Healthcare Industry News: V.A.C.
News Release - February 14, 2008
KCI Announces Plans to Strengthen its Therapeutic Surfaces Business
Company Establishes Dedicated Sales Force, Appoints Global President, and Renames UnitSAN ANTONIO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--As part of its ongoing commitment to gain profitable market share in its Therapeutic Surfaces business, Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI ) announced that it has established a dedicated sales force in the U.S. that will focus solely on the company’s therapeutic support systems which help to manage pressure ulcers, as well as specialty hospital beds that support patients in critical care units with pulmonary complications and bariatric patients. The company will also rename the business Therapeutic Support Systems to better reflect the clinical value its therapies offer to caregivers and patients. Lynne Sly, who recently served as Interim President of KCI’s international operations, will now be fully dedicated to the company’s Therapeutic Support Systems operations as Global President of this business. Sly was previously President of KCI’s U.S. Therapeutic Surfaces business.
Previously, KCI’s sales team members were responsible for selling both the company’s V.A.C.® Therapy System as well as therapeutic surfaces. This move will allow dedicated focus for each line of business, V.A.C. Therapy and Therapeutic Support Systems.
“The move to dedicated sales organizations in the U.S. market will benefit both businesses,” said Catherine Burzik, President and CEO. “While our V.A.C. Therapy is clearly our leading growth business, Therapeutic Support Systems represents KCI’s heritage. We have a history of quality, innovative products and services in this market. We believe that new opportunities remain as we increase our focus on this business. The new name also gives us the flexibility to add a broader range of products in this business in the future.”
“In 2007 we saw very good top line growth in this business,” said Lynne Sly, Global President – Therapeutic Support Systems for KCI. “During 2008 we will focus on improving profitability by focusing on new business opportunities globally in our wound care, bariatrics and critical care franchises while simultaneously driving operational efficiencies through our global manufacturing and service infrastructure.”
About KCI
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. is a global medical technology company with leadership positions in advanced wound-care and therapeutic surfaces. We design, manufacture, market and service a wide range of proprietary products that can improve clinical outcomes and can help reduce the overall cost of patient care. Our advanced wound-care systems incorporate our proprietary Vacuum Assisted Closure®, or V.A.C.® Therapy technology, which has been demonstrated clinically to promote wound healing through unique mechanisms of action and can help reduce the cost of treating patients with serious wounds. Our therapeutic surfaces, including specialty hospital beds, mattress replacement systems and overlays, are designed to address pulmonary complications associated with immobility, to reduce skin breakdown and assist caregivers in the safe and dignified handling of obese patients. We have an infrastructure designed to meet the specific needs of medical professionals and patients across all health care settings, including acute care hospitals, extended care organizations and patients’ homes, both in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.kci1.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties. All information set forth in this release is as of its date, and we undertake no duty to update this information. More information about the company is described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007, both of which are on file with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov.
Source: Kinetic Concepts
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