LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- When Kristel Julian, an eight-year-old from Grenada, needed immediate treatment for her life-threatening cardiac condition, her life was saved by a team of doctors at Children National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The surgery was funded by The Larry King Cardiac Foundation and Save A Child's Heart Foundation, which provides pediatric care for children from developing countries. Now, more children like Kristel can benefit from an effort to save many more lives.
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Siemens Medical Solutions Ultrasound Division has partnered with Spotlight Health to provide The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF) with an innovative ACUSON Cypress(TM) echocardiography system. This portable $50,000 device, was presented to His Excellency Dennis Antoine, the Ambassador from Grenada, by LKCF and Siemens, following the ambassador's request for a device that could help others like Kristel. Ambassador Antoine will take the innovative imaging system back to his country and the surrounding nations in the Caribbean, where the device will help diagnose cardiac conditions, ultimately saving lives.
"We felt that helping children and identifying disease early was an extremely worthwhile cause," says John Pavlidis, president of Siemens Medical Solutions Ultrasound Division. "It is especially gratifying because the donation of this machine will help kids who don't have access to good medical care or this type of potentially life-saving technology."
The 19-pound ACUSON Cypress imaging device will give physicians in the Caribbean the power to diagnose and monitor cardiac treatment for young and older hearts alike. This all-digital echocardiography system provides complete cardiac studies and images, even in less-than-perfect clinical settings. Its portability makes it an ideal system for use in remote areas. It offers a full range of imaging capabilities usually found on larger, less mobile systems. Siemens has also offered to train physicians in its use, and to provide complimentary service for the device.
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation was established in 1988 to provide funding for individuals who, due to limited means and inadequate insurance, would be otherwise unable to receive life-saving cardiac surgical procedures and post-surgical care. It is a non-profit organization funded by annual events and the proceeds from Mr. King's books and public speaking engagements. The Foundation works in conjunction with premier cardiac care medical centers and hospitals across the nation to ensure that such patients receive needed medical attention.
Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is renowned for its innovative products, including imaging systems for diagnosis, therapy equipment for treatment, hearing instruments, and critical care and life support systems, as well as a wide array of information technology and data management solutions that optimize workflow and improve outcomes for hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices. Employing approximately 31,000 people worldwide, the company reported sales of 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.4 billion EUR and EBIT of 1 billion EUR in fiscal 2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02). More information can be obtained by visiting www.siemensmedical.com.
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI), headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. It employs 426,000 people in 192 countries and reported worldwide sales of $77.8 billion in fiscal 2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02). The United States is Siemens' largest market in the world, with sales of $21.5 billion in fiscal 2002 and approximately 70,000 employees in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Corporate headquarters for Siemens' U.S. businesses are located in New York City. For more information: www.usa.siemens.com.