August 13, 2012 - LifeVest Prescribed at All U.S. News and World Report Honor Roll and 50 Best Cardiology and Heart Surgery Hospitals

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Diane Egan
ZOLL Medical Corporation
+1 (978) 421-9637
[email protected]  

ZOLL LIFEVEST PRESCRIBED BY PHYSICIANS AT ALL U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT “HONOR ROLL” HOSPITALS AND ALL 50 “BEST CARDIOLOGY AND HEART SURGERY” HOSPITALS

 
Milestone Result for Fifth Consecutive Year 

 August 13, 2012—CHELMSFORD, MASS.—ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that physicians at all of the 17 “Honor Roll” hospitals and all of the 50 “Best Cardiology and Heart Surgery” hospitals designated by U.S. News and World Report for 2012-2013 have prescribed the ZOLL LifeVest® Wearable Defibrillator for patients.

The LifeVest is worn by patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), providing protection during their changing condition and while permanent SCA risk has not been established. The LifeVest allows a patient’s physician time to assess his or her long-term arrhythmic risk and make appropriate plans.

The LifeVest is lightweight and easy to wear, allowing patients to return to their activities of daily living, while having the peace of mind that they are protected from SCA. The LifeVest continuously monitors the patient’s heart and, if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device delivers a treatment shock to restore normal heart rhythm.

“Now for the fifth year in a row, physicians at all of the ‘Honor Roll’ and ‘Best Cardiology and Heart Surgery’ hospitals have prescribed the LifeVest to protect their patients from sudden cardiac death,” said Richard A. Packer, Chief Executive Officer of ZOLL. “The role of the LifeVest as part of the continuum of care for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death continues to expand with the support from the physician leaders prescribing LifeVest at these premier intuitions and the continued education of the cardiology community about the importance of SCD screening.”

The LifeVest is used for a wide range of patient conditions or situations, including following a heart attack, before or after bypass surgery or stent placement, as well as for those with cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure that places them at particular risk.

The LifeVest is covered by most health plans in the United States, including commercial, state, and federal plans.

U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Hospitals” is an annual ranking of the country’s elite medical centers that assesses how well a hospital handles complex and demanding situations.

This year, only 148 of the 4,793 hospitals evaluated met such criteria and performed well enough to rank in even one specialty. And of the 148, just 17 qualified for a spot on the Honor Roll by ranking at or near the top in six or more specialties. U.S. News and World Report also named the 50 “Best Cardiology and Heart Surgery” hospitals for 2012-2013 based on rankings within that specific category.

About ZOLL Medical Corporation

ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and monitoring, circulation and CPR feedback, data management, fluid resuscitation, and therapeutic temperature management, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, and lay rescuers treat victims needing resuscitation and critical care. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.

The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the chemicals and fibers, homes and construction materials, electronics, and health care business sectors. Its health care operations include devices and systems for critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents, and nutritional products. With more than 25,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/en/.

Copyright © 2012 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. LifeVest and ZOLL are trademarks or registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All product names are the property of their respective owners.