News

BIRMINGHAM (Feb. 18, 2010) - Birmingham-based IMS, a surgical instrument management and consulting company, will brighten the days of patients at Children's Hospital with a donation of two new Game Dawgtm video game cart systems. The formal presentation was made today in the main lobby of the hospital.

The Game Dawg system was designed by IMS technicians and is equipped with PlayStation® 3 systems loaded with kid-friendly video games. Two carts are already in use at Children's on the Burn Unit and Special Care Unit. The two additional carts will be used by patients in the Renal Care Center and 7 Northwest while IMS is building additional Game Dawgs for four other patient care areas. In all, IMS is donating eight Game Dawgs to the hospital.

"Providing playtime and therapeutic opportunities is an important part of our team approach to the care we provide our young patients," said Cayleigh Cummings, Child Life Special Events Coordinator. "The game systems will give our patients who are confined to their beds a pleasant diversion from the rigors of their hospital stay as well as the chance to play the same games their friends back home are playing. We are grateful to our friends at IMS for thinking of our boys and girls, and for the generosity they have shown in this wonderful gift."

The Game Dawg is the brainchild of IMS CEO Gene Robinson who, while visiting a hospitalized family member, saw first-hand the role entertainment and activity can play in the healing process. He then engaged his technical staff in designing and building the Game Dawg. Each colorfully-decorated, wheeled cart houses the game system and can be easily transported between patient rooms. Equipped with wireless controls, they are specially designed for youngsters who are confined to bed. The Game Dawgs also play movie DVDs.

"In developing the Game Dawg, our goal was to get the children's minds off their medical problems," Robinson said.

About IMS
IMS employs nearly 650 employees nationwide in clinical, technical engineering, administrative and sales roles, including 269 employees in the Birmingham area. IMS is a surgical instrument management and consulting company offering management and repair of surgical instruments and devices,
real time management data and tools, and consulting and implementation in the surgical suite and sterile processing department. More than 2,500 healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. partner with IMS. Headquartered in Birmingham, IMS has repair facilities in Florida, Alabama and Arizona. For more information, visit www.imsready.com.

About the Children's Hospital of Alabama
The Children's Hospital of Alabama is the 10th busiest pediatric medical center in the United States. Located in Birmingham, Children's is one of only about 45 freestanding acute care hospitals of its kind in the nation and the only hospital in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. It is licensed for 275 beds. Children's is a private, not-for-profit hospital governed by a volunteer board of trustees. The hospital was recently recognized for the excellence of its nursing care by achieving Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Children's will celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2011. For more information, visit www.chsys.org.


                                                                ###

Contact: Kathy Bowers, 205/939-9002 (Kathy.bowers@chsys.org)