Aimed at prospective bariatric patients, the new website is part of Covidien's worldwide effort to increase awareness of the positive outcomes from bariatric surgery on the resolution of Type 2 diabetes. The site is also designed to offer a valuable service to physicians and clinicians by supplementing existing educational information distributed to patients today. "Bariatric surgery is about more than just weight loss," said Scott Flora, President, Surgical Devices, Covidien. "We are committed to clinical research, discoveries and advances that will help surgeons and patients resolve Type 2 diabetes and other medical conditions that often accompany morbid obesity," he added.
Experts agree that Type 2 diabetes is a worldwide epidemic, projected to affect over 350 million people by 2030. According to the American Diabetes Association, the financial impact of diabetes on the U.S. economy in 2007 was $174 billion, including healthcare costs and lost productivity.
Covidien is educating physicians, clinicians and patients about the possibility of resolving Type 2 diabetes via bariatric surgery before the disease has time to exact its toll on the body, which may include blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. Covidien is involved in a variety of public awareness efforts, such as producing and distributing educational materials, exhibiting at medical conferences, including this week's ASMBS, and communicating procedural outcomes to healthcare professionals and prospective patients throughout the world.
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.
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5708080
CONTACT: Surgical Devices
Joel Weinberg, 203-492-5576
Manager – Media Relations
joel.weinberg@covidien.com
or
Coleman Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343
Vice President
Investor Relations
cole.lannum@covidien.com
or
Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372
Vice President
Public Relations
bruce.farmer@covidien.com
or
Wayde McMillan, 508-452-4387
Director
Investor Relations
wayde.mcmillan@covidien.com
SOURCE: Covidien
