Novation Signs 3-Year Contract With Smiths Medical.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Smiths Medical MD, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a three-year, dual-source contract with Novation, the contracting company for VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). Through the agreement, Smiths Medical will be one of two companies providing

regional anesthesia trays to VHA and UHC members and affiliates. The agreement runs through Sept. 30, 2008, and was signed based on the results of Novation's public competitive bid process. E[acute accent]"This is a great opportunity for Smiths Medical to expand its business in the anesthesia market," said Jeanette Bousquet, Vice President of Sales. "We look forward to our products providing high quality care to patients at VHA and UHC facilities." E[acute accent]Smiths Medical regional anesthesia trays include all the necessary products for clinicians to perform regional anesthesia. Smiths Medical regional anesthesia trays are unique with their wide range of componentry choices in either standard or custom trays. The company has more than 100 standard trays in stock to choose from, including Continuous epidural, Single-shot epidural, CSE and spinal trays and the ability to provide needle safety in any tray. With unique componentry like the Pulsator(R) LOR Syringe, CSEcure(R) CSE needles and Duraflex(TM) wire-reinforced catheters, Smiths Medical is a worldwide leader in the regional anesthesia marketplace. In addition, Smiths Medical has an extensive customs configuration program where they can cost-effectively configure trays according to clinical preference. E[acute accent]Smiths Medical is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of medical devices used in infusion therapy, including CADD(R) ambulatory infusion pumps, PORT-A-CATH(R) implantable access systems, GRIPPER PLUS(R) safety huber needles, CliniCath(R) PICC infusion catheters, and the CozMore(R) insulin technology system. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Smiths Medical MD (Medication Delivery) is part of Smiths Group, London, and is committed to developing the highest quality, most reliable products to provide innovative, convenient and cost-effective drug delivery worldwide. For more information, visit www.smiths-medical.com or call 1-800-426-2448. E[acute accent]Novation, headquartered in Irving, Texas, offers supply-contracting services to more than 2,500 members of VHA and UHC. Those health care organizations used Novation contracts to purchase nearly $24 billion in medical supplies, devices and pharmaceuticals last year. For additional information on Novation, visit its web site: www.novationco.com. E[acute accent]The Smiths Medical contract is also available to 8,000 health care organizations that purchase supplies through HealthCare Purchasing Partners International, a group purchasing organization that's also owned by VHA and UHC.