NEWS RELEASE
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. (January 30, 2012) – Key Surgical®, a leading supplier of sterile processing and operating room supplies, is launching a year-long program to encourage its employees to adopt new, healthier lifestyles. And if the company’s employees achieve a set level of healthy activities, they can earn a 1% year-end bonus – for simply getting healthier!

The goal of Key Surgical’s Be Healthy 2012 program is to help Key Surgical employees feel better, look better, reduce their stress levels and choose healthier lifestyles. Employees who complete a health screening, a confidential online health assessment, and at least one of four health improvement programs offered and paid for by Key Surgical will earn a 0.5% year-end bonus for 2012. If 80% of the company’s employees complete all three components of the program, each employee who participates will receive an additional 0.5% bonus.

“It pays to be healthy,” said Scot Milchman, CEO and President of Key Surgical, “in more ways than one.” Key Surgical’s Be Healthy 2012 program launches February 1 when Key Surgical employees will be invited to receive a free health screening and take a free, confidential online health assessment offered by HealthPartners®. HealthPartners health assessment is scientifically validated to identify individuals who are at high-risk for developing a diagnosis of diabetes or heart disease within the next 2.5 years. With a better understanding of their current state of health, Key Surgical employees can set goals to lead healthier, less stressful lives.

To help employees reach their goals, Key Surgical is also partnering with HealthPartners to offer well-being solutions including: health coaching, online programs and virtual coaching. Programs address health concerns such as weight management, stress management, and more. Health coaches include registered dietitians, exercise specialists, and tobacco cessation experts.

In addition, Key Surgical is organizing Be Healthy 2012 events each month. Events include health education classes, yoga and kettle ball classes, and participation in walk and run events such as the Mall of America’s annual Diabetes Walk and the Special Olympics 5K walk/run.

“There are two reasons we’re doing this,” said Scot Milchman, CEO and President of Key Surgical. “First, we’re a company involved in the healthcare industry and we truly want our employees to lead healthier lives. Healthier employees means more productive, creative and happier employees.

“Second,” Milchman continued, “our healthcare premiums are rising just like every other company. Healthier employees will help us keep our healthcare premiums in check.”

About Key Surgical
Founded in 1988, Key Surgical specializes in supplying hospitals, surgical ambulatory and outpatient centers with a complete line of sterile processing, operating room and clean room supplies that focus on cleaning, protecting, identifying and packaging of surgical instruments. Dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service, Key Surgical offers more than 2,500 medical products worldwide. The company is committed to manufacturing and distributing the highest quality medical products, and to maintaining all applicable ISO and FDA regulatory requirements.

Media contacts:
Dorothy Nauman
Key Surgical
952.288.2255
dorothy.nauman@keysurgical.com

Stephen Dupont
Pocket Hercules
612.435.8315
stephen@pockethercules.com

NEWS RELEASE
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. (January 17, 2012) – Key Surgical®, a leading supplier of sterile processing and operating room supplies, has donated more than 800,000 faceshields and protective masks to MedShare, an Atlanta-based non-profit that recovers and redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment to developing countries in desperate need of these supplies.

"The faceshields and protective masks provided by Key Surgical are destined for a number of developing countries where they will improve the quality of healthcare available," said Meridith Rentz, CEO and president of MedShare. "We’re grateful to Key Surgical for their partnership in helping us bridge the gap between surplus and need."

The donation by Key Surgical helps address a critical need in many developing countries. The World Health Organization estimates that millions of people in the developing world die because of inadequate medical care.

MedShare collects surplus medical supplies and equipment from hospitals, distributors and manufacturers, and redistributes those supplies to qualified healthcare facilities in the developing world. Since the organization was founded in 1998, over $100 million worth of medical supplies and equipment have been sent on more than 750 shipments to 88 countries around the world, saving countless lives and over 2 million cubic feet of space from U.S. landfills.

"We’re proud to be associated with MedShare," said Brian O’Connell, Chief Operating Officer of Key Surgical. "We believe in their cause and their ability to get our supplies into the hands of those who can do the most good for those in the most need."

About Key Surgical
Founded in 1988, Key Surgical specializes in supplying hospitals, surgical ambulatory and outpatient centers with a complete line of sterile processing, operating room and clean room supplies that focus on cleaning, protecting, identifying and packaging of surgical instruments. Dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service, Key Surgical offers more than 2,500 medical products worldwide. The company is committed to manufacturing and distributing the highest quality medical products, and to maintaining all applicable ISO and FDA regulatory requirements.

Media contacts:
Dorothy Nauman
Key Surgical
952.288.2255
dorothy.nauman@keysurgical.com

Stephen Dupont
Pocket Hercules
612.435.8315
stephen@pockethercules.com

This week's issue of Becker's Operating Room eNewsletter,includes a link to a useful educational poster that outlines the process for correctly putting on and removing Personal Protective Equipment..

Check it out.

Dorothy, Marketing Director
Key Surgical | Sterile Processing, O.R. Supplies, Surgical Instruments

As Christmas approaches, I not only am checking off the final items on my To-Do list, enjoying friends and family, but I am thinking even more about what 2012 means for Key Surgical.

The Joint Commission has published a PDF of the 2012 Hospital National Patient Safety Goals:

1. Identify patients correctly
2. Improve staff communication
3. Use medicines safely
4. Prevent infection
5. Identify patient safety risks
6. Prevent mistakes in surgery

As hospitals and other health care institutions strive to meet these goals, we have numerous products that can help.

NPSG.03.04.01 focuses on labeling of medications. Key Surgical Sterile Labels help with the safe use of medicines.

NPSG7.05.01 focuses on the prevention of infections. Our core focus is to provide quality Sterile Processing products that are needed to assure that surgical instruments are clean and safe for patient use.

UP.01.01.01 covers the pre-procedure verification process.

UP.01.02.01 outlines marking the procedure site. Key Surgical Skin Pens are available to help mark the correct site.

UP.01.03.01 relates to the time-out procedure. Key Surgical has a variety of Time Out Visuals to assist in the process.

A complete outline of the program goals that went into effect July 1, 2011 can be found at jointcommission.org.

As you think about 2012, know that we continue to be committed to being a single-source provider of a broad portfolio of quality products for sterile processing, operating rooms and surgery settings that help with the delivery of safe patient care. We appreciate being your trusted partner and thank you for your business.

Everyone at Key Surgical wishes you a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!

Dorothy, Marketing Director
Key Surgical | Sterile Processing, O.R. Supplies, Surgical Instruments