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Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Supports Florida's New Patient Safety Solution

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, supports and congratulates the Florida House of Representatives and Governor Charlie Crist for passing legislation requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. The new Florida legislation takes a progressive step toward increasing patient safety for consumers. The legislation will ensure pharmacy technicians meet key requirements for training, certification and registration.

Washington, D.C. - June 27, 2008 -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (http://www.ptcb.org/), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, is pleased to support and congratulate the Florida Legislature for passing SB 1360 and Governor Charlie Crist for signing it into law, requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. Tireless advocacy efforts for the passage of this critical patient safety legislation and its final approval by Governor Crist were spearheaded by the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP) and the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA).

The new Florida legislation takes a progressive step toward increasing patient safety for consumers. By passing this legislation without amendment, and signing it into law, the Florida state legislature and governor will ensure pharmacy technicians meet key requirements for training, certification and registration. PTCB is proud to have certified 15,000 pharmacy technicians in Florida to date and looks forward to working with more pharmacy technicians and their employers.

"Florida's new pharmacy technician standards are an important patient safety solution for consumers in the Sunshine State and Governor Crist and the state's legislators should be applauded," said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Melissa Murer Corrigan. "To meet these new state standards, PTCB is looking forward to continued work with pharmacy technicians and significant employers of Florida's pharmacy technicians such as Walgreen's, CVS, Publix, Target, the U.S. military, multiple health-systems and independent pharmacists in communities across the state. Several of these employers presently support and endorse PTCB across the United States."

The landmark piece of Florida legislation (SB 1360) contributes to raising the bar for states across the country by providing an example of the high standards needed for pharmacy technicians. The more than 40,000 pharmacy technicians currently working in Florida will be required to register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy by 2010. In 2011, they will need to either complete a board-approved training program with 1,500 hours of work as a technician under a Florida licensed pharmacist, or be certified (https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Guidebook_to_Certification&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2952) by a program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). PTCB is the pioneer in certifying pharmacy technicians (https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Learn&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=1384) and is accredited by the NCCA. PTCB's certification program has been included in regulations by more than 30 state boards of pharmacy. Through its strategic partnership with Pearson VUE, PTCB is able to offer highly scalable computer-based testing through the world's largest network of testing centers.

Studies show without a doubt that Americans support a standard of excellence for pharmacy technicians. A recent poll commissioned by PTCB confirms that 91% of American consumers support strong regulations across the country to protect patient safety by requiring that pharmacy technicians are trained and certified. While states like Florida reflect this growing need for action, almost twenty other states still have no requirement for certification. Clearly, consumers are relying on state boards of pharmacy to protect them and enact strong requirements such as Florida's for pharmacy technicians.

About the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (http://www.ptcb.org/)

PTCB was established in January 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations - the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Since PTCB's inception, PTCB has certified over 300,000 pharmacy technicians through the examination and transfer process. PTCB's certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The goal of the PTCB national certification program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB contracts with Pearson VUE, the industry's technology leader, as its computer-based testing vendor. PTCB draws upon the experience and expertise of its 13-year partner, Professional Examination Service (PES) for test development.

Contact Information
Mark Franco
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
http://www.ptcb.org
202-429-7508
202-828-9767

# posted by (hris @ 7:14 PM 0 comments

InterventionTreatment.com Launches Suboxone Treatment Program

LOS ANGELES-- June 27, 2008 --Intervention Treatment announced today that it has launched a suboxone treatment program. The program will be used to increase Intervention Treatment's Global mission of providing Intervention and Treatment resources to those affected by alcohol and drug addiction. According to Dr. Jason Schiffman, Chief Medical Officer for Intervention Treatment, "There is a large, poorly met demand for outpatient, office-based treatment of opiate dependence and the addition of the suboxone treatment program to Intervention Treatment's array of alcohol and drug addiction related services will be a great tool for patients and their families."

Intervention Treatment is currently one of the fastest growing online resources for those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The new Suboxone Treatment program is designed to help those affected by opiate addiction.

About Suboxone:

Suboxone is the first drug approved by the FDA for opiate dependence treatment in office based settings. This means that patients addicted to opiates may now choose to receive opiate-based treatment as an outpatient instead of in a hospital setting. Patients are evaluated and treated during office visits and receive a prescription for suboxone which they may fill at any pharmacy. Suboxone is comprised of two separate medications: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opiate agonist, meaning its opiate effects are significantly reduced compared to that of full opiate agonists, such as vicodin or heroin. The naloxone in suboxone is not appreciably absorbed from the digestive track when suboxone is taken orally and is in place to prevent the misuse of suboxone by injection drug users. The combination of these two medications leads to suboxone's effectiveness in treating opiate dependence.

About Suboxone Treatment:

Suboxone treatment differs significantly from standard opiate dependence treatment programs. Traditionally, opiate addicts undergoing medical detoxification have been administered either methadone or a combination of drugs, each targeting a symptom of withdrawal. The latter approach usually must take place in an inpatient setting in order to be done safely, while methadone treatment requires a patient to visit a clinic on a daily basis to receive a prescribed dose. Suboxone treatment differs from these treatments in several important ways. Firstly, a prescription for suboxone can be obtained at a specially licensed physician's office and filled at any pharmacy. This means the patient does not need to be admitted to a hospital or make daily visits to a methadone clinic in order to receive their medication. Secondly, because suboxone is a mixture of naloxone and buprenorphine, a partial opiate agonist with a long duration of action, the potential for abuse and overdose are much less than with methadone. Thirdly, because buprenorphine is a partial opiate agonist, suboxone may be easier to taper off of than full opiate agonists like methadone.

About Intervention Treatment

Intervention Treatment, formed in 2007, is an internet resource offering help to those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Intervention Treatment provides referrals to drug and alcohol rehabs, intervention services, suboxone treatment referrals, and general information regarding addiction and treatment.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, and members of their management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating results, the ability to compete successfully and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.
Contacts

Intervention Treatment
William Donovan, Co-Founder, 949-267-4113
bj@interventiontreatment.com
www.interventiontreatment.com

# posted by (hris @ 6:51 PM 0 comments

Dairyland Healthcare Solutions' Physician Practice Documentation Receives 2007 CCHIT Certification

Software Complies with 100 Percent of Updated 2007 Certification Criteria

GLENWOOD, Minn.-- June 18, 2008 --The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT®) today announced that Dairyland Healthcare Solutions' Physician Practice Documentation (PPD), Version 9.0.0 is CCHIT Certified®, and meets the Commission's ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2007. Ambulatory EHRs are designed for physician offices and clinics where most Americans get their healthcare. CCHIT - an independent, nonprofit organization - is the Recognized Certification Body in the United States for certifying health information technology products.

In the second year of the program's operation, the criteria and testing have been significantly enhanced. The Commission added 96 criteria to the 151 original requirements from last year. As a CCHIT Certified product has been tested and passed inspection of 100 percent of a set of updated criteria for functionality, interoperability and security.

"For 2007, the Commission raised the bar from the previous year's criteria. Ambulatory EHRs now must include electronic prescribing, demonstrate an ability to receive lab results, and show enhanced patient safety, quality, and security features," said Mark Leavitt, M.D., Ph.D., chair, CCHIT. "Investment in 2007 certified ambulatory EHRs gives providers even more powerful tools to improve quality, safety and efficiency while protecting the privacy of health information."

The CCHIT Certified mark - a "seal of approval" for EHR products - provides the first consensus-based, government-recognized benchmark for ambulatory EHR products. By looking to products with the CCHIT Certified seal, physicians and other providers can reduce their risk in selecting an EHR product, allowing them to focus their evaluation on the special needs of their practices.

"We are delighted to receive CCHIT certification," said James Burgess, CEO of Dairyland. "The CCHIT review process is rigorous and essential to ensuring that technologies carrying this important certification meet the highest safety and quality standards. We are pleased that CCHIT recognizes Dairyland's high standards," he added.

CCHIT's certification compliance criteria and its design for a certification inspection process have been thoroughly researched, taking into account the state of the art of EHRs and available standards, and comparing certification processes in other industries and other countries. The inspection process is based on real-life medical scenarios designed to test products rigorously against the clinical needs of providers and the quality and safety needs of healthcare consumers and payers. One script, for example, recreates a scenario of an elderly man with poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions in order to test EHR functions such as potential adverse drug reactions, disease management and treatment plans.

About Dairyland Healthcare Solutions

Dairyland Healthcare Solutions is an award-winning healthcare information systems company that links essential information between small community hospitals and their healthcare delivery and business networks. Dairyland enables its hospital partners to deliver the highest level of patient care by providing the information infrastructure required to operate effectively in the dynamic and complex healthcare delivery environment. For almost three decades, Dairyland has partnered with leading community hospitals to help them improve efficiencies, enhance profitability and ensure patient safety by providing solutions to manage, integrate and access key financial, clinical and patient information. Dairyland is the only company to be awarded three consecutive "Best in KLAS" ratings in the Community Hospital Information Systems category. To learn more, visit: http://www.dhsnet.com.

About CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, nonprofit organization that has been named by the federal government as the Recognized Certification Body for health information technology. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of health information technology by creating a credible, sustainable certification program. The certification requirements are based on widely accepted industry standards and involve the work of hundreds of expert volunteers and input from a variety of stakeholders throughout the health care industry. More information on CCHIT and CCHIT Certified® products is available at www.cchit.org.

"CCHIT®" and "CCHIT Certified®" are service marks of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology.

Contacts

Dairyland Healthcare Solutions
Tracey Schroeder, 612-787-3125
VP Marketing & Communications
tracey.schroeder@dhsnet.com
or
CCHIT
Sue Reber, 503-703-0813
sreber@cchit.org

# posted by (hris @ 1:05 PM 0 comments

Two-Year Clinical Trial Findings Show Significant and Persistent Reduction in Blood Pressure with CVRx® Rheos® Hypertension Therapy

Data Presented at Hypertension Berlin 2008 Congress; Pivotal Rheos Trial in Progress
Hypertension Berlin 2008

MINNEAPOLIS & BERLIN-- June 18, 2008 --The first available two-year data from the European clinical trial evaluating the Rheos® Hypertension (HT) System were presented today at Hypertension Berlin 2008. Developed by U.S.-based CVRx, Inc., the Rheos HT System is the only implantable medical device designed to control hypertension, or high blood pressure. Worldwide, hypertension is a leading and growing cause of heart and kidney disease, stroke and death. The Rheos HT System could provide a new treatment option for the millions of people who cannot control their hypertension with medications. The device activates the body's own system for regulating blood pressure.

"We are excited to see a sustained reduction in blood pressure after two years of Rheos HT Therapy - a major milestone in the evaluation of our novel treatment approach," said Nadim Yared, CVRx president and chief executive officer. "Hypertension is a complex condition, affecting multiple physiological functions. The early data on improved heart function and preserved kidney function also presented at this conference are encouraging, and we are hopeful Rheos HT Therapy may help prevent serious, costly conditions related to hypertension. Our Rheos Pivotal trial is assessing the safety and clinical efficacy of Rheos HT System and is well underway."

The clinical data from the Device-Based Therapy of Hypertension (DEBuT-HT) study (Abstract No. OS17/3) were presented at Hypertension Berlin 2008, a joint congress held in Berlin of the 18th Scientific Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension and the 22nd Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension. Of the 45 patients enrolled in this study, 16 patients from four European centers have completed two years of Rheos HT Therapy. Blood pressure measurements were taken in the clinic and after two years showed:

    * Systolic blood pressure was reduced by an average of 35 mmHg (191 mmHg vs.156 mmHg); and
    * Diastolic blood pressure was reduced by an average of 24 mmHg (116 mmHg vs. 92 mmHg).

Similar results were found at three months and one year of Rheos HT Therapy. Patients remained on background medical therapy during the trial. During the two-year study period, the average number of antihypertensive medications remained stable.

A drop in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mmHg was achieved in 12 of the 16 patients (75 percent). The Rheos implants were well tolerated, and there were no unanticipated adverse events related to the system or procedure. Further information on these study results can be found on the CVRx Web site at www.cvrx.com.

Peter de Leeuw, professor of medicine and hypertension at the University of Maastricht in The Netherlands, is the leading enroller in the DEBuT-HT study. The 16 patients included in the two-year results were from the following clinical trial sites: the University Hospital Maastricht and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands; University Hospital, Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Humboldt University Charité Campus Buch, Berlin; and Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine Westphalia, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.

Additional Rheos Data Presented at Hypertension 2008

Additional data from the DEBuT-HT study and U.S. Rheos feasibility study were presented in two poster sessions at Hypertension 2008. These studies showed early signs that the Rheos HT System can improve heart function and preserve kidney function.

    * Heart function was notably improved among the 16 patients who completed one year of Rheos HT Therapy (Abstract No. PS33/THU/24). Blood pressure was reduced significantly, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) significantly regressed. LVH, a process in which the heart becomes enlarged and does not work efficiently, increases the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and sudden cardiac death and regression of LVH reduces these risks.
    * The University of Maastricht studied the effects of the Rheos HT Therapy on kidney function (Abstract No. PS32/WED/63) among their 12 patients who received therapy for one year. In this group, the Rheos HT Therapy was shown to help preserve kidney function over this time period. High blood pressure increases the risk and progression of kidney disease.

U.S. Rheos Pivotal Trial in Progress

CVRx received investigational device exemption (IDE) approval from the FDA to begin the Rheos Pivotal Trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Rheos HT System. The trial is enrolling 300 patients at multiple clinical sites in the United States and in Europe. Prospective patients can call (888) 8BP-RISK (827-7475) or visit www.bloodpressuretrial.com, to learn more about the clinical trial.

The Rheos HT System: Working with the Body's Own Mechanisms

The Rheos HT System uses CVRx patented Baroreflex Activation TherapyT (BATT) technology that is designed to electrically activate the carotid baroceptors, the body's natural blood pressure sensors. When the baroreceptors are activated, signals are sent through neural pathways to the brain and interpreted as a rise in blood pressure. The brain works to counteract this perceived rise in blood pressure by sending signals to other parts of the body (heart, blood vessels and kidneys) to lower high blood pressure.

The Rheos HT System includes the following components:

    * A small pulse generator that is implanted under the collar bone;
    * Two thin lead wires that are implanted at the left and right carotid arteries and connect to the pulse generator; and
    * The Rheos Programmer System, an external device used by doctors to non-invasively regulate the activation energy from the generator to the lead wires.

About Hypertension

Hypertension causes an estimated one in eight deaths worldwide.1 In the United States alone, high blood pressure affects approximately 73 million people.1 Approximately 25 percent of people with hypertension cannot control their high blood pressure, despite the use of multiple medications. 2, 3 Each incremental increase of 20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure above normal levels is associated with a two-fold increase in death rates from stroke, coronary heart disease and other vascular causes.

Editor's Note: Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers - the systolic pressure (top number) over the diastolic pressure (bottom number). The systolic pressure is the pressure of blood in the vessels when the heart contracts. Diastolic pressure is the pressure of the blood between heartbeats, when the heart is at rest and is refilling.

About CVRx, Inc.

CVRx, Inc., is a private company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. Its senior management and technical teams have many years of experience commercializing implantable medical devices. For more information, visit www.cvrx.com.

1 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. American Heart Association - 2008 Update.

2 Lancet 2002;360:1903-1913.

3 JAMA 2003;289:2560-2572.

CAUTION: CVRx Rheos System is an investigational device and is limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use only.

CVRx, Rheos, Baroreflex Activation Therapy and BAT are trademarks of CVRx, Inc.

© CVRx, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.

Contacts

CVRx
John Brintnall, 763-416-2853
Chief Financial Officer
jbrintnall@cvrx.com
or
Mary McGrory-Usset, 651-308-8225
Corporate Communications
mmcgroryusset@comcast.net
or
Padilla Speer Beardsley:
Nancy Johnson, 612-455-1745, 612-812-7568 cell
njohnson@psbpr.com
or
Nick Banovetz, 612-455-1705, 651-815-5999 cell
nbanovetz@psbpr.com

# posted by (hris @ 7:36 AM 0 comments

Large Louisiana Nursing Home will use Web-based Referral Management System™ to optimize and manage patient referral and placement. Patient Placement Systems announced today that Belle Maison Nursing Home, a 179-bed nursing home and retirement care facility in Hammond, Louisiana, has signed a three-year contract to use the Patient Placement Referral Management System.

Atlanta, GA  -  January 22, 2008 -- Patient Placement Systems announced today that Belle Maison Nursing Home, a 179-bed nursing home and retirement care facility in Hammond, Louisiana, has signed a three-year contract to use the Patient Placement Referral Management System.

The Patient Placement Referral Management System enables nursing homes, home health agencies, hospices, rehabilitation facilities and other extended care organizations to automate the entire referral management process, efficiently tracking and managing all inbound patient referrals, as well as their associated medical records. Automating this traditionally manual and fax-based process gives facilities a unique opportunity to increase patient placements, better serve patients and referring facilities, enhance productivity, and gain data for better decision-making about their referral management process.

Belle Maison Nursing Home, winner of the 2007 Nursing Home Quality Initiative Achievement Award from the Louisiana Health Care Review, constantly seeks ways to improve processes and enhance quality of care. "The Referral Management System will not only help us place more patients, more efficiently; it will also give us a competitive advantage," says Administrator Paul Guitreau. Guitreau indicates that manual referral tracking processes can result in errors, problems and delays. The Referral Management System will enable Belle Maison to respond more quickly to referral sources, enhance staff productivity and have richer data for analysis and decision-making.

"With the Referral Management System, Belle Maison will save significant time and replace multiple manual processes. Furthermore, they'll have a new level of business intelligence regarding referral source, payor mix and other critical data," says Eric Christ, president of Patient Placement Systems. "And because the system was live in less than a week, they'll see benefits very quickly."
 
 The Referral Management System improves visibility and efficiency by capturing all inbound patient referrals and medical documents through a HIPAA-compliant Web-based application, effectively eliminating the need for an admissions team fax machine. The Referral Management System includes reporting and analysis at every level - by location, by referral source, by user, by line of business, by payor, and more.

About Patient Placement Systems:
Patient Placement Systems automates the referral process at continuing care providers, hospitals, and payors. The Patient Placement Referral Management System and Discharge Referral System improve information flow and communication so each party involved in patient referral has the information they need, when they need it. Patient Placement Systems is a member of the Jackson Healthcare Solutions family of companies. For more information about Patient Placement Systems, visit www.PatientPlacement.com or call 877-748-6656.


Press Contact: Monique Ervin
Company Name: Patient Placement Systems
Phone: 877-748-6656
Website: www.PatientPlacement.com

# posted by (hris @ 1:38 PM 0 comments

E. coli Outbreak Associated with Lettuce Prompts Call for Better Sanitation

MINNEAPOLIS-- June 09, 2008 --According to Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., ten cases of E. coli O157:H7 in the state of Washington have been associated with the consumption of lettuce. Based on interviews of those sickened, health officials believe the source of the outbreak is bagged, commercial romaine lettuce.

Six of the people sickened were Pierce County residents. Five of them had laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. The sixth person had symptoms identical with those of the other five, but a lab test was not done to confirm E. coli O157:H7. The cases may be associated with a restaurant and an educational institution. Because the outbreak is deemed over, health officials are not releasing the names of either, but Internet accounts of the outbreak indicate that some of those sickened may have eaten salads at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

Four of the people sickened were Thurston County residents. All four had laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. Three of them attend Capital High School in Olympia and ate salads in the school cafeteria. The fourth person attends Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Olympia and ate a salad there.

"This is yet another example of contaminated lettuce causing illness," stated Pritzker. "At the bottom of every E. coli outbreak is bad sanitation. It is up to the lettuce industry to clean up its act and use good sanitation practices on every farm, every day."

Cattle are the principal source of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Cattle manure containing E. coli O157:H7 can contaminate water that flows through lettuce fields and that is used for irrigation, pesticide application, and/or washing lettuce. Therefore, it is imperative that lettuce not be planted near cattle operations.

In addition, Pritzker and other food safety advocates have been pushing for regulations requiring the lettuce industry to do the following: 1) frequently test irrigation water; 2) frequently test bags of lettuce and salad before they reach the consumer; 3) educate workers throughout the industry about the importance of hand washing and not coming to work if they are sick; 4) and prevent animals, both domestic and wild, from wandering on to lettuce fields.

Because a number of E. coli outbreaks have been linked to bagged lettuce and spinach, federal and state regulators should frequently inspect processing plants.

"The lettuce industry and state and federal governments have to work together to ensure the safety of lettuce. A mother should not have to worry if the salad she is serving her children will make them sick," stated Pritzker.

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli outbreaks. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Fred Pritzker at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker | Ruohonen has offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Contacts

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.
Fred Pritzker, 612-338-0202

# posted by (hris @ 7:59 AM 0 comments

Haggen, Inc. Selects Grocery Shopping Network to Increase the Power of Its TOP Food & Drug Website

Grocery Shopping Network Adds TOP Food & Drug stores to its Growing Network of Grocery Stores

MINNEAPOLIS-- June 09, 2008 --Grocery Shopping Network announces that Haggen, Inc., headquartered in Bellingham, Wash., has signed a contract to upgrade its website for its TOP Food & Drug stores with the latest technology available on the web for retail grocery stores, including industry leading personalization.

TOP Food & Drug currently has its weekly flyer online to view. The flyer will soon be upgraded to one-click to shopping list and recipe suggestions, including sale items with Grocery Shopping Network's online tools. Also being added will be an extensive recipe database, coupons, and recipe videos. Integrating all these features will give TOP Food & Drug and its guests a faster and more fun planning experience prior to visiting the grocery store.

CEO Andy Robinson, commented, "Haggen, Inc. will be a great addition to the Grocery Shopping Network, not only because Haggen is a forward-looking company, but because the company will now be able to improve service to its customers on a one-to-one level." Grocery Shopping Network will now have a wonderful presence in the Northwest quadrant of the United States. Andy continued by adding, "We are pleased to see the importance that grocery stores continue to put on the Internet and successfully leveraging the web as a primary communication medium."

About Haggen, Inc.

Haggen, Inc. is a family owned organization headquartered in Washington state since 1933. Today it owns and operates 17 TOP Food & Drug locations in Washington, 15 Haggen Food and Pharmacy locations in Washington and Oregon and a Larry's Market in Washington. The Haggen Corporation employs over 3,900 employees and is listed as one of the largest privately owned companies in Washington state.

About Grocery Shopping Network

Grocery Shopping Network provides grocery retailers' Web sites with a suite of proprietary software products that integrate shopping list building, recipes and meal planning with relevant, focused advertising content. GSN (www.groceryshopping.net) brings together the Web and in-store supermarket shopping experience. A GSN-powered site enables consumers to seamlessly shop their store, be presented with sales and promotions in the context of the items they are planning to purchase, access and save recipes for the items they plan to purchase, plan meals and utilize the many discount offers (including coupons) made available by brand manufacturers.
Contacts

Grocery Shopping Network
Albin Andolshek, 612-238-4942

# posted by (hris @ 11:59 AM 0 comments

Mesothelioma Victims And All Victims of Asbestos Exposure Should Call the Mesothelioma Victims Center First For Free Honest Advise & Help

Why should victims of mesothelioma or their families call the Mesothelioma Victims Center First? According to Americas Watchdog, "its pretty simple, we will tell them the truth about treatment options, lawyers, Social Security, and everything else they need to know and our service is free". The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist all US victims of Mesothelioma. Americas Watchdog has initiated this very complete free service because there is literally nothing close to this type of service in the United States, and because this type of service is sorely needed by Mesothelioma victims and their families. The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist victims & their families in every way possible. Victims who served in the US Navy are especially encouraged to contact the group at 866-714-6466.

May 27, 2008 -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center is a free service designed to assist all victims of Mesothelioma, or to assist the families of victims who have this disease. What makes this service unique? According to Americas Watchdog,"our service to victims or their families is free. Mesothelioma is a rare, and lethal form of cancer related to asbestos exposure. Americas Watchdog never realized that there was no safety net for victims, to get help from the government or VA. They did not know how difficult it might be to get veterans benefits or social security benefits. Americas Watchdog also discovered that it is critical for victims of this lethal disease to get proper legal representation. They have designed the Mesothelioma Victims Center to be the national advocacy center for the victims and family members of Mesothelioma.Their service is free. The web site is located at http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com.

Very Important note: According to the Mesothelioma Victims Center, "You do not want a personal injury attorney with little, to no Mesothelioma experience taking on a case, unless they have lots of experience with mesothelioma. This is especially true of US Navy veterans, who were exposed in a US naval vessel engine room. If you, or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, there are thousands of law firms that say they can take the case. The problem; there are only a handful of law firms in the US that can do a superior job."

According to Americas Watchdog, "Individuals who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, or their family members should call the Mesothelioma Victims Center first, for honest and straight forward advice at 866-714-6466". The Mesothelioma Center is all about honest, and helpful advice for all Mesothelioma victims. The Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com.

The Mesothelioma Victims Center's services include:

* Assisting the victims of Mesothelioma in obtaining Social Security permanent disability payments

* If the victim is a veteran and was exposed to asbestos during military duty, we will work with the victim and his/her family in obtaining veterans disability and health care benefits.

* We will assist the family in getting the best possible health care options

* We will assist the victim in getting legal representation.

* We will assist the victim and their family in getting counseling on a wide variety of topics that arise from this disease.

A victim of Mesothelioma or their family can call the group any time for help, assistance and advice anytime at 866-714-6466.

Who Can Get Mesothelioma? Individuals exposed to asbestos. As Follows

* Individuals who served in the US Navy. Especially Navy personnel who served in or around naval ship engine rooms.

* Members of the US Army, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.

* Naval ship yard workers

* Oil refinery workers

* Ship yard workers

* Automotive repair specialists

* Construction workers

* Plumbers

* Demolition contractors

Important note to doctors and medical staff: Please tell your patients about the Mesothelioma Victims Center.

Because no other group is providing this full range of services, and because victims and their families need assistance in these areas, Americas Watchdog is doing all of this at no charge, because its the right thing to do. Americas Watchdog's Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com. Anyone wishing more information can call the Mesothelioma Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466. Health care workers or physicians are encouraged to tell your patients about the Mesothelioma Victims Center.

Americas Watchdog and its Mesothelioma Victims Center are all about taking care of precious souls in need, and corporate responsibility.

Contact Information
THOMAS MARTIN
Americas Watchdog
Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com
866-714-6466

# posted by (hris @ 6:49 PM 0 comments

Angeion Corporation Launches Physician Office Program for COPD and Asthma Management

Company to Help Physicians Earlier Diagnose Respiratory Diseases that Affect More Than 25 Million Americans

ST. PAUL, Minn.-- June 02, 2008 --Angeion Corporation (NASDAQ: ANGN) today announced that it has launched its Physician Office Program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma management. Through aggressive, targeted marketing efforts, Angeion will work to increase physician awareness of COPD and the company's non-invasive cardiorespiratory systems that facilitate early diagnosis-and treatment-of the condition.

COPD is characterized by progressive obstruction of the airflow of the lungs and increased shortness of breath-which is often not diagnosed until after some lung capacity is already lost. Diseases included under the umbrella of COPD include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and refractory asthma.

According to the COPD Foundation, an individual dies of COPD every 4 minutes in the United States. Currently, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death, and is expected to be the third leading cause by 2020. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that COPD and asthma affect more than 25 million Americans and result in more than 20 million physician office visits every year. Moreover, another 25 million Americans are believed to be either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Worldwide, an estimated 600 million people suffer from COPD.

"COPD is insidious, and it's affecting more and more people every year," said Rodney A. Young, Angeion's president and chief executive officer. "To date, Angeion's chief focus has been on bringing our cardiorespiratory technology and expertise to the hospital market. With today's announcement, we are broadening our approach across the healthcare continuum to reach more physicians who may see COPD patients. Through our Physician Office Program, it's our goal to work with the medical community to better educate and equip all physicians, regardless of specialty, to quickly and accurately diagnose the condition so that it can be treated earlier-resulting in more lives saved and less financial stress on today's healthcare system."

According to Young, Angeion's Physician Office Program reflects the company's commitment to early COPD detection. Specific components of the program include:

    * A significant marketing focus, redirecting existing resources to educate and inform physicians, from pulmonologists to general practitioners and internists, about COPD and Angeion's unique diagnostic product offering;
    * A comprehensive suite of educational and sales collateral materials; and
    * Cost-effective equipment leasing programs

Angeion's cardiorespiratory systems, and particularly its recently introduced Medical Graphics Platinum EliteT Series plethysmograph, provide the ability to effectively measure pulmonary function in the diagnosis of airway diseases, including COPD. In doing so, physicians benefit from:

    * Improved patient care-complete pulmonary diagnostic capability
    * Enhanced practice management-effectively and timely management of patients increases patient retention; and
    * Easy, rapid testing-physicians are able to perform a complete pulmonary function study in approximately 20 minutes.

Said Young, "Through our Physician Office Program we'll heighten awareness of COPD and give physicians the tools to quickly and effectively diagnose the disease, provide a new growth catalyst for the company, and most important, help save more lives."

About Angeion Corporation

Founded in 1986, Angeion Corporation acquired Medical Graphics Corporation in December 1999. Medical Graphics develops, manufactures and markets non-invasive cardiorespiratory diagnostic systems that are sold under the MedGraphics (www.medgraphics.com) and New Leaf (www.newleaffitness.com) brand and trade names. These cardiorespiratory diagnostic systems have a wide range of applications in healthcare as well as health and fitness. The Company's products are sold internationally through distributors and in the United States through a direct sales force that targets heart and lung specialists located in hospitals, university-based medical centers, medical clinics and physicians' offices, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, clinical research organizations, health and fitness clubs, personal training studios, and other exercise facilities. For more information about Angeion, visit www.angeion.com.

The discussion above contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors including: (i) our ability to successfully operate our business including our ability to develop, improve, and update our cardiorespiratory diagnostic products and successfully sell these products under the MedGraphics and New Leaf Fitness brand names into existing and new markets, (ii) our ability to establish our cost structure at a level that is appropriate to our near to mid-term revenue expectations that will enable us to increase revenues and profitability as opportunities develop, (iii) our ability to achieve constant margins for our products and consistent and predictable operating expenses in light of variable revenues from our clinical research customers, (iv) our ability to effectively manufacture and ship products in required quantities to meet customer demands, (v) our ability to expand our international revenue through our distribution partners and our Milan, Italy representative branch office; (vi) our ability to successfully defend ourselves from product liability claims related to our cardiorespiratory diagnostic products and claims associated with our prior cardiac stimulation products, (vii) our ability to protect our intellectual property, (viii) our ability to develop and maintain an effective system of internal controls and procedures and disclosure controls and procedures, and (ix) our dependence on third-party vendors.

Additional information with respect to the risks and uncertainties faced by the Company may be found in, and the above discussion is qualified in its entirety by, the other risk factors that are described from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.
Contacts

Angeion Corporation
William J. Kullback, 651-766-3492
SVP & Chief Financial Officer

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