Medwave joined Health Care Without Harm, a non profit organization devoted to environmentally conscious healthcare practices, at a press conference at Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester, MA on May 2^nd, 2006 to announce a plan to distribute free Primo™ blood pressure monitors to non-profit clinics that serve underprivileged populations.

“Mercury is one of the greatest environmental threats of our day,” said Bill Ravanesi, local coordinator for Health Care Without Harm. “Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can affect the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. We applaud this effort to protect the poorest populations from unnecessary exposures.”

The Primo™ comfortably takes blood pressure readings at the wrist and utilizes a sensor-based system that provides a digital systolic and diastolic blood pressure reading in approximately 15 seconds. Unlike the standard cuff-based system, Primo™ provides readings that are nearly as accurate as those taken by invasive arterial catheters and does so without the use of mercury.

“As a manufacturer of mercury-free products, we are excited to have the opportunity to create a healthier, safer environment for our community,” said O’Malley. “There is no reason why the underprivileged should be exposed to dangerous substances such as mercury when modern, innovative solutions are available, such as Primo™.”

Codman Square Health Center (CSHC), a community-based, multi-service center which eliminated its mercury style blood pressure equipment three years ago writes Medwave a letter of appreciation stating:

"From its inception, the health center has proceeded with the understanding that the health of its patients is affected significantly by their environments. CSHC strives to provide a healthy environment for our patients and our employees by keeping harmful substances from the facility. Introduction of more environmentally responsible products is a prerequisite for our success on this front. We applaud Medwave's contribution to this arena. We also are very pleased to see a product which is easier, quicker, more accurate and more comfortable to use than the products which we have been using. We look forward to introducing them to the clinic as soon as the staff has completed the training."

William J. Walczak
Chief Executive Officer
Codman Square Health Center

Think for a moment about the tools that you use to fulfill your position responsibilities each and every day. A computer, voice mail, cell phones, PDA’s, the list goes on. Think back 20 years - many of these tools were just being introduced to the market.

Now think about the tools that our healthcare professionals on the frontline are using everyday. Many are modern marvels, while others are antiquated. One tool that is used in almost every single environment within healthcare is the blood pressure measurement device. Whether it is a manual blood pressure cuff or an automatic cuff, these devices are everywhere within the healthcare spectrum. The manual blood pressure cuff was first introduced in 1896, while the automatic blood pressure cuff was introduced in 1976! Is there another area in medicine where technology this old is still being used as a basis for so many critical decisions in such a multitude of locations?

In your position, you probably wouldn’t use a cell phone or computer introduced 20 years ago to perform your job responsibilities. Until now, clinicians had no option but to use the blood pressure cuff to non-invasively measure their patients’ blood pressures. Medwave has remedied that situation with the introduction of Primo™.