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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Alven Weil
Premier Inc.
704.733.5797

Event to showcase medical innovations addressing infection prevention, women's and children's safety, patient satisfaction

PharmacyConnect™ features a newly designed pharmacy website to help hospitals improve quality and safety, reduce costs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. and WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 8, 2010) – An interactive television system allowing patients to view on-demand entertainment, order meals and request more blankets or pillows. A system of badges and sensors that audibly alerts caregivers to wash their hands before treating a patient. A mobile software solution delivering critical medical information, including fetal heartbeat and maternal contraction patterns, directly from hospital monitors to physicians' smart phones.

These are among 23 medical innovations selected by a committee of clinicians and other Premier healthcare alliance hospital members to be on display at Premier's second Innovation Celebration. These new devices and products, chosen based on their ability to impact the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of care, will be showcased to more than 3,500 healthcare providers and experts.

"Healthcare providers need to be up-to-date on latest concepts and developments regarding new devices, products and therapies which can impact the cost and quality of care," said Premier Purchasing Partners President Mike Alkire. "These suppliers are committed to innovation that leads to improved quality and reduced costs, and we're pleased to showcase their efforts to our alliance members."

Continued Alkire, "These selections are not only an indication of where suppliers are investing research and development dollars, but also reveal topical concerns for hospitals. A number of the innovations connect with catheter securement, efficacy and protocols, an indication of the ongoing need for hospitals to reduce catheter-related infections."

The Innovation Celebration allows suppliers to showcase new solutions that are expected to benefit healthcare delivery while addressing the recent healthcare reform legislation. The annual event, part of Premier's Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition, recognizes advances in healthcare while highlighting healthcare industry suppliers committed to innovation and improving patient outcomes.

Consideration for the Innovation Celebration is open to all suppliers, regardless of whether the company is contracted with Premier. Overall, Premier contracts with more than 800 suppliers.

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and 80,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has an office in Washington. https://premierinc.com. Stay connected with Premier on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.