Andover, Massachusetts, USA - Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI), and the UAB Health System have announced UAB Hospital's new Heart and Vascular Center. The new center will feature advanced Philips Medical technology designed to meet the growing needs of UAB's patients.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 71 million American suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease. In 2003, cardiovascular disease claimed 910,614 lives (37.3 percent of all deaths or 1 of every 2.7 deaths) in the United States.

The partnership enables the UAB Health System to fulfill its technological needs, including new facility construction, design consultation, and strategic integrated medical technology planning. To accomplish these and other goals, Philips participates in regular meetings with hospital leadership, and communicates on a daily basis to support the hospital's mission in ensuring that the most advanced patient care is available to patients throughout Alabama and the Southeast.

"Our new Heart and Vascular Center, which features Philips Medical technologies in new catheterization labs, vascular and interventional radiology labs, and an interventional neuroradiology lab, enables our physicians to maximize resources, improve, and expand clinical applications," said Marilyn M. Henry, associate vice president of UAB Hospital. "Philips offers some of the most advanced and user-friendly technologies and continues tobe an excellent partner in the UAB Health System's Goal of delivering quality patient care and services, while improving workflow and clinical efficiencies."

"We are pleased to develop this innovative partnership with the UAB Health System, home to one of the leading hospitals in America and the world, to provide them with Phillips advanced diagnostic capabilities that are designed around patient and physician needs," said Kelly Londy, vice president, Strategic, Enterprise and Government Business for Philips Medical Systems. "By being able to construct a highly collaborative approach with a leading hospital, Philips can better help plan and provide doctors with the tools they need to best treat patients. Philips believes this partnership is a model for top hospitals nationwide by continuously improving the quality of patient care and services."

The new UAB Heart and Vascular Center will be equipped with 13 labs, including four adult catheterization labs (Cath labs), three electrophysiology labs, four vascular and interventional radiology labs, one interventional neuroradiology lab, and one pediatric lab to help physicians treat the ever-increasing population of patients with cardiovascular disease and other diseases amenable to minimally invasive treatments. The new center also will meet the growing demand for more advanced technology and research in the area of cardiovascular care and management.

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