ALARIS Medical Announces MEDLEY Medication Safety System Purchase by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 30, 2001

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Infusion Pumps Will Be Replaced

With Intravenous Medication Management Technology

ALARIS Medical Inc. (AMEX:AMI) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., has signed a five-year, $10 million agreement with Nashville-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center ("Vanderbilt"), one of the leading university-based medical centers in the U.S., to replace its bedside infusion pumps with ALARIS Medical's MEDLEY(TM) Medication Safety System.

In addition to the MEDLEY System and its disposable supplies, the agreement provides for the installation of ALARIS Medical's proprietary Guardrails(TM) Safety Software. This software alerts the bedside caregiver if the dose, rate or volume of an intravenous therapy falls outside pre-established ranges for the patient. The software will be fully integrated with Vanderbilt's automated computerized physician order entry system and offers instant access to the hospital's best practice guidelines for the administration of IV therapies. The combined technologies constitute a system to dramatically reduce infusion errors.

Dave Schlotterbeck, president and chief executive officer of ALARIS Medical Inc., said, "ALARIS Medical is pleased that Vanderbilt, which has been a very successful test site of this system, will implement the MEDLEY System with our proprietary Guardrails Safety Software to extend their leadership in technology-based patient safety solutions. Vanderbilt will also participate in a study documenting the MEDLEY System's effectiveness in preventing infusion-related medication errors. Vanderbilt is a recognized leader in medication safety innovation and we are proud that they have selected the MEDLEY Medication Safety System as their bedside technology for intravenous medication management."

Irene Hatcher, coordinator of Clinical Pathways and Case Management Development of Vanderbilt, said, "Two of the most fulfilling experiences that I have had as a nursing executive have been in the development of the Vanderbilt computerized physician order entry system (WizOrder(TM)) and the development and implementation of our clinical pathways initiative (PathWorx(TM)). These two major efforts, designed to improve patient safety, reduce variation and establish uniform best practices, made it necessary for us to find best-in-class technology solutions to complement our investment. The search for these solutions led me to discussions with the development team at ALARIS that was working on a new technology platform for infusion therapy designed to support a 'test of reasonableness' at the point-of-care."

Hatcher continued, "Vanderbilt clinicians recognize the potential seriousness of IV-related medication errors and view the MEDLEY System as a vital safety net for caregivers at the bedside. We are excited to install the MEDLEY system with the Guardrails Safety Software, providing standardized best practice guidelines throughout our institution."

The MEDLEY Medication Safety System is a modular medical technology platform that integrates infusion, patient monitoring and clinical best practice guidelines to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. The MEDLEY System provides superior customer value by optimizing hospital asset utilization, standardizing device programming, and, via the Guardrails Safety Software, providing passive protection from some of the most serious and costly medication errors -- those involving IV medications.

Schlotterbeck continued, "On Oct. 3, 2001, ALARIS and McKesson Corp. announced a long-term strategic alliance to develop and co-market products to integrate technology solutions in medication error reduction from physician order entry to point-of-care delivery. Vanderbilt has previously established a partnership with McKesson Corp. in the development of Vanderbilt's WizOrder physician order entry system. Combining the MEDLEY System and our future product introductions with McKesson's product offerings will offer a complete, automated safety platform to target preventable medication errors. The products that result from this alliance should have a very positive impact on reducing the economic and non-economic costs associated with preventable adverse drug events in this country and around the world. We also expect these products to build on our existing base of offerings at the hospital bedside."

ALARIS Medical Inc., through its wholly owned operating company, ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., is a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of integrated intravenous infusion therapy and patient monitoring instruments and related disposables, accessories and services. ALARIS Medical's primary brands, ALARIS(R), IMED(R) and IVAC(R), are recognized throughout the world. ALARIS Medical's products are distributed to more than 120 countries worldwide. In addition to its San Diego world headquarters and manufacturing facility, ALARIS Medical also operates manufacturing facilities in Creedmoor, N.C.; Basingstoke, U.K.; and Tijuana, Mexico. Additional information on ALARIS Medical can be found at www.alarismed.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Persons reading this release are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the effect of legislative and regulatory changes affecting the health care industry, the potential of increased levels of competition, technological changes, the dependence of ALARIS Medical upon the success of new products (including the MEDLEY Medication Safety System) and ongoing research and development efforts including obtaining regulatory approvals, restrictions contained in the instruments governing the company's indebtedness, and the significant leverage to which the company is subject. Such risk factors are detailed in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of ALARIS Medical Inc., including Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.