HIMSS Interoperability Showcase to Feature Hospira MedNet(TM), Demonstrating Interoperability as Key to Advancing Healthcare

ATLANTA, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), a leading provider of clinical information and medication delivery technologies, announced today that the Hospira MedNet™ safety software is currently being featured in the Interoperability Showcase at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Annual Conference and Exhibition (HIMSS10) in Atlanta through March 4. Hospira's successful testing of Hospira MedNet for multiple integration profiles, including implementations of medication administration and alarm communications at the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) 2010 North American Connectathon, drove its inclusion in the Showcase, which will demonstrate real-world examples of today's complex healthcare environments and the advanced technologies that support them.

During the IHE Connectathon, Hospira MedNet was validated specifically for use with Hospira's Plum A+™ and Symbiq™ infusion pumps. The IHE Connectathon is the healthcare information technology industry's premier large-scale interoperability testing event, where leaders of industry gather to verify connectivity of clinical technologies and promote interoperability, or connectivity, between systems as a catalyst for improving the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care.

"Hospira focuses on ensuring compatibility between and integration of important hospital technologies to help enhance clinical outcomes, caregiver productivity and patient safety," said Symeria Hudson, vice president, Medication Management Systems, U.S., Hospira. "Seamlessly integrating technology across the hospital's IT network and across multiple vendor platforms provides clinicians with more flexibility and increased safety."

In addition to driving interoperability between its own medication management systems and clinical information technology solutions such as VeriScan™ Rx medication administration barcode point-of-care system, Hospira also develops products that communicate seamlessly with multiple hospital technology systems. Through its Hospira MedNet safety software platform, Hospira facilitates cross-vendor interoperability by successfully partnering with other technology providers.

Hospira is one of the few vendors to provide open platform technology, enabling Hospira MedNet software to be used bi-directionally to connect multiple hospital systems. To date, Hospira has partnered with several technology companies, including AeroScout, Cerner, InnerWireless and Orion Health, to ensure successful implementations of interoperable technology.

In support of Hospira's ongoing commitment to interoperability and medication safety, the company will also offer hospitals a chance to win a complementary clinical support analysis during HIMSS by visiting Hospira booth numbers 4621 and 6249. The randomly selected organization will receive an opportunity to have its current medication management technology, infection control program or intravenous insulin delivery practices evaluated, including recommended actions for achieving the institution's desired technological and clinical state.

About Hospira

Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness™. As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 13,500 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.

SOURCE Hospira, Inc.