Premier, Inc. Showcases New Medical Innovations De

SAN ANTONIO, June 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The world's first and only intravenous implantable cardiac defibrillator; an advanced mammography technology resulting in more precise, faster and lower-dose exams; a crib mattress helping to reduce pressure ulcers in toddlers; healthcare's smallest heart monitor for diagnosing irregular heartbeats; and, a portable, cellular medication adherence and delivery system.

A total of 16 pioneering medical innovations were showcased last night in front of approximately 4,000 healthcare providers and experts at Premier, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: PINC ) sixth annual Innovation Celebration .

A key element of Premier's annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition , being held in San Antonio this week, the Innovation Celebration recognizes industry suppliers committed to innovation, and their advances that can improve patient outcomes and efficiencies. All innovations were selected by a committee of healthcare clinicians and other Premier hospital members based on their uniqueness, ability to have an impact on unmet medical needs and potential to improve patient care.

"The Innovation Celebration exemplifies Premier's commitment to bringing groundbreaking solutions to the marketplace for use by the nation's leading health systems," said Durral R. Gilbert, Premier's president of supply chain services. "Innovation Celebration participants share this commitment. Through the event, our members have been introduced to approximately 700 new solutions and have selected more than 100 to highlight. We believe these safe, high-quality and cost-effective innovations can significantly benefit care providers and the patients they serve."

Any supplier, regardless of whether the company is contracted with Premier, can be considered for participation in the Innovation Celebration. Overall, Premier contracts with more than 1,100 suppliers.

2014 Innovation Celebration participants are:

• Allergan Inc.: SERI ^® Surgical Scaffold
• Boston Scientific: S-ICD™ System
• Careborne: Hope Crutch
• Daya Medicals, Inc.: The MedPod
• Endochoice: Fuse™ Endoscopy System
• GE Healthcare: Critikon RADIAL-CUF
• GE Healthcare: Silent Scan
• Hologic: Affirm ^TM 3D-guided breast biopsy
• Hologic: C-View ^TM software option
• Kentec Medical, Inc./Ameritus Medical Products: Hummi Micro-Draw Blood Transfer Device
• Medtronic: Reveal ^™ LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitoring System
• Olympus America: ENDOEYE FLEX 3D
• Sizewise: Pediatric Pulse
• SuperSonic Imagine: Aixplorer ^®
• Teleflex: ISO-Gard ^® Mask with ClearAir™ Technology
• Universal Hospital Services, Inc.: OnCare™ VitalGo Total Lift Bed ^™

For more detailed information including videos of each innovation, visit: www.premierinc.com/breakthroughs/innovation-celebration-2014/ .

About Premier, Inc.

Premier, Inc. is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 3,000 U.S. hospitals and 110,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, and advisory and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost. Premier, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, collaborating with members to co-develop long-term innovations that reinvent and improve the way care is delivered to patients nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier is passionate about transforming American healthcare. Please visit Premier's news and investor sites on www.premierinc.com ; as well as Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube , Instagram , Foursquare and Premier's blog for more information about the company.

Premier healthcare alliance, 704.816.5797