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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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.

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.

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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

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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).

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.