Alere's Dr. Gordon Norman Highlights Challenges and Promising Solutions to U.S. Healthcare...

Alere's Dr. Gordon Norman Highlights Challenges and Promising Solutions to
U.S. Healthcare System to International Health Insurance Executives

- Dr. Gordon Norman presents overview of US healthcare industry problems and
solutions to attendees at International Federation of Health Plans Meeting in
Boston

- Noted universal recognition that U.S. gets among the worst value for its
healthcare investment

- Emphasized greater coordination of personalized care can help America
address and resolve today's healthcare challenges

MARIETTA, Ga., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Gordon Norman, M.D., executive vice
president of Science and Innovation for Alere LLC, a leader in personal health
support solutions, today presented insights into the U.S. health systems'
challenges and offered promising solutions at the annual meeting of the
International Federation of Health Plans (IFHP). The London-based
organization, representing leading global health insurers, met in BostonApril
28 - 29.

Representing some of the world's leading health insurers, attendees are in the
U.S. to gather information about worldwide health challenges and to discover
and share insights into best practices from other countries. Healthcare
executives attending represent countries including the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands and Australia.

Norman noted that a key challenge in the coming decades will be addressing
those health issues that are often undiagnosed and under-treated and that can
easily spiral into high cost diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

"It's time to wake up and make significant changes to our approach in
achieving better health," stated Norman. "Today's youth may be the first
American generation to have lower longevity than their parents. What's more,
our approach to healthcare is causing U.S. businesses to become less
competitive as the health and wellness of human capital is not being
adequately addressed."

Norman noted that aging baby boomers, as well as poor lifestyle choices
increasingly prevalent among Americans, are only a few of the challenges
facing the healthcare system. Poor care coordination, inadequate adherence to
recognized clinical guidelines, greater health disparities between
socio-economic groups and shortages of primary care physicians and nurses are
also leading to lower levels of care and poorer outcomes.

"There is now universal recognition that the U.S. gets the worst value for its
healthcare investment," said Norman. "What is equally troubling is that within
a few short years, we may be unable to meet the healthcare needs of many of
our sickest and neediest citizens."

According to Norman, Americans and the U.S. government appear to have a new
sense of urgency with regards to reforming healthcare. He also noted that
while it may take time to make changes, promising solutions are being
implemented by many of the nation's health plans and employers.

Some of these changes include more effective and efficient management of
chronic conditions, closely linking sites of care, expanding each person's
care team and integrating technology with individual care plans. "We must
also use personal health and electronic medical records to better connect
people and providers, with a much greater emphasis on "person centric"
healthcare models," said Norman.

For a copy of Norman's presentation or additional information, please contact
Alere at alereinfo@alere.com.

Alere (www.alere.com) is a member of the Inverness Medical Innovations
(www.invernessmedical.com) family of companies and represents the union of
Alere Medical, ParadigmHealth and Matria Healthcare. Alere, a Latin verb,
meaning "to care for" or "to support", offers the most patient-centered health
management services available from a single provider in the industry. Alere(R)
services provide health interventions that are designed for the entire
lifespan from pre-cradle (high-risk pregnancy and NICU management) to
end-of-life care (complex care) as well as the continuum of health from
wellness (health and productivity programs) and prevention to total health
management of the individual for those having various chronic illnesses.

SOURCE Alere

Brenna Harrington, +1-770-338-0357, brenna@mccluremedia.com, or Jan McClure,
+1-770-559-1016, jan@mccluremedia.com