June 1, 2006, Melbourne, Fla.- Health First has signed a five-year cardiac alliance with Philips, the first alliance of its kind in Florida. The cardiac alliance calls for the installation of Philips state-of-the-art imaging equipment, offering a broad range of best-in-class diagnostic imaging technologies, IT solutions and patient monitoring systems designed to help clinicians diagnose and treat individuals with cardiovascular disease.

Brevard County residents will have access to Philips cutting-edge diagnostic technologies, including cardiac catheterization (cath) labs, patient monitoring and computed tomography (CT) systems. The new imaging equipment will help Health First address a serious public health issue as more Brevardians die each year from heart disease than from cancer, stroke, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, AIDS and Alzheimer's disease.1

"Health First chose to work with Philips because of its leadership in advanced cardiovascular imaging," said Larry Garrison, chief operating officer of Health First. "Our mission to provide the highest quality of care to our patients is always our top priority. This cardiac alliance helps us meet our mission, and it demonstrates how hospital systems and medical industry leaders can work together to continually improve patient care."


The alliance comes just a few months before the opening of the new Heart Center at Holmes Regional Medical Center. Scheduled for a September opening, the 375,000 square foot Heart Center will include three floors with 144 private rooms. The Center will also include four cardiovascular operating rooms, eight cardiac catheterization labs, a 14-bed cardiovascular intensive care unit, 22-bed coronary care unit, 108 private progressive care unit (PCU) beds, non-invasive diagnostic services and a nuclear medicine unit.

The heart program at Holmes Regional Medical Center is ranked number one in Florida and in the top five percent nationally for clinical excellence in cardiac services according to Healthgrades, one of the nation's leading providers of independent hospital ratings.

"Our ongoing commitment to top cardiac programs, such as that at Health First, demonstrates our desire to work with the best hospitals, provide quality services, and help our customers give the best care available to their patients," said Brent Shafer, executive vice president and CEO, North America, for Philips Medical Systems.

1 Florida Department of Health, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Data Analysis, 850-245-4009. Accessed on May 25, 2006.

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