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DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardinal Health and the Texas Hospital Association (THA) announced today that hospitals across Texas have a new way to safeguard patients and combat deadly health care associated infections (HAIs).

The Texas Hospital Association and its marketing subsidiary, HealthShare, recently endorsed MedMined(TM) services from Cardinal Health as an effective tool to help combat HAIs, improve patient care and dramatically reduce infection-related costs.

Every day as many as 240 Americans die from HAIs while others endure extended hospital stays and prolonged recovery periods. The problem is so extensive it affects one in every 20 patients and costs the U.S. health care industry an estimated $20 billion annually. A report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office earlier this year demonstrates that technology greatly enhances hospitals' ability to prevent infections.

MedMined(TM) services offer infection surveillance for the entire hospital that alerts clinicians to early signs of an emerging infection issue to target improvement efforts at the right place and the right time. Using data mining tools similar to those used by credit card companies to monitor unauthorized purchases, this patented technology automatically identifies patterns indicative of specific and correctable quality breakdowns to prevent and treat HAIs successfully.

"Hospitals across the country are working to find the best, most effective way to prevent HAIs," says Jim Dixon, president and CEO of HealthShare. "Our exhaustive research shows MedMined(TM) services can help Texas hospitals enhance patient safety and save money. That's a win-win for patients and hospitals alike. These services also provide hospitals with the comprehensive data they need for both internal assessment and state reporting purposes without adding any data entry to the workload."

Currently, 23 states have established mandatory HAI public reporting systems. MedMined(TM) services provide mandatory reporting solutions for many hospitals throughout the country through patented technology. The Nosocomial Infection Marker (NIM) objectively identifies infections across the entire hospital through analysis of the hospital's laboratory data. The technology also allows infection preventionists to review all NIMs, verify infections are present and automate the report submission process that fulfills state reporting requirements.

"Hospitals are dedicated to helping patients, but they do so in an incredibly challenging environment," said Patrick Hymel, M.D., vice president and general manager of Cardinal Health MedMined(TM) services. "To succeed, they need new tools -- like MedMined(TM) services -- that not only improve patient care and outcomes, but help them meet reporting requirements and reduce costs."

In addition to the THA and HealthShare endorsement, more than 35 hospitals in Texas participate in the Texas Hospital Quality Initiative, a partnership between Cardinal Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX). Through the partnership, BCBSTX and Cardinal Health collaborate to drive rapid adoption of technologies that can reduce HAIs to save lives and lower health care costs.

Nationwide, more than 300 hospitals depend on MedMined(TM) services from Cardinal Health to help them detect, monitor, prevent and measure outcomes related to HAIs, making them the market leader in HAI surveillance technology. On average hospitals using MedMined(TM) services have realized more than a 13 percent reduction of HAIs in the first year and have repeatedly produced an average 300 percent internal rate of return within 12 months.

About Texas Hospital Association and HealthShare

Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state's hospitals and health care systems. THA enhances its members' abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents nearly 85 percent of the state's hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 320,000 health care professionals statewide. HealthShare is a wholly owned subsidiary of THA, whose mission is to market best-of-breed, competitively priced products and services offered through THA-endorsed vendors that enhance hospitals' quality, service and financial stability.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $91 billion, global company serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better care to patients. With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris(R) IV pumps, Pyxis(R) automated dispensing systems, MedMined(TM) electronic infection surveillance service, VIASYS(R) respiratory care products and the CareFusion(TM) patient identification system. The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worldwide. Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.