ORLANDO, May 17, 2004 –Baxter Healthcare Corporation and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) today announced the launch of the    Baxter-AACN Excellence in Patient Safety Award, an award designated to recognize patient-care teams that make significant contributions toward patient and caregiver safety in acute and critical care.  Recipients will be recognized for innovative approaches and processes that improve the safety and quality of care based on evidence-based outcomes. The deadline for award nominations is July 15, 2004.
 
“As part of Baxter’s commitment to a safer health-care environment, we want to recognize the valuable role that patient care teams and clinicians play in ensuring patient safety,” said David Bonderud, president of Baxter’s Medication Delivery business in the United States. “We are proud to partner with AACN in supporting an important new award that recognizes care teams that have been successful in implementing safer healthcare processes and practices.”
 
“AACN is dedicated to creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families,” said AACN President Dorrie K. Fontaine, RN, DNSc FAAN.   “As part of this vision, we recognize the essential role of the team of healthcare providers, including acute and critical care nurses, in achieving optimal outcomes for patients.  This award was established to showcase effective collaboration that successfully impacts the safety and quality of care and represents models for others to follow.”
 
The Baxter-AACN Excellence in Patient Safety Awards will recognize improvements in safety and quality of care accomplished by collaboration within interdisciplinary teams, including nursing, administration, law, medicine, pastoral care, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, social work and others. Team submissions should validate the success of their safety initiative by presenting evidence-based outcomes.  Nominations for the awards will be accepted for unit-based teams, hospital-based teams and health system-based teams. At least one member of the team must be an active member of AACN.
 
Complete information about AACN and the Baxter Healthcare Excellence in Patient Safety Awards is available on the Internet at http://www.aacn.org/ or by calling the AACN National Office at 800-899-2226.
 
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal domestic operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives.
 
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, serving 100,000 nurses. Its international headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, Calif.  Founded in 1969, the association now has more than 240 chapters worldwide and is working toward a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families, where critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.