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CareFusion Corporation Launches International Jazz Festival Series

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 July 2009, 12:00 CDT

NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CareFusion Corporation, the company that will become public following the planned spinoff of Cardinal Health's clinical and medical products businesses, today announced the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series at an event held in New York.

CareFusion created the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series to support the launch of its new brand and recognize individuals and organizations working to improve patient care. The new medical technology company combines its proven technologies with information to help measurably improve the delivery of care.

The Series comprises some of the largest and oldest jazz festivals in the world, attracting both big-name and up-and-coming artists.

"There is a clear connection between jazz and medicine that provides the perfect opportunity to launch our new brand, raise funds for and awareness of patient safety and help support and preserve the arts," said David Schlotterbeck, CEO of CareFusion. "Both jazz and the practice of medicine embrace innovation, performance and change. Jazz has also been used to teach listening skills to medical students and resonates with our customers. In addition, the musicians playing at these festivals are the best and the brightest - a great fit for our company whose products are recognized as leaders in our industry."

George Wein, world-famous jazz impresario and founder of the Newport Jazz Festival said, "This is a critical time to invest in the arts. CareFusion is re-igniting a 34-year tradition in New York City and supporting cultural institutions around the world."

The CareFusion Jazz Festival Series will open in Newport, R.I. The kickoff event will be George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55, the oldest of the festivals and the one that has set the tradition for jazz festivals as they are known today. The full schedule includes:

• George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55 (Newport, R.I.), Aug. 7 - 9, 2009
• Chicago Jazz Festival presented by CareFusion, Sept. 4 - 6, 2009
• CareFusion Presents Dizzy's Den at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Sept. 18 - 20, 2009
• CareFusion Manly Jazz Festival (Australia), Oct. 3 - 5, 2009
• CareFusion Jazz Festival Paris, Oct. 16 - 24, 2009
• CareFusion New York Jazz Festival, June 2010 (exact dates to be determined)

As part of the Festival Series, CareFusion will broadcast live to hospitals the performances of select festival artists. Caregivers and administrators from hospitals across the United States, Europe and Australia will also be invited to special VIP events at the festivals to raise funds and awareness for a new health care safety campaign named Rhythm of Care.

Rhythm of Care will bring together organizations and people from health care to promote best practices and honor safety leaders working to improve how care is delivered worldwide.

Medication errors and hospital-acquired infections are two of the biggest challenges facing the medical industry. Reports cite the annual cost of medication errors to be $3.5 billion in the U.S. and $3 billion per year in top five European countries. In addition, there are an estimated 7 million hospital-acquired infections worldwide annually, costing as much as $20 billion per year in the U.S alone.

"Building a safer and more efficient approach to health care is a top priority for everyone - hospitals, caregivers, patients and government," said Schlotterbeck. "That is why CareFusion plans to partner with nonprofit safety organizations to create Rhythm of Care. We want to honor individuals in health care that are pioneering new ways to improve safety and share their ideas with others."

About CareFusion Corporation

CareFusion Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH), is expected to become a public company from the planned spinoff of Cardinal Health's clinical and medical products businesses. The global company serves the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve the safety and quality of health care. CareFusion develops market-leading technologies including Alaris(R) IV pumps, Pyxis(R) automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA and Pulmonetic Systems ventilation and respiratory products, ChloraPrep(R) and MedMined(TM) services for infection prevention, neurological monitoring and diagnostic products, V. Mueller(R) surgical instruments, and an extensive line of products that support interventional medicine.

CareFusion employs more than 15,000 people across its global operations. The company has applied to have its shares of common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CFN." More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.

About George Wein

Jazz Impresario and NEA Jazz Master George Wein is considered to be as much a legend as his festivals. Through his company, Festival Productions, he has spearheaded hundreds of music events annually since 1954 when he produced the first Newport Jazz Festival - an event that started the "festival era," according to jazz critic Leonard Feather. At 83, Wein has as much creative fuel as he did when he started that festival and advanced the concept of live music. He pioneered the concept of sponsor association with music events and continues that tradition with CareFusion. Honors and awards have been bestowed upon him by AARP, Studio Museum of Harlem, Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, the Government of France and other organizations around the world. Wein's autobiography, Myself Among Others: A Life in Music, which chronicles his life in jazz, was recognized by the Jazz Journalists Association as 2004's best book about jazz. He has also been named 2009's Events Producer of the Year. In addition to his life in jazz, Wein has a long history of involvement with philanthropy and the arts.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements addressing the planned spinoff of Cardinal Health's clinical and medical products businesses as a separate company named CareFusion Corporation, which is dependent upon future events or developments. These matters are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events (including the planned spinoff) and results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. These risks and uncertainties include uncertainties regarding the planned spinoff of CareFusion, including the timing and terms of any such spinoff and whether such spinoff will be completed as it is subject to a number of conditions. In addition, Cardinal Health and CareFusion are subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in CareFusion's Form 10, as amended, and Cardinal Health's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) and exhibits to those reports. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Cardinal Health and CareFusion undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

SOURCE CareFusion Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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