International Expansion Underway with Signing of Basque Country Office for Health Technology Assessment, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, and Helsana

Lansdale, PA—February 3, 2009— Hayes, Inc. today announced that it has been selected to provide evidence-based health technology assessments to three major international healthcare concerns.

The Ministry of Health in Basque Country, an autonomous community in the Kingdom of Spain, has selected Hayes to support evidence based decisions on new health technologies. The Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment will utilize Hayes research to support its drive to improve patient care and outcomes, and to make evidence-based decisions about new healthcare technology purchases.

In commenting on the decision, Dr. Iñaki Gutiérrez Ibarluzea of the Basque Ministry of Health, said, “Last year, a funded project of the Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment found that there are differences between the efficiency of the information sources to be consulted when trying to identify new and emerging health technologies. Hayes was consistently among the top information sources for technologies such as devices, diagnostics, drugs, public health interventions and procedures and accordingly we chose Hayes as a valuable tool in our daily work as a Health Technology Assessment agency.”

In addition, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE) in Sao Paolo, Brazil has selected Hayes to support its decision-making process for the acquisition of new health technologies. As the first hospital outside the U.S. to be accredited by the Joint Commission International, HIAE has a commitment to quality that has led to a 97% patient satisfaction rating, the highest of more than 100 international hospitals surveyed.

Camila Sardenberg, MD, Medical Practice Manager of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, says, “Evaluating new health technologies is a core process to reach our goal: to promote continuous improvement in medical practice, by establishing evidence-based standards centered in patient safety. That is why we choose Hayes. They offer a broad, unbiased and sophisticated analysis on emerging health technologies that fulfills all our needs.”

Helsana, Switzerland’s leading health insurer with close to 2 million lives covered has subscribed to Hayes Technology Prognosis, a horizon-scanning service that provides hospitals, insurers, and policy makers with a forward-looking view of the changing health technology landscape. Helsana will use Prognosis information to stay abreast of emerging healthcare technologies and to create actuarial models for calculation of future healthcare costs.

Dr. Beat Seiler, Chief Medical Officer of Helsana said “As Switzerland’s leading health insurer, Helsana knows that timely and sound information about technological innovation and novel medication is vital. Hayes Prognosis will be an important tool for Helsana’s Medical Officers because it delivers unbiased, evidence-based support for claims inquiries and negotiations to extend coverage. We are confident that Hayes provides us access to impartial background information and competent appraisals.”

Winifred Hayes, PhD, president and CEO of Hayes, added, “Our recent international successes demonstrate that evidence-based health technology assessment continues to gain traction in helping healthcare payers and providers make better use of medical advancements in patient care. In today’s tough economic climate, the entire healthcare sector is more closely scrutinizing the use of new medical technology. New technologies must deliver real improvements in patient care and be cost-effective compared with current care. We commend the Basque Ministry of Health, HIAE, and Helsana for their proactive inclusion of clinical evidence in their technology evaluation processes, and we welcome these leading international healthcare organizations to the Hayes family.”

About Hayes, Inc.

Hayes, Inc. is an independent health technology research and consulting company dedicated to promoting better health outcomes. Hayes performs unbiased, evidence-based assessments of the safety and efficacy of new, emerging, and controversial health technologies and evaluates the impact of these technologies on healthcare quality, utilization, and cost. Hayes’ worldwide clients include hospitals, healthcare systems, managed care organizations, government agencies and employers.

Hayes products and services include:

• A dynamic, web-based Knowledge Center designed to support professionals who are responsible for strategic planning, technology acquisition, and policy development
• Consulting services that enhance strategic technology planning and support evidence-based technology acquisition so that hospitals can anticipate and prepare for the financial, clinical, and operational impact of new technologies prior to their adoption
• Customized services that help payers develop and update coverage policies as well as create clinical guidelines
• Employee benefit programs that help patients make well-informed decisions about healthcare options

Company Contact:
Karen Matthias
Hayes, Inc.
215-855-0615 ext. 7918