University HealthSystem Consortium Extends Exclusive Agreement with Ascent Healthcare...

University HealthSystem Consortium Extends Exclusive Agreement with Ascent Healthcare Solutions for Medical Device Reprocessing

Significant Cost Savings and Waste Reduction Cited in New
Agreement
PHOENIX, Ariz.--(Business Wire)--
Ascent Healthcare Solutions announced today that University
HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) has extended its exclusive contract for
medical device reprocessing for an additional year, to May 2009. Under
the agreement, UHC's 101 academic medical centers and 178 affiliated
hospital members can continue to benefit from the significant savings
in supply and disposal costs generated by Ascent's single-use medical
device (SUD) reprocessing services. In 2007, reprocessing through
Ascent, the leading independent third-party reprocessor of medical
devices in North America, saved UHC members an estimated $8.1 million
in supply costs and $38,000 in disposal costs while eliminating 76
tons of medical waste from landfills. Cumulative cost savings since
2000 for UHC members is more than $36 million.

With Ascent's catalog of more than 80 510(k)s cleared by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), UHC members can safely maximize
their savings and environmental stewardship by taking advantage of the
broad range of reprocessed cardiovascular, endoscopic/laparoscopic,
general surgery/OR, orthopedic/arthroscopic, gastroenterology,
respiratory and ophthalmology devices as well as recycling services
that Ascent offers. Reprocessed devices typically cost about half as
much as purchasing a new device. The resulting savings, which can
exceed $1 million for a large system, can be applied to patient
programs, clinical staffing, the purchase of new medical technologies
or other initiatives proven to enhance patient care.

Cindy White, Vice President of Operations of UHC, said: "We are
pleased to be able to continue our relationship with Ascent and to
bring maximum value to UHC members."

Rick Ferreira, Chief Operating Officer of Ascent, stated, "We are
proud of our long-standing relationship with UHC, and pleased to
continue providing a service that helps our hospital and medical
center partners deliver the safest and best healthcare to their
patients while also benefiting the environment."

About University HealthSystem Consortium

The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), formed in 1984, is
an alliance of 101 academic medical centers and 178 of their
affiliated hospitals representing approximately 90% of the nation's
non-profit academic medical centers. UHC offers its members specific
programs and services to improve clinical, operational and patient
safety performance. The mission of the University HealthSystem
Consortium is to advance knowledge, foster collaboration, and promote
change to help members succeed in their respective markets. For more
information about University HealthSystem Consortium, please visit
http://www.uhc.edu/.

About Ascent Healthcare Solutions

Since its inception, Ascent Healthcare Solutions, the leading
independent third-party reprocessor of single-use medical devices
(SUDs), has reprocessed more than 50 million SUDs, saving its
customers in excess of $500 million in supply expenses and eliminating
over 10,000 tons from local landfills. Ascent's 1,700 hospital
partners include most of the U.S. News and World Report "Honor Roll"
hospitals. The company has agreements with all leading national group
purchasing organizations as well as numerous nationally recognized
hospital integrated delivery networks. Ascent has also been recognized
as a "Champion for Change" by Hospitals for a Healthy Environment
(H2E) in recognition of the dramatic environmental benefits
reprocessing by Ascent provides to U.S. hospitals and surgery centers.
For more information about Ascent Healthcare Solutions, visit
www.ascenths.com.

Amendola Communications for Ascent Healthcare Solutions
Jan Shulman, 480-664-8412, ext. 12
jshulman@ACmarketingPR.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008