Masimo Joins AARC Corporate Partner Program

For Immediate Release

DALLAS (November 10, 2003) – The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is pleased to welcome Masimo Corporation as a new Corporate Partner.

The partnership is expected to greatly enhance collaboration between Masimo, innovator and leader of motion and low perfusion tolerant pulse oximetry, a technology that noninvasively measures arterial oxygen saturation, and the AARC, the national organization representing respiratory therapists.

“We are extremely pleased to have Masimo join the growing number of respiratory care companies showing their support for the nation's respiratory therapists through the AARC's Corporate Partner Program,” says Kevin Shrake, MA, RRT, FAARC, AARC's Chief Operating Officer. “We've always had close ties with Masimo, but the partnership will provide additional opportunities to work together for the benefit of patients suffering from respiratory disease.”

As a corporate partner, Masimo will join forces with the only professional association for respiratory therapists, supporting much needed educational and research efforts aimed at ensuring RTs have the information and tools they need to deliver top quality care to adults and children with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and other respiratory problems.

In return for their investment, Corporate Partners gain professional and consumer recognition and appreciation for their commitment to the respiratory profession and to respiratory health through advertising and marketing opportunities available exclusively through the AARC.

Says Shrake, “The companies that make up the respiratory care industry are an important part of our community. We rely on them to provide us with the cutting-edge technologies we need to deliver care, and they rely on us to provide input into research and development of their new and ongoing products.”

He concludes, “The Corporate Partner Program is a win-win situation for us all, because it formalizes the strong bond we've always enjoyed.”

Masimo is committed to improving patient outcomes and reducing cost of care by working with dedicated hospital staff to convert health care institutions around the world to Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology. They are accomplishing this goal by directly marketing complete pulse oximetry solutions to hospitals, as well as by   partnering with patient monitoring companies to create innovative, cost-effective acquisition programs for Masimo SET products.   Masimo Corporation is located in Irvine, California.

Kevin Mosher, President, Masimo Americas stated, “Masimo is pleased to support the education, research and overall efforts of the AARC aimed at improving the care and quality of life for patients suffering from respiratory disease.   The Respiratory Therapy community has been instrumental in validating the improvement in patient care and safety that Masimo SET has brought to patient monitoring, and we are delighted to be associated with the dedication and professionalism of this caregiver group.”

The American Association for Respiratory care, the only professional membership association for respiratory therapists, focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. Its goals are to ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. The Association continues to advocate, on behalf of pulmonary patients, for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals.

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AARC Contact:
Sherry Milligan
Communications Manager
972-406-4656, Milligan@aarc.org

Masimo Contact:
Brad Langdale
(949) 253-6404