LENEXA, Kan., June 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Mediware Information Systems (Nasdaq:MEDW) announced that eleven of North America's leading blood professionals convened in Rye Brook, NY, to discuss current challenges and potential solutions for hospital blood banks, community blood (donor) centers and other biological manufacturing facilities.
"Blood centers and hospital transfusion operations are under increased pressure," said John Damgaard, vice president and general manager of Mediware's Blood Bank division. "As FDA-regulated entities, they are being asked to manage an expanding list of biologics to support advances in healthcare. The result is an increased need for automated solutions specifically designed to safely manage and streamline these expanding workflows within an FDA-controlled environment."
The summit was led by Dr. John Gorman, retired director of NYU Medical Center's blood bank and developer of Rh Immune Globulin, John Damgaard, vice president and general manager of Mediware's Blood Bank division, and Dr. Joe Fink, New York Presbyterian. Five major topics were investigated throughout the interactive day. Each topic was introduced by one of the participants, followed by an interactive discussion of the challenges and possible solutions.
"The use of biological-based products is expanding with breakthroughs in blood manufacturing, stem cells and transplantable tissues," said Dr. Gorman. "Blood bank professionals are central to the safe expansion of these services as we are required to manufacture, track and process these substances at industrial GMP levels."
Agenda topics included:
1. Informatics: Communications - Data Analysis 2. Demands from Blood Bank Operations and Systems 3. Errors & Issues with transfusion transmitted infectious diseases 4. Demands from Expanding Clinical Services 5. Regulatory Review: Legislative Requirements for 2006 to 2016
Also included in the agenda was a discussion of the systems required to support the many other biologics that hospital blood banks and donor centers are supporting. These include cord blood stem cells, breast milk, and transplantable human tissues.
"Having an open 'meeting of the minds' such as this was highly productive," said Dr. Gorman. "Our discussions helped participants look at their individual challenges as well as identify much-needed solutions for the blood professional of the future."
Participating institutions included NYU Medical Center, New York Presbyterian, Sunnybrook Health Sciences (Toronto), Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Carter Bloodcare, Oklahoma Blood Institute, University of Michigan Medical School, Puget Sound Blood Center and Thermogenesis. Whitepapers regarding each subject will be made available through Mediware's web site, www.mediware.com.
About Mediware
Mediware delivers powerful software solutions that encapsulate patient care instructions, reinforce patient safety practices and improve efficiencies to lower costs. Mediware targets three primary areas of patient care -- Medication Management, Perioperative management and Blood transfusion, inventory and donor practices -- with specialized solutions that are proven in more than 1,000 client installations. Mediware's customers include prestigious hospitals, clinics, correctional institutions, blood centers and other public and private health care institutions throughout the world. For more information about Mediware products and services, visit our web site at www.mediware.com.
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Act") and in releases made by the SEC from time to time. Such forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005, which may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update its forward-looking statements.