News Release

BAXTER UNVEILS THREE NEW INTERNET-BASED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON SAFETY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

DEERFIELD, Ill., April 4, 2002 -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation today unveiled three new Internet-based continuing education programs to support clinicians in enhancing care and reducing the risk of clinical errors. The three programs are Selection of Parenteral Nutrition Compounding Methods: Safety and Efficiency Considerations, Safety and Efficacy in Needleless IV Access, and Safety In The Preparation and Use Of Flush Syringes.

These programs were developed to support clinician education related to reducing the risk of medication errors and enhancing safety in patient care. A 1999 Institute of Medicine report, "To Err Is Human," cited that up to 7,000 deaths each year are caused by medication errors. This led to increased awareness of the problem of patient safety in the U.S. health system.

Baxter's nutrition compounding program is designed to teach clinicians about the different methods available for compounding parenteral nutrition, factors to consider in selecting a compounding method, and standards of practice available for review to assist in maximizing safety of parenteral nutrition compounding. The needleless IV access program reviews the background and reasons for using needleless IV delivery systems, including current technologies available. The flush syringe program helps clinicians understand the various methods for using flush syringes to maintain the patency of intravenous lines and ports. The program reviews clinical advantages, as well as the potential complications and adverse events that can occur during the flush process.

"Baxter is dedicated to patient safety," said Dr. John Wesley, vice president and medical director, Baxter's Medication Delivery business. "These education programs will help clinicians increase their knowledge and awareness, and ultimately help in the reduction of medication errors."

Wesley added, "Program participants enjoy a variety of benefits. Self-paced learning and 24-hour website access allows clinicians to conveniently set their own learning schedule. The cost of meeting travel is eliminated and time away from their practice is minimized."

The programs are interactive, with on-line post testing and immediate transmission of results. Upon successful completion, a certificate of completion is transmitted to the participant and a hard copy may be printed for easy record keeping. The certificate of completion supports individual re-licensure and may help meet Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) competency requirements for nursing and pharmacy staff.

Since the launch of Baxter's first on-line continuing education programs in 1999, more than 30,000 continuing education credits have been awarded to pharmacists, nurses and dietitians in the United States. The website attracts more than 10,000 hits per month. Successful completion of each program will provide nurses and pharmacists with a minimum of 1.0 contact hour of continuing education home-study credit. These programs are offered free of charge to all clinicians with access to the Internet (at www.baxter.com/ce-program).

Baxter offers 21 accredited on-line educational programs covering a wide range of topics, such as IV Therapy, Pain Management, Parenteral Nutrition, Chemotherapy, Blood Transfusions and Hemophilia. The courses are nationally accredited by the American College of Pharmaceutical Education and the American Nurses Credentialing Center through the Illinois Council on Health Systems Pharmacists and the Illinois Nurses Association.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal domestic operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter is a global medical products and services company that, through its subsidiaries, provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Baxter's products and services in the areas of bioscience (including biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, biosurgery products and transfusion therapies), medication delivery and renal therapy are used by health-care providers and their patients in more than 100 countries.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

	Media Contact: George Rafeedie, 847-948-3675 Investor Contacts: Neville Jeharajah, 847-948-2875 Mary Kay Ladone, 847-948-3371