Welch Allyn and West China School of Medicine (Sichuan University) Open Landmark Training Center for General Practice Medicine

Welch Allyn-Huaxi Clinical Skills Training Center in General Practice will
address pressing need for training of family physicians for community clinics
SKANEATELES FALLS, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
Welch Allyn and the West China Hospital (Huaxi) today announced the opening of
the Clinical Skills Training Center in general practice. Located at the West
China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, this is the first national General
Practice training center that is fully sponsored by Welch Allyn. It represents
the start of a long term partnership between the two organizations in building
general practice skills to support community and rural health care clinics in
China.

"Welch Allyn is excited to be using our 90 years of experience in diagnostics
and general practice medicine, combined with Huaxi Hospital's reputation and
expertise in clinical education and training to create a path-making training
center," said Julie A. Shimer, president and CEO of Welch Allyn. "This training
center dovetails directly into the Chinese government`s initiative to build
nationwide community clinics and rural healthcare system by increasing the
number of skilled general practice physicians available."

The Clinical Skills Training Center in General Practice at Huaxi is the first of
six similar Welch Allyn training centers expected to be established around the
country. These centers are expected to train about 900 general practitioners per
year through "train-the-trainer" programs, to provide the anticipated thousands
of general practice physicians anticipated to be needed in community and rural
health care clinics being developed in China.

"We are pleased to be working with Welch Allyn and other international
organizations such as the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and Heart to
Heart to give heightened skills in general practice medicine to medical school
students, residents, continuation education doctors and those doctors that
government expects to transform from current non-GP specialty to GP specialty,"
said Yingkang Shi, dean of West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University.
"Our primary care system-from function to essential standards-needs physicians
who are skilled in general practice medicine, and we are very happy that Welch
Allyn has joined us in helping the country in its efforts to raise this
standard."

In May, the center will host its first major "train-the trainer" training
program on diagnosis techniques and skills of the general practitioners,
conducted by the AOA with Welch Allyn as a sponsor and Welch Allyn staff
participating on the training delegation. Family physicians from the AOA will
teach basics of diagnosis, how to train a family physician, how to evaluate the
outcomes for family practice trainings, and will demonstrate a "typical day in
life" of a family practice resident.

"As healthcare costs continue to rise, providing citizens with preventative
healthcare services in community clinics is a proven way to help improve the
overall wellness of patients while helping to drive down the overall cost of
healthcare," said Shimer. "Having skilled general practitioners working in
clinics like the ones planned by the Chinese government will help caregivers
diagnose and treat common ailments and conditions-before they become a more
serious ailment. The combination of this GP training initiative along with the
community clinic facilities to support them, and high-quality Welch Allyn
diagnostic instruments will lay a strong foundation for improving the overall
healthcare for all patients."

The training center features equipment that would typically be found in a
community clinic, including an integrated diagnostic system, ECG, ambulatory
blood pressure monitor and electronic vital signs devices. More importantly, all
the medical devices used in the training center are environmental friendly and
100% mercury free, demonstrating both organizations` determination to build a
"green clinic."

Future plans under development between Huaxi and Welch Allyn include identifying
ways to maximize the use of the training center and enhance international
exchange programs. Activities conducted by the training center will be used as
case studies for the China Medical Doctors Association (CMDA) as they look to
establish national GP training standards.

About Welch Allyn

Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, NY (USA), Welch Allyn is
a leading manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment and a complete range of
digital and connected solutions. With over 2,400 employees working in 17
different countries, Welch Allyn specializes in helping doctors, nurses and
other frontline practitioners across the globe provide the best patient care by
developing innovative products, breakthrough technologies, and cutting-edge
solutions that help them see more patients, detect more conditions, and improve
more lives. For more information about Welch Allyn, visit www.welchallyn.com.

About Sichuan University-Affiliated West China Hospital

Sichuan University-Affiliated West China Hospital (also called Huaxi Hospital)
is now the biggest hospital in China covering an area of 21 hectars with 4,300
beds and 6,100 employees. With a history of 116 years and quick development,
Huaxi Hospital has now become a superior, large comprehensive teaching, research
and clinical hospital with all medical disciplines, a strong teaching faculty,
considerable research facilities and state-of-the-art medical equipment. It also
acts as the diagnosis and treatment center for highly intensive and highly
complicated diseases in China's southwest region.

Welch Allyn
Jamie Arnold, APR, 315-685-4599
Public Relations Manager
arnoldj@welchallyn.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009