Industry News

• 12/1/08–Germ Pro

MRSA and C. difficile Infections Reduced by 50% in Hospital Study

ROME, N.Y., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire – To help prevent the spread of germs and protect its patients from infections, Rome Memorial Hospital is using two new products that kill germs on hands and surfaces between cleanings.

According to Infection Prevention Director LeAnna Grace, the hospital conducted a 12-month research study of Germ Pro's new surface disinfectant and hand sanitizing lotion to evaluate how well they work and was excited by the results.

"At Rome Memorial Hospital, we have an excellent record of protecting our patients from getting an infection during their hospital stay because we follow the infection control guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," Grace said. "But, even one healthcare associated infection is too many. That's why we're always looking for better ways to kill germs."

While testing the new technology of Germ Pro's Persistent Action Plan, Rome Memorial Hospital reduced Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) by 27.4%, the study concluded. "Use of Germ Pro in combination with our ongoing infection prevention strategies, reduced two of the more dangerous infections -- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) by more than 50%," Grace noted. read more:

• 10/3/07–Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health Launches LTV® 1150 Ventilator for Home Use

New System Offers Easy Transition from Inpatient Ventilation to Home Care

DUBLIN, Ohio, October 3, 2007 ­ Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, introduced today its Lap Top Ventilator 1150 (LTV®) at the Medtrade Conference and Exposition in Orlando. Representing a significant step in bringing advanced patient care to the home, the LTV® 1150 enables caregivers to support patients¹ challenging ongoing ventilation needs outside a clinical setting.

The LTV 1150 reliably provides clinically sophisticated ventilation with alarms that are easy to understand for family members who provide ongoing care.  It features active controls and alarm settings that are illuminated for easy identification.  Patients receiving ventilatory support on the LTV® 1200 in the hospital easily transition to the LTV 1150, since the systems share a common interface and settings. A consistent and intuitive interface simplifies training, saves time and reduces the potential for errors.  The system features internal Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) and Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT) while maintaining the light weight and small dimensions of the LTV series.

This newest ventilator for the home environment also offers a quick and easy setup.  Presets allow the clinician to select the patient type, and the LTV 1150 automatically configures nominal ventilation settings for infant, pediatric or adult patients. read more:

• 5/14/07–Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health to Acquire Medical Technology Leader VIASYS Healthcare for $1.5 Billion

Editor's note: Cardinal Health will host a conference call and audio webcast for investors, reporters and financial analysts at 9 a.m. eastern daylight time (EDT) to discuss the acquisition.  Participants can access the call by dialing (617) 213-8068, passcode 78155933, or the webcast at the Investors page of www.cardinalhealth.com.  A transcript and replay will be available at www.cardinalhealth.com.

• Excellent strategic fit with Cardinal Health's Clinical and Medical Products sector

• No change to fiscal 2007 or 2008 outlook

• Share repurchase plans remain unchanged for fiscal 2007 and 2008

DUBLIN, Ohio, and CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., May 14, 2007 – Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, and VIASYS Healthcare, a leading medical technology company, today announced a definitive agreement for Cardinal Health to acquire VIASYS for approximately $1.5 billion, including the assumption of outstanding debt.

Under the agreement, Cardinal Health will make a cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of VIASYS common stock at a price of $42.75 per share.

With 2006 revenue of $610 million, VIASYS is a leader in respiratory care, developing and marketing systems for critical care and diagnostic use.  VIASYS is also a leader in neurological, audio and vascular diagnostics, disposable medical products used in surgical procedures and enteral feeding, orthopedic implant manufacturing and clinical services. read more:

• 1/1/07–SenTec
Medical Dynamics Inc., as the representative for Viasys Healthcare/Pulmonetic Systems has finalized a contract with the State of California for the purchase of 2,400 Ventilators for Emergency Preparedness Initiative.

VIASYS Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:VAS) announced today that the company has sold 2,400 LTV 1200 ventilators to the California Department of Health Services (CDHS). CDHS purchased the ventilators in concert with its initiative to strengthen the State's preparedness for natural and man-made disasters. The initiative is intended to provide hospitals and health care facilities in California with the necessary systems and equipment for addressing bioterrorism, pandemic influenza and other public health situations. read more: