EATONTOWN, N.J., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QMed, Inc. today announced that the American Heart Association recently honored HeartLine Plus at the Heart and Stroke Heroes Awards ceremony in Sioux Falls, SD, for its sponsorship of CPR Anytime, a self-directed CPR training kit.
The Heart and Stroke Heroes awards were developed to honor local heroes who have saved someone's life using an AED or CPR; inspired others with their personal stories; taken steps to improve the chain of survival for heart attack or stroke; supported initiatives to improve the cardiovascular health of a community or brought about environmental change to create heart-safe and stroke-safe communities.
QMed, through DAKOTACARE's HeartLine Plus plan, chose to sponsor the CPR program because it specifically wants to reach South Dakotans who have heart and stroke conditions and are at highest risk of having cardiac incidents.
"We want to make sure that seniors -- the population most at risk -- and the people most often around them are educated on how to use CPR," said Jack Rohfritch, president of QMedCare, Inc. "We plan to work with members of the American Heart Association's Mended Hearts group and their families to help them more effectively live with heart disease."
Under the direction of QMed, HeartLine Plus staff members will be arranging CPR Anytime demonstrations at targeted sites throughout the state and will also join with the South Dakota chapter of the American Heart Association in participating at health fairs to promote HeartLine Plus and CPR Anytime.
CPR Anytime kits are for people who don't need a course completion card to satisfy a work requirement and who most likely would never attend a traditional CPR course. Persons wanting more information about obtaining a CPR Anytime for Family and Friends kit can visit the American Heart Association website at http://www.americanheart.org. South Dakota healthcare professionals and those involved with senior groups can contact the HeartLine Plus care coordinators at 1-866-437-3288 for more information about the CPR Anytime kits.
About QMed, Inc.
QMed provides evidence-based clinical information management systems around the country to its health plan customers. The system incorporates Disease Management services to patients and decision support to physicians. The Company's QMedCare subsidiary specializes in serving high-risk populations of Medicare beneficiaries. Forward Health is QMed's subsidiary offering weight, obesity and health promotion programs. The Company also operates a Medicare Demonstration to test the feasibility of reimbursing its care coordinated DM services in the vast Medicare fee-for-service program. More information on QMed, Inc. can be obtained at http://www.qmedinc.com, by calling (732) 544-5544 or by emailing investor@qmedinc.com.
About DAKOTACARE
DAKOTACARE is South Dakota's largest and only statewide health maintenance organization, serving over 100,000 members. DAKOTACARE added HeartLine Plus to its coverage plan in 2005. As one of only three Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan nationwide, HeartLine Plus is designed to assist Medicare-eligible residents of South Dakota who have one of the following conditions: coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF) or a previous stroke.
QMed, Inc.CONTACT: Robert Mosby, QMed, Inc., +1-732-544-5544, ext. 1107
