MedicAlert Foundation Names Champion of Patient Safety Andrew B. Wigglesworth as The New President and CEO

TURLOCK, Calif., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The MedicAlert Foundation board of directors has selected Andrew B. Wigglesworth as the next President and CEO of the Foundation. Mr. Wigglesworth was a partner at TRG Healthcare LLC, and assumed the role on January 1, 2010.

"The board of directors and I are delighted to welcome Andrew Wigglesworth as the new President and CEO," said Mary Dean, MedicAlert Foundation Board Chair. "Andrew brings more than 20 years of extensive experience in the healthcare field and a strong commitment to enhance the Foundation's role and mission as an advocate for individuals and families navigating today's complex healthcare system, particularly in emergencies."

Prior to joining the MedicAlert Foundation, Mr. Wigglesworth was a Partner at TRG Healthcare LLC where he worked with hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations on strategic planning, governance, policy development, financial solutions, crisis communications, government relations, operational improvement, and new business development. Previously, Mr. Wigglesworth served for 12 years as CEO of the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council, an association representing more than 150 hospitals and health systems in the tri-state greater Philadelphia area.

"Joining the MedicAlert Foundation is an honor and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really focus on making the healthcare system work better for people in emergency situations. There is nothing better than working for an organization dedicated to protecting and saving the lives of others," said Andrew B. Wigglesworth. "I am thrilled to join the MedicAlert Foundation because I'm convinced that through strategic partnerships and a strong commitment to our members, we will continue to help save lives."

In addition, he created and led the Health Care Improvement Foundation (HCIF), a charitable organization, focused on innovative patient safety and quality assurance initiatives, including a medication safety program for hospitals and named by JCAHO as one of the top five large scale collaboratives in the country. He was the founding CEO of Philadelphia International Medicine LLC, a joint venture of eight leading hospitals to enhance their presence and business opportunities in the international healthcare market. Mr. Wigglesworth also was Senior Vice President of the Maryland Hospital Association, and top policy advisor to the Governor of Maryland for healthcare and health insurance policy issues.

About MedicAlert Foundation

MedicAlert Foundation pioneered the first emergency medical information and identification service in 1956 to provide people with a simple but effective method for communicating their medical conditions. Since the organization's founding, the Foundation has provided services and products that help to protect and save lives for its 4 million members worldwide. For more than 50 years, the nonprofit has relayed vital medical information on behalf of its members to emergency responders so they receive faster and safer treatment. MedicAlert IDs alert emergency personnel to a member's primary health conditions. In addition to its 24-hour emergency response service, MedicAlert Foundation also provides family and caregiver notification so that members can be reunited with their families. Visit www.medicalert.org for more information

SOURCE MedicAlert Foundation