HSP

-- Hospira is the First Infusion Device Supplier to Offer Interoperability with Cutting-Edge InnerWireless Network; Partnership Helps Hospitals Adopt New Technology and Improve Safety -- LAKE FOREST, Ill., and RICHARDSON, Texas, April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE:HSP), a leading global hospital products manufacturer, is the first infusion therapy device provider to have interoperability, or compatibility, with the InnerWireless(R) Medical-grade Wireless Utility, an in-building wireless system designed to guarantee wireless coverage inside hospitals and other large buildings. By providing connectivity between InnerWireless' Medical-grade Wireless Utility and Hospira's medication management systems, the companies are leading the healthcare industry in providing secure and reliable wireless transmission of data critical to improving patient safety in the hospital. When a clinician prescribes medicine administered through an infusion therapy pump, the InnerWireless system enables the infusion device to link to and transmit patient data to the hospital's clinical information system (CIS), decreasing the potential for interruption or concern of an unreliable or weak network signal. With InnerWireless, from virtually anywhere a patient is receiving treatment in the hospital, Hospira's infusion therapy pumps and safety software can communicate with the wireless network to keep the devices in contact with clinicians, allowing for real-time communications regarding patient data. Once the pump links to the CIS, the two systems can work together and in conjunction with other technologies to verify the "five rights" of medication administration -- right drug, right patient, right dose, right time and right route of administration -- helping to decrease the chances of a medication error. "Interoperability across applications and devices is critical as healthcare institutions implement wireless infrastructures and transition to wider use of electronic records," said Eric Yablonka, Vice President and Chief Information Officer for The University of Chicago Hospitals and Health Systems. "The connectivity between InnerWireless' Medical-grade Wireless Utility and Hospira medication management systems will help us reduce medication errors, provide enhanced access to clinical information and improve patient care." Hospitals are increasingly implementing integrated information technology tools -- such as electronic medical records, medication management devices and safety software, and bar code administration systems. In order for these tools to improve safety and operational efficiency, clinicians must be able to depend on reliable, secure and seamless data transmission. Hospira MedNet(R) safety software can communicate over a hospital's wireless network with modules in Hospira infusion devices, such as Plum A+(R) (general infusion), Plum A+(R)3 (triple-channel) and LifeCare PCA(R) (patient-controlled analgesia) medication management systems. The InnerWireless Medical-grade Wireless Utility is a full-coverage infrastructure that helps guarantee wireless coverage throughout the hospital, linking key clinical data. "As a leading provider of intravenous medication management systems, Hospira focuses on delivering technology-driven solutions to provide comprehensive support to our hospital customers," said Patrick Keely, vice president and general manager, Medication Management Systems, Hospira. "Helping to ensure the interoperability of our medication management systems with the InnerWireless system is integral to improving hospital safety and the overall quality of care." Rather than repeatedly installing and disrupting patient care areas, and maintaining multiple systems, hospitals use the InnerWireless system to distribute several wireless services including: clinical systems that store patient information, treatment protocols and patient data from monitoring and medication administration devices; computerized physician order entry (CPOE); paging; and nurse-call systems. The InnerWireless Medical-grade Wireless Utility also distributes two-way radio for security and maintenance, and wireless hotspots and phone access for patients, visitors and staff. Approximately 84 percent of U.S. healthcare facilities participating in the 17th Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Leadership Survey currently use wireless information systems. The interoperability of Hospira's medication management systems with cutting-edge technology such as the InnerWireless Medical-grade Wireless Utility helps institutions take full advantage of their wireless infrastructure. "The interoperability of our Medical-grade Wireless Utility with medication management systems from a leading provider like Hospira helps ensure an uninterrupted signal to transmit data critical to patient care," said Chris McCoy, senior vice president of corporate development at InnerWireless. "We look forward to working with Hospira to support hospitals in the successful deployment and implementation of their wireless applications." Today, more than 25 leading healthcare institutions, such as Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago, The University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System's Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital and Comer Children's Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health's Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, use InnerWireless' Medical-grade Wireless Utility to create a 21st century wireless ecosystem in their facilities. About InnerWireless InnerWireless, Inc. deploys its Medical-grade Wireless Utility in hospitals and healthcare-related facilities to support a full range of wireless services and applications. InnerWireless, which guarantees wireless coverage inside buildings ranging in size up to 10 million square feet, is properly engineered to accommodate wireless systems essential for interpersonal communications, clinical operations, and building operations. In addition, InnerWireless has launched Spot to provide wireless, high-assurance location accuracy for hospital assets, clinical staff and patients. For more information about InnerWireless, visit http://www.innerwireless.com/. About Hospira Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness(TM) by developing, manufacturing and marketing products that help improve the productivity, safety and efficacy of patient care. With 70 years of service to the hospital industry, Hospira's portfolio includes one of the industry's broadest lines of generic acute-care injectables, which help address the high cost of proprietary pharmaceuticals; integrated solutions for medication management and infusion therapy; and the leading U.S. injectable contract manufacturing business. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., north of Chicago, Hospira has approximately 13,000 employees and 14 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Hospira's news releases and other information can be found at http://www.hospira.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040503/HSPLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Hospira, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Tareta Adams, +1-224-212-2535, or Financial Community, Lynn McHugh, +1-224-212-2363, both of Hospira; or Christina Teagarden of Jetstream PR for InnerWireless, +1-972-788-9456, ext. 302 Web site: http://www.hospira.com/ http://www.innerwireless.com/

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