ALARIS Medical Gathers Top Experts in Bar Code Technologies to Discuss Proposed FDA Regulation.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2003

Conference Hosted by the ALARIS(R) Center for Medication Safety

and Clinical Improvement

In response to the FDA's recently proposed bar-code regulation, ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ALARIS Medical Inc. (AMEX:AMI), held a conference in San Diego on Friday April 25th to explore the various aspects of bar code medication administration.

The FDA regulation was proposed to intercept errors at the dispensing and administration stages of medication delivery to help reduce patient harm in hospitals. Hosted by The ALARIS(R) Center for Medication Safety and Clinical Improvement, the invitation-only meeting gathered top experts and thought leaders in bar coding to discuss the implementation of this new technology and its likely impact.

"We have estimated that 1.25 million adverse drug events (ADEs) occur in hospitals each year, of which about 372,000 (30%) are preventable. The FDA's proposed regulation is designed to enable the health care sector to utilize technological solutions to reduce preventable ADEs associated with medication errors in hospitals," said Steven Tucker, an economist with FDA's Office of Policy, Planning and Legislation.

"The FDA is currently soliciting comments on all aspects of its proposed bar code regulation," he continued. "The open comment period lasts until June 14, 2003, at which point the final regulation may be revised in response to comments, or to reflect additional information that has been developed. Meetings such as this one are therefore critical to the process."

The ALARIS(R) Center conference explored all aspects of implementing a bar coding solution such as framing the opportunity for bar code medication administration, identifying evidence for bar code medication systems, the pharmaceutical industry's response to bar code labeling; the nursing perspective, and exploring human factors in bar code systems. A general summary of the conference findings will be submitted to the FDA for review.

According to Geraldine A. Coyle, RN EdD CNAA, "Communication and administrative assistance, staff buy-in, equipment selection and purchase, training, and ongoing support, are five important elements that are key to a successful bar code solution."

"Although the FDA may require that medications are labeled with bar codes, this alone will not solve the widespread problem of medication administration errors," said Tim Vanderveen, PharmD, MS, Clinical Director, The ALARIS(R) Center for Medication Safety and Clinical Improvement. "In order for bar coding to work, the health care sector should agree

on a standardized linear bar-code label, then individual health care institutions will need to adopt technology to read the bar codes. This will be a challenge for many health care institutions as hospitals have different levels of technology, support, staff and financial resources. The purpose of our conference was to debate and shed some light on these fundamental issues."

The ALARIS(R) Center conference consisted of a series of formal presentations, followed by a round table discussion and a technology presentation. Speakers included experts such as Pamela Cipriano, RN, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer & Chief Nursing Officer, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA; Ray Maddox, PharmD, St. Joseph/Candler Medical Center, Savannah, GA; Wally Mrozik, Director, Special Applications, United Parcel Service (UPS); Emily Patterson, PhD, VA Getting at Patient Safety (GAPS) Center; Eric Poon, MD, Brigham and Womens' Hospital, Boston, MA; Douglas Scheckelhoff, MS, RPh, American Society for Health System Pharmacists (ASHP); Philip Schneider, MS, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Ray Shingler, Spartanburg General, Spartanburg, SC; Nat Sims, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; and Allen Vaida, Executive Director, Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP); Steve Tucker, Economist, FDA's Office of Policy, Planning and Legislation.

About ALARIS Medical Inc.

ALARIS Medical Inc., through its wholly-owned operating company, ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., develops practical solutions for medication safety. The company designs, manufactures and markets intravenous (IV) medication delivery and infusion therapy devices, needle-free disposables and related monitoring equipment in the United States and internationally. ALARIS Medical's proprietary Guardrails(R) Safety Software, its other "smart" technologies and its "smart" services help to reduce the risks and costs of medication errors, help to safeguard patients and clinicians and also gather and record clinical information for review, analysis and transcription. The Company provides its products, professional and technical support and training services to over 5,000 hospital and health care systems, as well as alternative care sites, in more than 120 countries through its direct sales force and distributors. With headquarters in San Diego, ALARIS Medical employs approximately 2,900 people worldwide. Additional information on ALARIS Medical can be found at http://www.alarismed.com.

ALARIS Medical Systems' interest in medication safety includes its joint bar-code solution with McKesson Automation. This product will begin beta testing in late third or early fourth quarter, after the beta sites upgrade to the latest McKesson technology.

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 its proprietary Guardrails(R) Safety Software and the Medley(TM) 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. and ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., including Forms 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, and other filings. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.