LENEXA, Kan., Mar. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mediware Information Systems , a provider of ClosedLoop(TM) clinical systems for blood and medication management, has announced its blood management software systems, including HCLL(TM) Transfusion software for hospital blood banks and LifeTrak(R) software for blood centers, are ready to accommodate the new global blood labeling standards being required in the United States.
With a widening demand for blood products and a global need for safety in blood transfusions, the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) has adopted a global standard for the labeling of blood products collected and used throughout the United States. The standard, called ISBT (International Society of Blood Transfusion) 128, was developed to improve the identification and processing of human blood, tissue and organ products across international borders and disparate health care systems. The AABB, in Association Bulletin #05-12, established May 1, 2008 as the implementation deadline for its accredited blood centers and hospital transfusion services.
Implementing systems to support this new standard has been a long and difficult process for blood centers and hospitals. Mediware, which has been a market leader in blood management systems for more than 25 years, released a version of the LifeTrak software that addresses the ISBT standards in May of 2007. As the deadline looms, Mediware believes its more than 65 blood center customer facilities are well positioned for the May 1 cut off. Mediware's HCLL Transfusion product has addressed the ISBT standards since its inception and Mediware's BiologiCare(TM) biologics management platform will also fully support ISBT upon its commercial release in June 2008.
"ISBT certainly has the attention of Mediware, our customers, and the industry as a whole," said John Damgaard, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Mediware. "We have worked feverishly to support our customers as they transition to this important global labeling standard for blood and biologics management."
Blood Centers and hospitals that have not implemented systems that address the ISBT requirements by the May 1 deadline must file with the AABB and have a variance approved which documents when the facility will have the necessary systems in place.
Damgaard continued, "We are very confident that our software has our customers well positioned to transition to the new standard. Further, our product specialists are ready to help facilities who have not licensed our software, have been unable to meet the deadline and have been required to file for a variance."
Mediware has long been a leader in the clinical systems supporting donor centers and the Company's LifeTrak(R) product supports more than 65 customer facilities, including many of the largest blood collection organizations in the country. This product line was recently expanded to include internet based products for donor recruiting, donor retention and electronic hospital ordering, which were added last year as a part of the Integrated Marketing Solutions (IMS) acquisition. The company's strategy for this product group is to deliver a complete, ClosedLoop environment to help customers streamline operational processes from initial recruitment to the sale and ultimate use of the blood product.
About Mediware
Mediware delivers blood and medication management software systems that encapsulate information supporting patient therapies, reinforce patient safety practices and improve efficiencies to lower costs. 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 http://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, 2007, 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.
