Flo Healthcare Partners with Welch Allyn to Provide Fully Integrated Vitals Mobile Workstation

Companies Improve Patient Safety Through Combination of Welch Allyn Devices and Flo Healthcare Mobile Workstations


ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Flo Healthcare, a leading provider of wireless mobile workstations, announced today that it has partnered with Welch Allyn, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of frontline medical products and solutions, to seamlessly integrate Welch Allyn software and devices into the new Flo 4000 cart-based mobile clinical workstation.

The partnership increases patient safety and reduces medical errors by connecting devices, such as the Welch Allyn(r) Vital Signs Monitor Series 300 and Spot Vital Signs(r) LXi device, into Flo Healthcare's products. Flo Healthcare and Welch Allyn will preview the new integrated Flo 4000 mobile workstation in booth numbers #1801 and #7729 and demonstrate the new Welch Allyn(r) Connex vital signs management software during the HIMSS Conference & Expo in San Diego, February 12-16.

The Flo 4000 is a single platform for seamlessly integrating mobile computing capabilities with real-time vital signs data capture and monitoring devices. It helps improve quality of care and patient safety by enabling the capture of vitals data such as blood pressure, pulse and temperature, and its direct transfer into the electronic medical record (EMR) at the patient's bedside, helping to avoid errors and double entry. As a result, caregivers are able to spend more quality time with patients while decreasing the amount of attention given to communicating data. In addition, patient information becomes more accurate, leading to overall improvements in patient safety.

"We at Flo Healthcare want to align ourselves with best-in-class technology partners, and we consider Welch Allyn to be a leader in vital signs data capture and monitoring devices," said Keith Washington, Flo Healthcare VP of Business Development. "This partnership is a significant step forward in continuing to improve patient safety."

"Welch Allyn has continued to focus on simplifying vital signs capture, especially in the new world of electronic documentation. Flo Healthcare has successfully integrated medical devices with a mobile workstation in a way that optimizes nursing workflow and can drive huge improvements in productivity and quality of care for today's healthcare providers," said Doug Linquest, Welch Allyn Executive Vice President of Monitoring and Defibrillation.

The cart-based mobile clinical workstation provides a platform for all technologies around clinical data to merge into one form factor at the patient's bedside. Because Flo Healthcare's wireless mobile workstations are already fully integrated with leading technologies, incorporating devices that capture vital signs, administer medications, or host PC-based ECGs is a simple and logical transition. The Flo 4000 is protected by Flo Healthcare's Mobile Clinical Workstation patents, which cover the features and functionality most often requested in hospitals.

Flo 4000 Technical Specifications:



 -- Fully integrated, rugged, and reliable mobile cart base with 
    storage and accessory options
 -- 17" flat panel LCD monitor
 -- SlimPro small form factor desktop PC featuring Windows XP Pro 
    and Intel Pentium M Processor
 -- Cisco CCX compatible Wireless LAN connectivity
 -- Up to 520 Watt-hrs Nickel Metal Hydride battery with up to 16 
    hours of system run time
 -- Single coiled power cord for charging vitals device and system 
    batteries 
 -- Technology and power system compatible with Flo 1750 and Flo 3000 
    devices

About Welch Allyn

Welch Allyn, Inc. was founded in 1915 and is today a leading manufacturer of innovative medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices, cardiac defibrillators, patient monitoring systems, and miniature precision lamps. Headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, New York, USA, Welch Allyn employs more than 2,300 people and has numerous manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities located throughout the world. Additional information on Welch Allyn and its products may be found at www.welchallyn.com.

About Flo Healthcare

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, Flo Healthcare provides comprehensive wireless and mobile clinical workstation solutions designed specifically for the healthcare industry. Improving patient care and safety is our top priority as we work with clinical software and OEM business partners to deliver patented, integrated solutions-infrastructure, devices and services-to medical facilities. With 40,000 mobile devices and wireless infrastructure systems installed within approximately 800 hospitals, Flo Healthcare is the acknowledged leader in total hospital and system-wide wireless and mobile clinical workstation installations across the U.S. and Canada. By delivering a better connection to information, clinicians stay better connected with patients. For more information on Flo Healthcare, visit www.flohealthcare.com or call 1-877-FLO-4040.

The Flo Healthcare Solutions logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=738



            

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