Hill-Rom and GE Reach Settlement in Patent Infringement Lawsuit

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hill-Rom (NYSE: HRC) and GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that they have resolved Hill-Rom's patent infringement lawsuit against GE, involving Hill-Rom's hand hygiene technology.  Hill-Rom has agreed to license its hand hygiene patents to GE, and GE no longer contests that Hill-Rom's patents are valid and enforceable.

"We're pleased to reach this settlement, which recognizes the value of the innovation at the heart of the Hill-Rom® Hand Hygiene Solution," said Alton Shader, Senior Vice President and President North America, Hill-Rom. "Protecting our intellectual property is a vital part of our product development process, which allows us to develop new technologies that enhance outcomes for patients and their caregivers."

The Hill-Rom Hand Hygiene Compliance Solution system uses badge locating technology that offers automatic, continuous monitoring of hand-hygiene station use, to help address health care-acquired infections associated with over 75,000 deaths a year in the United States alone.  Alerts are sent to caregivers to gently remind them of missed hand-hygiene opportunities.  Once installed, the system can automate the clinical environment to drive productivity and safety, and benefit the patient environment. The system can also be leveraged beyond hygiene monitoring for other applications, including staff locating, asset tracking, environmental monitoring and other process automation applications.

About Hill-Rom
Hill-Rom is a leading global medical technology company with more than 7,000 employees in over 100 countries. We partner with health care providers by focusing on patient care solutions that improve clinical and economic outcomes in five core areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Clinical Workflow, Surgical Safety and Efficiency and Respiratory Health. Around the world, Hill-Rom's people, products, and programs work towards one mission: Enhancing outcomes for patients and their caregivers.

www.hill-rom.com

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SOURCE Hill-Rom