements, patient e-commerce solutions, provider credentialing, and lock box services. ZirMed solutions are designed to complement provider workflow and to provide innovative, creative and flexible solutions for healthcare’s most pressing administrative challenges. For more information about ZirMed, visit www.zirmed.com.

SUN VALLEY, CA–(Marketwire – October 22, 2010) –  XTend Medical (PINKSHEETS: XMDC), a company that specializes in delivering life changing medical technology to healthcare organizations globally, has secured the BioHarp patents as the agreement reached through mediation stated. The company released the following statement:

“XTend’s patent counsel, Knobbe, Martens, Olsen, & Bear, LLC, has successfully been able to secure the transfers of the patents associated with the BioHarp to XTend Medical. Now that the company has secured these patents, it can now move quickly to begin the commercialization of the BioHarp Medical device. The company has been in contact with several manufacturers interested in working closely with XTend to produce the BioHarp device. In addition, XTend continues to receive interest from numerous global distributors looking to bring the BioHarp into various countries for implementation into their healthcare programs wherein the BioHarp could play a large role in their future healthcare plans. In addition, veterinarian distributors in the U.S. and Europe feel the BioHarp could prove to be a valuable tool in pet care and have expressed a keen interest in working with XTend to sell and distribute the BioHarp. As the company progresses forward, exploring all of the opportunities presented for the BioHarp should assist the company in reaching its full potential in 2011 and beyond.”

About XTend Medical

XTend Medical is a company that specializes in the sales, manufacturing and distribution of the latest in medical devices and telemedicine solutions for the healthcare industry. Their dedication to insuring the products and services offered to healthcare organizations, third-world countries, and physician groups are at the forefront of medical technology. Their recent acquisition of the BioHarp medical device will assist the company in becoming known as a leader in the healthcare sector globally. For further information, please contact them at [email protected] or visit their website at www.bioharpunius.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements covered within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products and services that we may not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in pervasive markets.

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM–(Marketwire – Oct. 22, 2010) – More than half of British adults are classed as overweight so it’s no surprise that there’s a large and growing market for slimming pills and supplements, but new research has revealed that many of them don’t work.

With many pills boasting attractive results that range from pills which can bind body fat to prevent the body from absorbing it or pills that claim to speed up the metabolism, it’s no surprise that those who want to lose weight are tempted by the large variety of pills on offer.

As concerns over the products mount, experts are warning consumers not to be taken in by the claims found on many of the products. With misleading buzz words such as ‘certified medical device’ or ‘clinically proven’ it’s not hard to see why so many overweight people purchase the pills.

For those who are worried about their weight The Hospital Group provide a top class service in state-of-the-art facilities.

The Hospital Group is the UK’s biggest provider of weight loss surgery, including gastric bands, gastric bypasses and gastric balloons which can give you a healthier lifestyle.

David Ross, Chief Executive of The Hospital Group said: “The majority of slimming pills do not give long lasting or dramatic results and leave those who are battling with their weight feeling down.

“Many people will have struggled with their weight for years and as a result feel self conscious and have low self esteem. At The Hospital Group we can offer specialist surgeons who have maximum experience in the field of bariatric surgery.

“Whilst it is by no means a quick fix or easy option it can give long lasting results which can dramatically change a person’s life and restore their confidence.

“Those who come to The Hospital Group, can be assured of a dedicated, professional service, with astounding success rates and a limited waiting time. This latest news is just another reason to seek an effective weight loss solution with The Hospital Group.”

BARRIE, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Oct. 21, 2010) – Ontario-based Barrie Physiotherapy was purchased by leading Canadian physiotherapy company PT Health in June 2009. Since the acquisition, Barrie Physiotherapy has completed extensive physical renovations, fee restructuring and managerial changes to make it more consistent with other PT Health physiotherapy clinics.

Barrie Physiotherapy has the distinction of being the area’s only Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) licensed physiotherapy clinic. Instead of waiting several weeks to receive care through the local hospital, individuals insured by OHIP can obtain medical attention at Barrie Physiotherapy within days. This allows the clinic to address patients’ needs much sooner—an important advantage, given the positive impact of early intervention. Ontario health insurance coverage is available primarily to individuals who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, landed immigrants and valid work permit holders whose principle home is in Ontario and who meet certain physical presence requirements. 

While Barrie Physiotherapy caters to OHIP patients, people who do not have this publically-funded insurance can also take advantage of the clinic’s services at very reasonable costs. Barrie Physiotherapy provides assistance in a wide range of areas, including injuries from sports and automobile accidents; post fracture, stroke and surgical rehabilitation; and chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, sprains, strains, and back and neck ailments. The clinic also assists clients with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims, massage therapy, braces, lumbar supports, pillows, Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TNS) devices and compression stockings. In the future, it will be expanding its offerings to include the services of a naturopath. 

Barrie Physiotherapy operates under the direction of physiotherapist Paul Love. A graduate of Ben Gurion University of Negev, Israel, Love has practiced physiotherapy since 1992. While in Israel, he was head of the physiotherapy department at Poriyah Hospital. He became a registered physiotherapist in Ontario in 2002. His professional experience in Canada includes working in retirement homes and long term care facilities, as well as setting up and managing Midland Physiotherapy for six and a half years. Love’s experience also encompasses the management of Barrie Physiotherapy, stroke rehabilitation and pulmonary physiotherapy. In addition, he has completed numerous courses in evidence-based physiotherapy for various orthopaedic conditions. Love is a skilled professional who is dedicated to providing high-quality services to Barrie Physiotherapy’s clients. “I believe in client-centered care and practice with an open mind and ear to ensure that our clients are getting the best care and attention possible,” Love said.

The addition of Barrie Physiotherapy to PT Health’s extensive network of clinics represents a major benefit to the public. The development will enable individuals who previously found physiotherapy prohibitively expensive to avail themselves of these services. It will also help those who previously paid for private-only services to reduce their health care costs while still receiving quality care under the attention of registered and experienced physiotherapists, kinesiologists and massage therapists.

Barrie Physiotherapy is conveniently located at 125 Bell Farm Road in Barrie, Ontario. For more information about the area’s only OHIP-funded physiotherapy clinic or PT Health, please contact Paul Love at (705) 725-1980 or visit www.PTHealth.ca.

About PT Health

Established in 1995, Ontario-based PT Health is an extensive network of physiotherapist-owned clinics located all throughout Canada. It has distinguished itself as one of the fastest-growing health care physiotherapy companies in the country. PT Health operates more than 90 physical therapy clinics across Canada and provides services to nearly 200 Canadian nursing homes. PT Health’s clinics are grounded in the principles of integrity, accountability and trust while delivering services in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropody, sports medicine, athletic therapy, massage therapy and other areas. PT Health is committed to providing high-quality, progressive therapy to benefit their patients.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 21, 2010) –  MedLink (OTCBB: MLKNA), a leading provider of health information technology solutions to the medical community announced today the formation of the New York Health Information Network as a collaboration with Thrasys, Inc. a provider of next-generation health information technology and solutions. The New York Health Information Network (NYHIN) will be the first of many regional health information networks to be deployed by MedLink and Thrasys under a Connected Healthcare initiative launched by the two companies earlier this year. Connected Healthcare and regional health information networks will enable communities of physicians, patients, service centers, and health plans to coordinate care, manage costs, increase revenues, improve outcomes and enhance patient experience.

The New York Health Information Network will provide interoperability, applications and services using the cloud-based SyntraNet connected healthcare platform from Thrasys. SyntraNet provides an open foundation for highly scalable collaborative healthcare networks. The New York Health Information Network will implement a health information exchange to meet interoperability requirements for ‘Meaningful Use’ and deliver a range of applications and services: electronic health records, practice management services, e-prescribing, group purchasing, insurance and eligibility verification, remote charge capture, physician quality reporting, patient portals, and services to enable accountable care organizations and patient medical homes.

Ramesh Balakrishnan, CEO of Thrasys, stated, “The New York Health Information Network is a first step in our vision to use disruptive technologies to enable a new model for collaborative care. Our goal with Connected Healthcare is to evolve an open healthcare platform that provides core interoperability, applications and services and also enables third-parties and partners to offer a range of add-on solutions. This kind of open, connected and collaborative technology platform is the necessary foundation to support initiatives currently underway to coordinate care, improve outcomes and manage costs. With more than $500m in HITECH funding for HIE initiatives, we will continue to partner with communities of physicians, hospitals, service center, and health plans to implement showcases for the future of healthcare.”

Ray Vuono, CEO of MedLink, continued, “The Health information Network provides a financial benefits for the NYHIN partners including Providers, establishing a revenue model through member based services for as little as $500 per member annually. The products and services are provided by healthcare vendors and service providers that leverage the platform to provide their services to HIN population of physicians, medical facilities, and patients; providing a Web 2.0 healthcare super highway income model similar to that of the iPhone Apps marketplace or Salesforce.com.”

Scott Einiger, Senior Partner at Abrams Fensterman, a leading New York healthcare law firm, commented, “The New York Health Information Network will enable physicians to level the playing field and have access to core health care products and services critical to success in this rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. As physicians join this Network, the quality of the products and services will expand exponentially making available the best of breed applications and services due to substantial Vendor commitment to grow within the Network. I expect this network to grow beyond NY State and become a nationally connected Network enuring to the benefit of patients and physicians alike and greatly enhancing our federal government’s health law reform initiative.”

About MedLink

MedLink is a healthcare IT company that provides the medical community with products and services designed to help create, manage, and share medical information. The company’s flagship product, MedLink TotalOffice EHR 3.1, a CCHIT Certified® 08 Ambulatory EHR, provides physicians with full EHR and practice management functionality. For more information regarding MedLink’s products and services, please visit www.medlinkus.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding future events, developments, the Company’s future performance, as well as management’s expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, outlined in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K available through www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL–(Marketwire – October 21, 2010) –  An estimated 80 percent of serious medical errors involve miscommunication between caregivers when responsibility for patients is transferred or handed-off. Recognizing this as a critical patient safety issue, a group of 10 leading U.S. hospitals and health care systems teamed up with the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare to use new methods to find the causes of and put a stop to these dangerous and potentially deadly breakdowns in patient care.

Health care organizations have long struggled with the process of passing necessary and critical information about a patient from one caregiver to the next, or from one team of caregivers to another. A hand-off process involves “senders,” the caregivers transmitting patient information and releasing the care of the patient to the next clinician, and “receivers,” the caregivers who accept the patient information and care of the patient.

 The Hand-off Communications Project began in August 2009. During the measure phase of the project, the participating hospitals found that, on average, more than 37 percent of the time hand-offs were defective and didn’t allow the receiver to safely care for the patient. Additionally, 21 percent of the time senders were dissatisfied with the quality of the hand-off. Using solutions targeted to the specific causes of an inadequate hand-off, participating organizations that fully implemented the solutions achieved an average 52 percent reduction in defective hand-offs.

The 10 hospitals and health systems that volunteered to address hand-off communications as a critical patient safety problem are:

• Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
• Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Intermountain Healthcare LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah
• The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
• Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center, Clackamas, Oregon
• Mayo Clinic Saint Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota
• New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York
• North Shore-LIJ Health System Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York
• Partners HealthCare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Palo Alto, California

Although The Joint Commission requires accredited organizations to use a standardized approach to hand-off communications, breakdowns in communication have been a leading contributing factor in sentinel events, which are unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof. In addition to patient harm, defective hand-offs can lead to delays in treatment, inappropriate treatment, and increased length of stay in the hospital.

Recognizing that there is no quick fix, the Center and the participating hospitals set out to solve the problems through the application of Robust Process Improvement™ tools. RPI is a fact-based, systematic, and data-driven problem-solving methodology that allows project teams to discover specific risk points and contributing factors, and then develop and implement solutions targeted to those factors to increase overall patient safety and health care quality. Barriers to effective hand-offs experienced by receivers include incomplete information, lack of opportunity to discuss the hand-off, and no hand-off occurred. Senders identified too many delays, receiver not returning a call, or receiver being too busy to take a report as reasons for hand-off failures.

 “These 10 organizations are leading the way in finding specific solutions to the complex problem of hand-off communication failures,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. “A comprehensive approach that focuses on systems is the only way to ensure that the many caregivers upon whom patients rely are successfully communicating vital information during these transitions in care.”

The targeted hand-off solutions from the Center, which are described using the acronym SHARE, address the specific causes of unsuccessful hand-offs. SHARE refers to:

• Standardize critical content, which includes providing details of the patient’s history to the receiver, emphasizing key information about the patient when speaking with the receiver, and synthesizing patient information from separate sources before passing it on to the receiver.
• Hardwire within your system, which includes developing standardized forms, tools and methods, such as checklists, identifying new and existing technologies to assist in making the hand-off successful, and stating expectations about how to conduct a successful hand-off.
• Allow opportunity to ask questions, which includes using critical thinking skills when discussing a patient’s case as well as sharing and receiving information as an interdisciplinary team (e.g., a pit crew). Receivers should expect to receive all key information about the patient from the sender, receivers should scrutinize and question the data, and the receivers and senders should exchange contact information in the event there are any additional questions.
• Reinforce quality and measurement, which includes demonstrating leadership commitment to successful hand-offs such as holding staff accountable, monitoring compliance with use of standardized forms, and using data to determine a systematic approach for improvement.
• Educate and coach, which includes organizations teaching staff what constitutes a successful hand-off, standardizing training on how to conduct a hand-off, providing real-time performance feedback to staff, and making successful hand-offs an organizational priority.

In addition to hand-off communications, the Center is aiming to reduce surgical site infections (SSI) following colorectal surgery through a new project launched in August 2010 in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons. Participating organizations include the Mayo Clinic, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The solutions for this project are expected to be published in the fall of 2011.

All Joint Commission-accredited health care organizations have access to the solutions through the Targeted Solutions Tool™ (TST), which provides a step-by-step process to measure performance, identify barriers to excellent performance, and implement the Center’s proven solutions that are customized to address an organization’s specific barriers. The first set of targeted solutions, created by eight of the country’s leading hospitals and health care systems working in collaboration with the Center, focuses on improving hand hygiene. Accredited organizations can access the TST and hand hygiene solutions on their secure Joint Commission Connect extranet. The targeted solutions for hand-off communications are currently being pilot tested to prove their effectiveness in demographically diverse hospitals and will be added to the TST in the second half of 2011. A project to reduce the risk of wrong site surgery is also in process. Future projects are expected to focus on preventable hospitalizations, medication errors, and other aspects of infection control.

Statements from the Center’s participating hospitals
“The communication that is involved in patient transfers is a critical concern that can have a severe impact on care. Therefore, we are pleased to participate in The Joint Commission’s Hand-off Communications Project to find ways of improving this process. I am proud of our employees and their efforts. It is rewarding to know that their work combined with similar activities at the other project participant sites will help improve patient-centered health care across the country.”
Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO, North Shore-LIJ Health System

 “This work demonstrates a new and exciting way to deliver safer care. By collaborating with leading institutions around the country, we’re identifying proven strategies that improve communications during critical points of transfer for our patients.”
Mark Eustis, president and CEO, Fairview Health Services

“Patients’ safety is greatly enhanced when we have smooth and effective communication hand-offs as patients move across care settings. So, patients everywhere will benefit from what we and the other leading health care programs have learned in this collaborative effort with The Joint Commission. This initiative greatly increases the chances for good, safe continuity of care for everyone.”
Susan Mullaney, administrator, Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center

“Partners HealthCare frequently collaborates with other institutions across the nation on patient quality and safety initiatives — but has never worked with such a comprehensive group at the same time. This collaboration has produced results beyond the capability of any single participant and validates The Joint Commission’s proposition that critical issues in health care can be addressed in a rigorous and thoughtful way. I know that our patients, and patients across the country, will reap benefits from this work.”
Terrence O’Malley, M.D., medical director, Non-Acute Care Services, Partners HealthCare, Massachusetts General Hospital

“We know that breakdowns in communication that can occur when patients are handed-off from one caregiver to another are a leading cause of patient harm and medical errors. Few areas within the spectrum of patient care give us such an enormous opportunity to improve patient outcomes and reduce mistakes as improving these communications. The Joint Commission’s initiative in this area is a welcome start.”
Ronald R. Peterson, president, The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, and executive vice president, Johns Hopkins Medicine

“We believe that this has been an outstanding project and we are thrilled to have been a participant. Hand-off communication is critical to the patient care process. Being able to identify where there are breakdowns in the hand-off process and focus on where we can improve, as well as develop targeted solutions, will improve the quality of care our patients receive.”
Kevin Tabb, M.D., CMO, Stanford Hospital & Clinics

 “Exempla Lutheran Medical Center is proud to participate in the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare’s critical initiative to improve the quality of hand-off communications. We know how important it is to communicate accurately and effectively when we transfer patients from one caregiver to another. But what is it that interferes with those communications? Working with the Center and the other participating hospitals, and with the use of Lean Six Sigma, we identified some of the critical barriers to effective communication to establish processes that can be replicated to consistently make patient transfers safer. We are committed to working with the Center and the other participating hospitals to help solve these complex patient safety issues and share best practices.”
Grant Wicklund, president and CEO, Exempla Lutheran Medical Center

The Center is grateful for the generous leadership and support of the American Hospital Association, BD, Ecolab, GE Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Johnson & Johnson and Medline Industries, as well as the support of GOJO Industries, Inc. and The Federation of American Hospitals.

For more information about the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare, visit www.centerfortransforminghealthcare.org.

Established in 2009, the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare aims to transform American health care into a high-reliability industry that ensures patients receive the safest, highest quality care they expect and deserve. The Center’s participants – the nation’s leading hospitals and health systems – use a proven, systematic approach to analyze specific breakdowns in care and discover their underlying causes to develop targeted solutions for health care’s most critical safety and quality problems. The Center is a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, which shares the Center’s proven effective solutions with its more than 18,000 accredited health care organizations. Learn more about the Center at www.centerfortransforminghealthcare.org.

To view this release in a media-rich format, go to: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2010/jointcommission_01021_miscommunication/index.html

Click here to see all recent news from this company

ARLINGTON, VA–(Marketwire – October 21, 2010) –  Vangent, Inc., a leading global provider of information management and strategic business process solutions, announced today it was awarded a $15.6 million contract by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology to promote the adoption of health information technology, improve methods of health information exchange (HIE) and provide subject matter expertise as program manager for the Federal Health Architecture (FHA) and CONNECT initiative.

Under the contract, Vangent will provide ONC with program management and health IT management consulting capabilities and run the FHA and CONNECT Program Management Office (PMO). This contract award also calls for Vangent’s health IT subject matter experts to work directly with federal healthcare agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase adoption of the CONNECT solution.

“Vangent is pleased to continue advancing the adoption of CONNECT and other FHA initiatives and to work with the federal government to ensure that all citizens have electronic health records by 2014,” said Mac Curtis, President and CEO, Vangent. “By providing technical solutions like Health Information Exchange Open Source (HIEOS™) that serve as part of the CONNECT solution stack, in addition to consulting and program management services to the FHA PMO, Vangent helps ONC work towards its goal of improved quality of care and increased program efficiency.”

Vangent serves as program manager for the National Health Information Network CONNECT Gateway solution, which was named one of the most innovative technologies of the year by The Wall Street Journal.  The CONNECT software, of which Vangent’s HIEOS™ solution is a part, is an open source software solution that uses standards and governance to ensure that HIEs are compatible with one another, both locally and at the national level. Vangent’s HIEOS™ solution was selected by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) as the default XDS.b registry (record locator services) and repository (record storage services) implementation in the CONNECT Gateway in October 2009.

Under the new contact, Vangent will also support FHA integration with the National Health Information Network Standards and Interoperability (S&I) Framework and federal involvement with the National Health Information Network DIRECT project. The Vangent Team will also manage FHA and CONNECT operational performance and financial tasks. The Vangent team of partners (Iris Partners, SAIC, and Spire Communications) has already built a solid foundation of success from its previous work with the FHA and CONNECT, serving as manager of the FHA Program Management Office since its inception in 2004 and and program manager for the CONNECT initiative since its inception in 2006.

The maximum duration of the contract with FHA is five years, and if all options are exercised, the value of the contract is $15.6 million.

“Vangent’s work with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has enriched our team’s experience in the health IT industry,” said Kerry Weems, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Vangent’s Health Solutions business. “Technology is quickly changing the way healthcare organizations exchange critical data, and Vangent is honored to be a part of these exciting initiatives.”

About Vangent, Inc.
Vangent, Inc. is a global provider of consulting, systems integration, human capital management, and business process services to the U.S. federal and international governments, higher education institutions, and corporations. Vangent’s 8,000 employees support clients including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Labor and Veterans Affairs; and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the company has offices throughout the U.S. and in the U.K. and Canada. For more information, visit www.vangent.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate solely to historical fact. They include, but are not limited to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, achievements or events. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The occurrence of the events described, and the achievement of the expected results, depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. In light of these risks and uncertainties, expected results or other anticipated events or circumstances discussed in this press release might not occur. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

NORTHFIELD, IL–(Marketwire – October 21, 2010) –  Randall E. Williams, MD, CEO and founder of Pharos Innovations, has been elected to chair the Government Affairs Committee of the Care Continuum Alliance, an organization focused on strategies to improve healthcare quality and outcomes and reduce preventable costs. As chair of the Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Williams will provide leadership and oversight for the committee’s work including the development of position statements on emerging public policy issues, as well as monitoring healthcare policy to provide Care Continuum Alliance members with valuable information and research on key legislative and regulatory issues. Dr. Williams is also a member of the Alliance’s Executive Committee, which is comprised of healthcare leaders from health plans, academia, wellness organizations and other health management stakeholders.

“I am very honored to have been selected to chair The Care Continuum Alliance’s Government Affairs Committee. I hope to draw from my past work with key Congressional committees, HHS and CMS as we work to accomplish the ‘triple aim’ of improving healthcare quality, reducing healthcare costs and improving the health of populations and sustainability of our healthcare system,” said Williams. “The Care Continuum Alliance is a thought-leadership organization with a wealth of collective experience moving in the right direction toward these aims, and I am excited to be part of this movement.”

Under Dr. Williams’ leadership, Pharos Innovations developed Tel-Assurance^®, a device-free, cost effective, remote patient monitoring platform that does not require special equipment. Tel-Assurance has helped Medicare, Medicaid and commercial patients and their physicians achieve break-through levels of clinical and financial performance improvement, including several successful CMS demonstrations.

“Dr. Williams brings exceptional credentials and experience to our Government Affairs Committee,” Care Continuum Alliance President and CEO Tracey Moorhead said. “His leadership will be invaluable as healthcare reform moves through the regulatory process.”

About the Care Continuum Alliance
The Care Continuum Alliance convenes all stakeholders providing services along the continuum of care for population health improvement, including health and wellness promotion, chronic care management and care coordination. Through advocacy, research and promotion of best practices, the Care Continuum Alliance advances population-based strategies to improve care quality and outcomes and reduce preventable costs for individuals with and at risk of chronic conditions. The Care Continuum Alliance represents more than 200 corporate and individual stakeholders, including wellness and care management organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers and benefits managers, health information technology and biotechnology innovators, employers, hospitals, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals, and researchers and academics. Learn more at http://www.carecontinuum.org.

About Pharos Innovations
Pharos Innovations is actively involved in transforming the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Pharos offers IVR and Web-based behavior change services and tools that enable payers and providers to cost-effectively and efficiently manage their chronic care population.

Pharos’ main offering, Tel-Assurance, engages, motivates and drives improved self-care. Through Tel-Assurance, participants self-report their health status daily through the phone or Web. This unique approach actively engages individuals with chronic conditions in their healthcare and provides care managers/nurses with real-time information to intervene before symptoms escalate. Tel-Assurance has been proven an effective way to reduce avoidable, all-cause hospital admissions and readmissions and reduce overall healthcare costs among diverse populations.

The Pharos’ solution is strongly validated to show measured clinical improvement and financial impact, is the recipient of the prestigious American Heart Association National Outcomes award and was selected for the first ever National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored evaluation of remote monitoring interventions. For more information visit http://www.pharosinnovations.com or join in on the discussion at our blog, http://www.thecollaborativeforum.com.

id=”nav_links”>

BOSTON, MA–(Marketwire – October 21, 2010) –  Virgin HealthMiles, a leading provider of employee health and productivity programs that reward individuals for getting healthy, today announced it will host a free webinar sharing how to keep employees engaged in workplace wellness programs and proven strategies employers can implement to drive higher participation in their employee health promotion efforts.

The webinar, “Promoting Participation: What Keeps Employees Engaged?” will be held Wednesday, October 27, 2010, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

Participation in traditional employee health programs averages less than 15 percent, while Virgin HealthMiles’ participation averages 40 percent. During this webinar, Virgin HealthMiles’ Senior Vice President of Marketing and Member Engagement, Tom Abshire, and Senior Director of Client Services, Ed Dougherty, will share survey results from employees and best practices from clients regarding effective strategies they’ve implemented to successfully impact employee participation in their corporate health programs, including:

• Financial incentives
• Goal setting and tracking
• Challenges and competitions
• Social engagement

Participants will discover how the combination of incentives, leading technology, and a positive employee experience provide the motivation and tools employees need to stick with workplace health programs and their new, healthy behaviors for the long term.

To register for the live webinar, please visit:
http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=254014&s=1&k=ADB371478B811161097B6D540121D36B&partnerref=VHMPress

A free recording of the webinar will be available on the Virgin HealthMiles website at: www.virginhealthmiles.com. 

About Virgin HealthMiles
Virgin HealthMiles provides employee health programs that pay people to get active. The company’s Pay-for-Prevention™ approach, based on physical activity and healthy lifestyle change, attracts an average of 40 percent of employees who participate, which helps organizations reduce medical costs and improve employee productivity and satisfaction. The program is offered by employers, government entities, and insurers. Over 120 industry leaders representing more than 500,000 employees across the U.S., including American Diabetes Association, Intuit, OhioHealth, Ochsner Health System, MWV, Protective Life, SunGard, SunTrust, and Timberland have selected Virgin HealthMiles’ award-winning program for their employees. The company is a member of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. For more information, visit www.virginhealthmiles.com

Click here to see all recent news from this company

EDMONTON, ALBERTA–(Marketwire – Oct. 21, 2010) – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) announced today the Canadian launch of a novel technology designed to provide additional protection against the risks associated with hypoglycemia. This new device, currently available in more than 50 countries outside of the United States and now in Canada, can automatically suspend insulin delivery when the device senses that glucose levels have fallen to or below a pre-selected threshold. This feature is intended to reduce the severity of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in situations where patients ignore or are unable to treat hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, a dangerous and often frequent occurrence with diabetes, can be one of the most frightening aspects of living with type 1 diabetes. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can cause loss of consciousness, seizure, coma, or even death.¹

Research indicates that, on average, a person with diabetes will experience more than one low blood sugar event every two weeks. Additionally, each year, nearly one in 14 people with insulin-treated diabetes will experience one or more episodes of severe hypoglycemia, requiring urgent treatment by a healthcare professional.² A third of diabetes patients suffer from hypoglycemia while asleep, which may impair their ability to recognize or act to prevent a serious episode.³ An estimated 33 percent of diabetes-related deaths are a result of acute complications such as hypoglycemia.⁴ While most patients experience “warning signs” before a hypoglycemic event (such as feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, confusion and irritability), many others may not experience any warning signs at all.

“The Paradigm Veo, with its automatic feedback mechanism, is a major step forward in our commitment to improving glucose control in diabetics,” says Katie Szyman, president of the Diabetes business and senior vice president at Medtronic. “While not a cure for diabetes, we believe this automatic feature offers added protection, greater confidence and may lower the risk of injury associated with hypoglycemic events. Equally important, it will give patients and family members more peace of mind.”

The Paradigm Veo System includes an insulin pump with a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system (provided by means of a separate sensor and transmitter). The patient uses readings from the monitor to understand their current glucose level changes. Based on confirmatory fingerstick blood glucose measurements, the patient then programs the insulin pump to deliver an appropriate amount of insulin. Insulin combats high blood sugar, a key cause of heart disease and other long-term complications in type 1 diabetes.¹ However, if data transmitted from the sensor show the patient’s glucose levels have dropped below a defined threshold, the device alarms to alert the patient. If these alarms are ignored, the insulin pump automatically suspends insulin delivery for up to two hours. This helps to protect against potentially dangerous hypoglycemic events. 

“This latest technology is a significant advance that will help people with diabetes to more safely optimize glucose control. In order to reduce the long-term risk of diabetes-related complications, which can cause blindness, kidney failure and heart attacks, patients should manage their glucose levels to as near normal as possible. Unfortunately, aggressive glucose control can increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia, which can render a patient unconscious—and if recurrent—can have very serious consequences,” says Dr. Bernard Zinman, Director of the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. “For the first time, an insulin pump can now not only warn the patient of this dangerous situation but can also respond and thus help correct this undesirable situation. The Paradigm Veo alerts patients if their glucose levels drop too low, and stops the delivery of more insulin if they don’t respond to the alert. Having this safety feature may allow patients greater control over severe hypoglycemia.”

About the Diabetes Business at Medtronic

The Diabetes business at Medtronic (www.medtronicdiabetes.ca) is the world leader in advanced diabetes solutions, including integrated diabetes management systems, insulin pump technology, continuous glucose monitoring systems and management software, as well as world-class, 24/7 expert consumer and professional service and support.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. More information is available at: www.medtronic.com.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

About Medtronic of Canada Ltd.

Medtronic of Canada sells, services and distributes Medtronic products in Canada: medical devices used in cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, spinal and neurosurgery, and ear, nose and throat surgery. Medtronic of Canada employs over 420 Canadians, it is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, has an Operations Centre in Mississauga and regional offices in Vancouver and Montreal and an atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation catheter manufacturing facility – Medtronic CryoCath – in the Montreal metropolitan area.

References

1. Diabetes UK: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Complications/Hypoglycaemia/ (Accessed 23^rd April 2009)

2. Leese GP, Wang J et al. Frequency of severe hypoglycemia requiring emergency treatment in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 26:1176-1180, 2003.

3. Pramming S, Thorsteinsson B et al. Nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients receiving conventional treatment with insulin. British Medical Journal 291(1985):376-379

4. Orchard TJ. International evaluation of cause-specific mortality and IDDM. Diabetes Care 14:55-60, 1991

EDMONTON, ALBERTA–(Marketwire – 21 oct. 2010) – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) a annoncé aujourd’hui le lancement au Canada d’une technologie inédite conçue pour assurer une protection accrue contre les risques associés à l’hypoglycémie. Ce nouveau dispositif, désormais offert au Canada ainsi que dans une cinquantaine de pays à l’extérieur des États-Unis, peut automatiquement interrompre l’administration de l’insuline lorsqu’il capte une chute ou des taux de glycémie inférieurs à un seuil présélectionné. La nouvelle fonction vise à réduire la gravité des crises d’hypoglycémie lorsque les patients oublient ou sont incapables d’y remédier. L’hypoglycémie, un composant dangereux et souvent fréquent du diabète, peut être l’un des aspects les plus effrayants du diabète de type 1. Non traitée, l’hypoglycémie peut causer la perte de conscience, une crise d’épilepsie, le coma ou même le décès.¹

Selon la recherche, une personne atteinte de diabète subit, en moyenne, plus d’une crise d’hypoglycémie aux deux semaines. En outre, environ un diabétique sur 14 traités par insuline vivra, chaque année, au moins une crise grave d’hypoglycémie nécessitant une intervention urgente de la part d’un professionnel de la santé.² Un tiers des diabétiques souffrent d’hypoglycémie pendant le sommeil et peuvent donc ne pas être en mesure de ressentir une crise grave ou de réagir pour la prévenir.³ On estime à 33 pour cent les cas de décès liés au diabète découlant de complications aiguës, comme l’hypoglycémie.⁴ Bien que la plupart des patients reconnaissent les «signes précoces» d’une hypoglycémie (dont la sensation de faiblesse, la sudation, le picotement des lèvres, la confusion et l’irritabilité), de nombreux autres peuvent ne rien ressentir du tout.

«La Paradigm Veo, grâce à son mécanisme automatique de rétroaction, représente un jalon important de notre engagement à améliorer le contrôle glycémique chez les diabétiques», a déclaré M^me Katie Szyman, présidente du groupe Diabète et vice-présidente principale de Medtronic. «Bien qu’il ne s’agisse pas d’une cure pour le diabète, nous croyons que cette fonction automatique rehausse la protection et la confiance et peut diminuer le risque de blessure associé aux crises d’hypoglycémie. Il importe tout autant de souligner la tranquillité d’esprit dont profiteront les patients et les membres de leur famille.»

Le système Paradigm Veo se compose d’une pompe à insuline et de la mesure du glucose en continu (MGC) (assurée par un capteur et un transmetteur distincts). Le patient se sert des lectures faites par le moniteur pour comprendre les tendances actuelles de sa glycémie. Après un prélèvement capillaire de confirmation, le patient programme la pompe à insuline pour qu’elle administre une quantité appropriée d’insuline. L’insuline combat l’hyperglycémie, l’une des principales causes des maladies cardiaques et d’autres complications à long terme du diabète de type 1.¹ Toutefois, si les données transmises par le capteur indiquent une chute de la glycémie sous un seuil déterminé à l’avance, l’instrument alerte le patient. Si ce dernier ignore ces signaux d’alarme, la pompe à insuline interrompt automatiquement l’administration d’insuline jusqu’à deux heures d’affilée. Cette fonction contribue ainsi à le protéger contre des périodes d’hypoglycémie potentiellement dangereuses. 

«Cette toute dernière technologie représente un jalon significatif. Elle aidera les diabétiques à optimiser le contrôle de leur glycémie de façon plus sécuritaire. Pour réduire le risque à long terme de complications liées au diabète, dont la cécité, l’insuffisance rénale et les crises cardiaques, les patients devraient maintenir leur glycémie à des taux les plus proches possibles de la normale. Malheureusement, un contrôle rigoureux de la glycémie accentue le risque d’hypoglycémie grave, ce qui peut rendre un patient inconscient et, en cas de crises répétées, peut avoir des conséquences très sérieuses», mentionne le docteur Bernard Zinman, directeur du Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes de l’Hôpital Mount Sinai de Toronto. «Pour la première fois, une pompe à insuline peut non seulement prévenir le patient de cette situation dangereuse, mais aussi y réagir pour ainsi corriger cette situation indésirable. Le système Paradigm Veo avertit les patients que leur glycémie est trop basse et arrête l’administration de plus ample quantité d’insuline s’ils ne réagissent pas à l’avertissement. Cette fonction de sécurité peut permettre aux patients de mieux contrôler leur hypoglycémie grave.»

Au sujet du groupe Diabète de Medtronic

Le groupe Diabète de Medtronic (www.medtronicdiabetes.com) est un chef de file mondial en solutions de pointe pour la gestion du diabète, notamment des systèmes intégrés de gestion du diabète, le traitement par pompe à insuline, des système de mesure du glucose en continu et un logiciel de gestion thérapeutique, ainsi que des services et un soutien hors pair à l’intention du grand public et des professionnels, 24 heures sur 24, 7 jours sur 7.

Au sujet de Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), dont le siège social se trouve à Minneapolis, est le chef de file mondial de la technologie médicale visant à soulager la douleur, rétablir la santé et prolonger la vie de millions de gens, à l’échelle planétaire. De plus amples renseignements sont offerts sur : www.medtronic.com.

Toutes les déclarations sur les résultats financiers anticipés sont assujetties à des risques et à des incertitudes, tels qu’ils sont énoncés dans les rapports périodiques de Medtronic déposés auprès de la Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission des valeurs mobilières des États-Unis). Les résultats réels pourraient différer sensiblement des résultats anticipés.

Au sujet de Medtronic du Canada Ltée 

Medtronic du Canada Ltée, vend, entretient et distribue les produits de Medtronic au Canada : des instruments médicaux pour le traitement des maladies cardiaques et vasculaires et du diabète, pour la chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale, la neurochirurgie ainsi que pour la chirurgie oto-rhino-laryngologique. Medtronic du Canada, dont le siège social se trouve à Brampton, en Ontario, emploie plus de 420 Canadiens répartis dans son centre d’opérations de Mississauga et ses bureaux régionaux de Vancouver et Montréal. Elle exploite également une usine de mise au point et de fabrication de cathéters d’ablation pour la fibrillation auriculaire (FA) – Medtronic CryoCath – dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal.

Références

1. Diabetes UK: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Complications/Hypoglycaemia/ (Consulté le 23 avril 2009)

2. Leese GP, Wang J et al. Frequency of severe hypoglycemia requiring emergency treatment in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 26:1176-1180, 2003.

3. Pramming S, Thorsteinsson B et al. Nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients receiving conventional treatment with insulin. British Medical Journal 291(1985):376-379

4. Orchard TJ. International evaluation of cause-specific mortality and IDDM. Diabetes Care 14:55-60, 1991

AURORA, ON–(Marketwire – October 21, 2010) –  Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP) (NYSE Amex: HBP) (FRANKFURT: HBP), a biopharmaceutical company developing drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, today announced positive efficacy and safety findings from its recently completed Phase II pharmacokinetic study of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b in patients with low-grade cervical lesions. These findings build upon the positive pharmacokinetic findings from this study announced in the Company’s press release of June 23, 2010.

Using colposcopic directed biopsy to determine the treatment’s effectiveness, 71.4% of the women in the study no longer had potentially pre-cancerous, low-grade lesions known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 or 2 (CIN 1 or CIN 2) following treatment. Colposcopic directed biopsy is generally considered the leading method for diagnosing potential cervical precancer today. In addition, Topical Interferon Alpha-2b demonstrated an excellent safety profile, with no significant local intolerance findings and no serious adverse events.

There are approximately 1.3 million women diagnosed with CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions each year in the U.S. alone. Currently, there are no pharmaceutical (non-surgical) treatments for these women. Available invasive/surgical techniques to treat CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions are sometimes associated with serious unwanted side effects for patients, including cervical complications with pregnancy and conception. Accordingly, available invasive/surgical techniques are generally utilized only in the case of many months of long-term persistence and/or progression of CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions, leaving patients uncertain and anxious about their prognosis in the interim.

“We are pleased with these findings because they provide further evidence of the potential effectiveness of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b for treating women with potentially precancerous, low-grade cervical lesions,” said John Docherty, president of Helix BioPharma Corp. “These findings suggest that Topical Interferon Alpha-2b could offer women a safe and immediate therapeutic alternative to today’s protracted observational and potentially problematic surgical approach to managing this disease. We are now awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of our application to conduct an expanded U.S. Phase II/III randomized, double-blind, controlled, pivotal efficacy trial in patients with low-grade cervical lesions.”

The study also examined Papanicolaou (“Pap”) smear response rate as a secondary efficacy parameter in the patients. The finding was less pronounced with 35.7% of the women demonstrating resolution of their abnormal Pap smears. However, this study was specifically designed with a relatively short post-treatment follow-up period as it was principally intended to provide pharmacokinetic results. The Company was, therefore, not surprised by this finding. By comparison, the Company has previously reported a more pronounced Pap response rate in patients treated with Topical Interferon Alpha-2b when it employed a longer post-treatment follow-up period.

About the Clinical Study

The clinical study employed an open-label, single-arm design and enrolled a total of 14 female patients with low-grade cervical lesions. Eligible women were between 18 and 45 years of age, presented with mild to moderate CIN (CIN1 or CIN2 respectively) confirmed by biopsy/histology, had a cytological diagnosis of Pap IIID not older than 12 months and were human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive confirmed by the Hybrid Capture^® 2 HPV-DNA test. The primary objective of the study was to determine the multiple-dose pharmacokinetic profile of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b following intravaginal application every other day of a total of 14 doses of the cream. Helix previously announced on June 23, 2010 that all 14 patients were found to have circulating interferon alpha-2b levels below the bioassay lower limit of detection (6.25 pg/mL) at all sampling time points. Following the pharmacokinetic portion of the trial, assessment of the secondary efficacy and safety parameters continued until 35 doses of the cream were applied. As such, the clinical study was designed to also mimic the dosing regimen intended to be applied in Helix’s planned U.S. Phase II/III and European Phase III pivotal efficacy trials for this indication. The clinical study was conducted under the direction of Prof. Dr. med. Achim Schneider, M.P.H., a world expert in the field of cervical cancer and Director of the Department of Gynecology at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany.

About CIN 1 and CIN 2

CIN 1 and CIN 2 are potentially precancerous, low-grade cervical lesions detectable upon colposcopic directed biopsy. There are approximately 1.3 million women diagnosed with CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions each year in the U.S. alone, according to data from 2006 Consensus Guidelines in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2007; 340-345 and Kaiser Permanente Northwest Health Plan in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2004) 191, 105-13. Currently there are no pharmaceutical (non-surgical) treatments for women with CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions. Available invasive/surgical techniques to treat CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions are sometimes associated with serious unwanted side effects for patients including cervical complications with pregnancy and conception. For patients with CIN 1 or CIN 2 lesions, clinical management usually consists of protracted watchful waiting with frequent Pap smears, HPV testing, colposcopy and/or colposcopic directed biopsies, with invasive/surgical techniques generally utilized only in the case of long-term persistence and/or progression after a period of many months. A diagnosis of CIN 1 or CIN 2 leads to frequent physician visits, procedures, and psychosocial stress for the patient. The goal of developing Topical Interferon Alpha-2b is to provide a safe and effective treatment for CIN 1 or CIN 2 at the time of diagnosis, as a proactive alternative to today’s often protracted observational management approach.

About Topical Interferon Alpha-2b

Interferon alpha-2b is a potent cytokine that possesses antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative activities with activity against HPV. Topical Interferon Alpha-2b is a semi-solid formulation of recombinant interferon alpha-2b based on Helix’s Biphasix™ platform drug formulation technology. This technology involves the formation of biphasic lipid vesicles for use as a vehicle for administration of a biologically active material encapsulated within the lipid bilayers. Topical Interferon Alpha-2b has been developed as a cosmetically appealing cream dosage form that can be easily and conveniently self-applied intravaginally for the treatment of low-grade cervical lesions using a common vaginal applicator.

About Helix BioPharma Corp.

Helix BioPharma Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer therapy. The Company is actively developing innovative products for the prevention and treatment of cancer based on its proprietary technologies. Helix’s product development initiatives include its Topical Interferon Alpha-2b and its novel L-DOS47 new drug candidate. Helix is listed on the TSX, NYSE Amex and FSE under the symbol “HBP”. For more information, please visit www.helixbiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risks and Uncertainties

This News Release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), within the meaning of applicable securities laws, regarding the Company’s plans for the development of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b in patients with low grade cervical lesions; the effectiveness of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b and its role as a therapeutic alternative; its planned designs for such proposed trial as well as its proposed European Phase III clinical trial; the development of Helix’s L-DOS47 and Topical Interferon Alpha-2b new drug candidates; and other information in future periods. Although Helix believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions which have been applied in making such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, assumptions regarding the safety and efficacy of Helix’s drug candidates; the timely receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and appropriate financing and strategic partner support; the timely and successful completion of the proposed U.S. and European clinical trials; and that the Company’s drug candidates will ultimately be successfully developed and commercialized. Important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, without limitation, that the Company’s assumptions may prove to be incorrect; the Company’s continuing need for additional capital and for substantial funding beyond its current resources, as well as strategic partner support, to conduct the proposed U.S. and European trials, which are not assured; regulatory approvals to conduct the planned U.S. and European trials may be delayed or denied; the fact that results in earlier clinical studies may not be repeated in later clinical trials, and one or both of the planned clinical trials could fail; the failure of the European trial could have a material adverse impact on the U.S. trial and FDA approval; the need for further regulatory approvals, which are not assured; the Company’s dependence on performance by its third party providers of intellectual property, services and supplies, including without limitation, clinical trial services and supplies of drug product; the risk that Helix’s supplier of interferon alpha-2b may not continue to provide necessary supplies or exercise its commercialization option; the risk that the design or duration, or both, of the planned clinical trials may be different than currently intended; the potential need for further clinical trials beyond those mentioned in this news release which may not occur as planned or achieve expected results; product liability and insurance risks; risks and uncertainties related to research and development, including clinical trial and manufacturing risks; intellectual property risks, including without limitation, the risk that three patents for Topical Interferon Alpha-2b will expire in 2013 and no additional patent may be issued, which may negatively impact the further development or commercialization of the drug candidate; the effect of competition and the fact that there are a number of other companies developing potentially competitive products; uncertainties related to economic conditions; uncertainty whether L-DOS47 or Topical Interferon Alpha-2b will be successfully developed and commercialized; exchange rate risk; and the risk of changes in business strategy or development plans. Investors should consult the Company’s quarterly and annual filings, including its latest Form 20-F, with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions at www.sedar.com and at www.sec.gov for additional information on these and other risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, assumptions, opinions and expectations of Helix’s management at the time they are made, and Helix does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement should those beliefs, assumptions, opinions or expectations change, except as required by securities law.

PLYMOUTH, MN–(Marketwire – October 20, 2010) – November is American Diabetes Month® and Miracle-Ear is joining in a nationwide call to action to involve individuals and organizations in the movement to Stop Diabetes®. Over the next several months, Miracle-Ear will sponsor the American Diabetes Association‘s educational and fundraising events such as walks, bike tours and Association consumer EXPO events. This national strategic partnership will help emphasize the urgency of reducing the devastating impact — including hearing loss — of diabetes.

Today, nearly 24 million U.S. children and adults — nearly 8% of the population — have diabetes, and another 57 million individuals have prediabetes. If current trends continue, one out of every three American children born today will face a future with diabetes. For some high-risk populations, the risk is one in two. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is a growing epidemic and is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country.

“Simple ‘awareness’ is not enough to change these statistics,” says Rebecca Younk, audiologist for Miracle-Ear. “What we need now is action. Individuals need to make the lifestyle, diet and exercise changes that can help prevent Type 2 diabetes; and we need increased education and outreach about symptoms that can help people seek early treatment before serious complications develop.”

Stop Diabetes is the movement to end the devastating toll that diabetes takes on the lives of millions of individuals and families across our nation. It will inspire and mobilize millions to take up the fight against diabetes.

Miracle-Ear is the first company in the hearing care industry to join the Association as a national strategic partner. Miracle-Ear will support the Stop Diabetes movement in order to shine a spotlight on the hearing-related risks of diabetes, as well as the Association’s education, prevention and treatment initiatives.

“Diabetes doubles your risk of developing a hearing loss,” Younk states. “Early diagnosis and treatment are critical in helping to minimize complications, including hearing loss. Since people with Type 2 diabetes frequently do not display any symptoms, hearing loss may be the first indicator that there may be a problem.”

To focus attention on diabetes and its link to hearing loss, throughout the month of November, all 1,200+ Miracle-Ear locations nationwide will donate $5 toward the Stop Diabetes movement for each Free Hearing Test they conduct — up to a maximum of $50,000. The test measures speech recognition in noise along with loudness discomfort levels; its purpose is to measure the degree of any possible hearing impairment.

“We hope that our involvement with the Stop Diabetes movement will inspire individuals to take meaningful action to Stop Diabetes,” said Younk. The Stop Diabetes movement identifies four primary options that everyone can take: Share your story to inspire others; Act by volunteering and raising funds in your community; Learn the facts about diabetes management, nutrition, lifestyle and prevention; and Give your time and your talents, along with your financial support, to support education, outreach, advocacy and critical research for a cure.

For more information on Miracle-Ear, please visit http://www.miracle-ear.com/. 

About Miracle-Ear
A trusted resource for hearing solutions for over 60 years, Miracle-Ear uses state-of-the-art technology to remove the barriers of hearing loss. The Plymouth, Minn.-based company specializes in customizable hearing solutions that feature discreet, comfortable products designed to meet each individual’s hearing loss needs. Free hearing tests and consultations are available at all of the company’s 1,200 locations across the U.S., many of which are in Sears stores. Franchise opportunities are available for those interested in running their own Miracle-Ear business with the support of a nationwide industry leader. 
For more information, visit www.miracle-ear.com.

SLIDELL, LA–(Marketwire – October 20, 2010) –  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of LOUISIANA has designated SOUTHERN SURGICAL HOSPITAL as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. To date, more than 230 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation.

Obesity is widely recognized as a contributor to serious health risks. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the total number of bariatric surgeries increased 400 percent from 1998 to 2004. Bariatric surgery may help some individuals reduce extreme obesity and its associated health risks, and Blue Distinction provides objective information to help them make informed decisions when choosing a provider.

“SOUTHERN SURGICAL HOSPITAL is proud to receive this distinction from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We look forward to providing our high level of surgical weight loss services to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield community,” said Michael J Thomas MD, Medical Director Bariatric Program, Southern Surgical Hospital.

SOUTHERN SURGICAL HOSPITAL provides a full range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up and patient education.

Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidence-based health and medical information,” says Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Chief Medical Officer. “Blue Distinction Centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care.”

To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, SOUTHERN SURGICAL HOSPITAL met the selection criteria posted at www.BCBS.com, which includes:

• an established bariatric surgery program, actively performing these procedures for the most recent 12-month period and performing a required minimum volume of 125 such surgeries annually
• appropriate experience of its bariatric surgery team
• an acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care and emergency services
• full accreditation by The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) or national equivalent**
• a comprehensive quality management program

Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians’ and medical organizations recommendations.

Today, more than 800 Blue Distinction Center designations have been awarded to facilities nationwide, providing consumers with a framework for making informed decisions on where to go for specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, and transplants.

**Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities’ overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians’ and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.

AUGUSTA, GA–(Marketwire – October 20, 2010) –  The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded ESi^® its prestigious Authorized Provider status. IACET Authorized Providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET continuing education units (CEUs). The recognition period extends for five years and includes all programs offered or created during that time.

“ESi education programs train thousands of emergency management professionals each year in the proper use and administration of our full suite of crisis information management products, including WebEOC^®, WebEOC Mapper, and ESiWebFUSION™,” said Jim Cook, President of ESi University. “Our new partnership with IACET is a demonstration of our commitment to lifelong learning and high standards for all of our programs, and we are very pleased to join such a prestigious organization.”

“We are pleased to welcome ESi as our newest Authorized Provider organization,” said Karen Brown, President of IACET and Senior HR Manager of Nuclear Power at Shaw Group in Massachusetts. “ESi joins nearly 650 organizations around the globe that have had their programs vetted by third-party experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met.”

ESi University develops and delivers training courses to ESi customers throughout the world at its state-of-the-art training facility in Atlanta, through its e-learning portal, and via its virtual classroom which allows students and instructors to see and hear each other and share computer screens during courses.

In order to achieve Authorized Provider status, ESi completed a rigorous application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor and successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard addressing the design, development, administration, and evaluation of its programs. ESi has pledged to continue its compliance with the Standard and is now authorized to use the IACET name and Authorized Provider logo on promotional course material. In addition, ESi is now linked to the IACET web site and is recognized as offering the highest quality continuing education and training programs.

About ESi
Augusta, Georgia-based ESi^®, the global leader in crisis information management technology, pioneered the market with WebEOC^®, the world’s first Web-enabled emergency management communications system. Recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America from 2007 through 2010, ESi connects crisis response teams and decision makers at national, state and local agencies, healthcare providers, airlines and corporations worldwide, providing access to real-time information for a common operating picture during a crisis or daily operations. By offering a solutions package from initial design and installation through training, implementation, and maintenance, ESi sets the standard for crisis information management. For more information, please visit www.ESi911.com.

About IACET
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) is a non-profit association dedicated to quality continuing education and training programs. IACET is the only standard-setting organization approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for continuing education and training. The ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard is the core of thousands of educational programs worldwide. For more information, please visit www.iacet.org or call 703-506-3275.

Click here to see all recent news from this company

WINCHESTER, CA–(Marketwire – October 20, 2010) –  For many of the talented veterans participating in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival this year in Tomah, Wisconsin, the interest in art as therapy came about during a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital stay. VA utilizes a unique rehabilitation treatment component which often includes exposing veteran patients to a variety of creative healing opportunities.

With humble beginnings in 1981 as two separate competitions: “Vet Arts” in Richmond, Virginia and “The National Music Competition for Veterans” in Waco, Texas, the annual Festival is now a popular national event showcasing the artistic achievements of veterans from across the nation. The roughly 130 veterans invited to the Festival this year are winners of fine arts and talent competitions in which thousands of veterans have entered. The event is a celebration of achievements in art, creative writing, dance, drama and original writing with a gala variety show featuring a professional orchestra.

“The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is an exciting event. The intricate, original artwork and incredible performance talent displayed is outstanding,” said Mike Lynch, president and CEO of Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) an event co-sponsor. “The therapeutic benefits veterans receive from participating is highly evident. The stage show is first-class and features our nation’s top veteran performers and the craftwork displayed during the art exhibit is breathtaking,” said Lynch. The Festival takes place on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The art exhibit opens at 12:15 p.m. and the stage show begins at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free, but a ticket is required for the stage show.

Since 1971, HHV has donated over 28 million free arts & crafts and other products and services to VA and military hospitals worldwide. For more information visit www.hhv.org or call 1-888-567-VETS.

Documents and/or Photos available for this release:

PDF_of_release

To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 274935

PALO ALTO, CA–(Marketwire – October 20, 2010) –  

• Independent review board commends system’s design and performance
• Thirteen programs earn disease management certification status
• Company leads telehealth industry in certification 

Robert Bosch Healthcare, Inc., a leader in telehealth systems, announced today that it received recertification in Disease Management (DM) from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for ten of its Health Buddy^® System Health Management programs, and new certification for three additional programs. All 13 Health Management programs are administered through the Health Buddy System, which serves as an interface between at-home chronically ill patients and their care providers, facilitating remote monitoring of patient health status and promoting patient education and self-care.

“NCQA DM certification demonstrates that an organization is well suited to deliver programs to manage care for the seriously or chronically ill. As it’s a difficult test, it says a lot that an organization is willing to step forward to be reviewed,” said NCQA Executive Vice President, Greg Pawlson, M.D.

NCQA certification is a comprehensive and transparent evaluation through which the quality of the systems, processes and results that define a health plan is assessed. After evaluations are conducted by physicians and/or experts in the product evaluated, an oversight committee analyzes the findings and assigns a score based on the applicant’s performance against NCQA’s standards. Robert Bosch Healthcare received a score of 100%, based on its overall submissions. Each certification is valid for two years.

Bosch leads the industry in its number of NCQA certifications. Ten Health Buddy System Health Management Programs recertified are: Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Pain, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Depression, Diabetes, Hypertension and Pediatric Asthma. New programs receiving certification for the first time are: Diabetes/Hypertension, Heart Failure/Diabetes and Renal Disease.

These programs scored high in each element of the DM certification for Program Design. Evaluation criteria includes the use of evidence-based guidelines or standards of care in program development, consistency of content with adopted guidelines, and development of patient information that assists with self-management. NCQA noted specific strengths of the Health Buddy System: the large array of disease programs offered; the branching logic applied to the patient question and answer “dialogues”; and Bosch Healthcare’s process for tracking and changing content as guidelines change. Also noted was the use of health dialogues to gather an extensive amount of patient data, in order to identify and address patient safety issues. The risk stratification of safety alerts allows immediate review of information by a clinician.

“The rigorous, independent review taken by NCQA underlines the high quality standards and demonstrated effectiveness of the Health Buddy System in improving care for patients with chronic conditions,” said Derek Newell, President Robert Bosch Healthcare. “Each day, around 30,000 patients connect to their care providers using the Health Buddy System. Customers can be assured that our Health Management Programs are based on sound clinical principles and standard guidelines, which ultimately enable care providers to better support chronically ill patients without increasing costs.”

About the Bosch Healthcare Health Buddy System
In use for more than ten years, the Health Buddy System includes a compact device that patients use at home to answer a series of questions about their health and symptoms, and receive information that helps them better manage their chronic conditions. Patient data gathered by the device is transmitted to a secure data center and quickly risk-stratified, giving proactive providers the opportunity to intervene before the patient’s condition becomes critical. 

About the National Committee for Quality Assurance
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Since its founding in 1990, NCQA has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system. Through its certification review process, NCQA certifies a wide range of health care organizations and programs. Its disease management certification standards are intended to reduce patient risk, help organizations achieve the highest level of performance possible, and create an environment of continuous improvement. For more information, visit www.ncqa.org.

About The Bosch Group:

Robert Bosch Healthcare Inc. is a leading provider of innovative telehealth systems. Bosch’s product spectrum ranges from patient terminals to comprehensive evaluation software allowing healthcare professionals to efficiently evaluate the data coming from the patient terminals and other connected devices. Bosch Telehealth strives to improve diagnosis and treatment through systematic patient monitoring and involvement. The result is that health professionals are able to provide a higher quality of care for patients with chronic conditions, patients lead happier and healthier lives, and the cost of healthcare is reduced for funders. Robert Bosch Healthcare, Inc. is a fully-owned subsidiary of the Bosch Group. For more information, go to www.bosch-telehealth.com.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 275,000 associates generated sales of 38.2 billion euros (roughly $53 billion) in fiscal 2009. The Bosch group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network are the foundation for growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3.5 billion euros ($5 billion) for research and development, and applies for some 3,800 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch works to enhance the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. For more information, visit www.bosch.com.

In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy and healthcare products. Having established a regional presence in 1906, Bosch employs over 20,000 associates in more than 70 locations, with reported sales of $7.3 billion in fiscal 2009. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com.

National Committee for Quality Assurance
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2010, NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers, and researchers. 

Click here to see all recent news from this company