Wake Health Services and Covidien Partner to Honor US Representative David Price
Posted: 08-12-2008 : RALEIGH, N.C.

RALEIGH, NC – Wake Health Services, Inc. will honor U.S. Representative David Price (D-NC) on Tuesday, August 12, from 11:00AM to 12:00PM at Southern Wake Family Medicine, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina. The event is backed by Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company that employs over 450 people in the Raleigh area.

The presentation will recognize Representative Price's commitment to improving access to healthcare. Marking National Health Center Week 2008, the event will also feature information on health programs offered at Southern Wake Family Medicine, a child immunization drive, and an opportunity for Representative Price to tour the facility's medical practice and communicate with community stakeholders.

"Wake Health Services cares for more than 25,000 patients a year at seven sites," said Chief Executive Officer Penny Washington. "We are honored to have Representative Price visit today and see how health centers and local companies like Covidien come together to meet a vital need in the health of our communities."

This marks the second year that Covidien and the National Association of Community Health Centers have partnered to provide affordable, quality health care to underserved citizens.

"National Health Center Week provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role health centers play in their communities. Covidien is proud to partner with a strong local institution in this effort to raise awareness of health issues," said Teresa Hacunda, Covidien's Director of Civic Affairs. “As a global healthcare products company with local roots, Covidien is proud to be working with organizations like Wake Health Services that are also fully committed to expanding access to affordable health care."

Nationwide, health centers serve 17 million people (including 925,000 farm workers and nearly 940,000 homeless people) in 6,000 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

ABOUT WAKE HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
Established in 1972, Wake Health Services is a private, not-for-profit Community Health Center providing quality primary health care services for the medically underserved in Wake and surrounding counties. The center cares for more than 25,000 patients a year at seven sites: Apex Family Medicine, Horizon Health Center, New Bern Ridge Pediatrics & Family Dental Center, Rock Quarry Road Family Medicine, South Wilmington Outreach Center, Southern Wake Family Medicine, and Franklin Community Health Services. Wake Health Services provides comprehensive primary care, lab services, dental care, diabetes education, access to medications, health care for the homeless, and Medicaid eligibility assistance. For more information visit www.whsi.org.

ABOUT COVIDIEN
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in four segments: Medical Devices, Imaging Solutions, Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Supplies. With 2007 revenue of nearly $9 billion, Covidien has more than 42,000 employees worldwide in 57 countries, and its products are sold in over 130 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business