Press Release

New Smoking Cessation Program Battles Rising Healthcare Costs

SIMSBURY, Conn. - Feb. 9, 2001 -- Cardium Health Services has launched EndEver, a new smoking cessation program, to combat skyrocketing medical and disability costs associated with smoking. In combination with Pro-Fitness/HealthSouth and a major self-insured employer in the Northeast, Cardium is working to help employees become and remain tobacco-free.

Every year in the U.S., smoking-related illnesses costs insurers and employers over $100 billion on direct medical costs, disability claims, and productivity losses. By helping people to stop smoking, the 12-month EndEver program delivers substantial economic benefits to its corporate clients. "An employer spends $1,300 more each year for an employee who smokes than for a non-smoker," said Charleen Ernst, president and CEO of Cardium. "With a demonstrated 40 percent quit rate, our EndEver program delivers a real ROI to our clients."

Combining nicotine-replacement therapy with one-on-one telephone counseling, EndEver originated as part of Cardium's comprehensive coronary artery disease (CAD) management program. The program's extraordinary success rate among CAD patients prompted Cardium to offer it on a stand-alone basis to other high-risk employees as EndEver.

"Health promotion professionals are challenged to provide program parity across geographically dispersed corporate populations," said Tom Sabia, CEO of Pro-Fitness/HealthSouth, an organization that provides employers with primary prevention for employees and dependents through wellness, fitness, and occupational health programs. "We recognize that technology provides an exciting opportunity to reach many widely separated people simultaneously; however, we also value human touch as an integral part of program delivery. We here at Pro-Fitness/HealthSouth see Cardium's program as a nearly perfect blend of high-tech and high-touch."

Cardium, a privately held national cardiovascular disease management organization, partners with self-insured employers and managed care organizations. Cardium is based in Simsbury, Conn. and has field offices in Boston and Atlanta. Supported by the DM TrackSM disease management software system, Cardium employs a team of highly trained specialists to enhance patient health while assisting managed care organizations and employers to create predictable savings. To learn more about Cardium's services, please visit their website at http://www.cardiumhealth.com.

Contact:

Mark Fulco
Cardium Health Services
Tel: 860.408.1300
Email: mfulco@cardiumhealth.com