Web-Based Portal Provides Advertisers Access to 25,000 Pharmacy Locations

BURTONSVILLE, Md., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifeclinic International, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of freestanding, automated, blood pressure monitors, today announced the introduction of a pilot program for a Web-based ad-building engine that for the first time allows community wellness providers to advertise their services in tens of thousands of neighborhood pharmacies where Lifeclinic monitors are installed. The advertising is printed full-color ad panels and 'take-one' cards mounted on the machines.

LifeclinicLocal.com has been created as the automated on-line system to build a local advertising campaign including the customization of ad template designs, store selections and duration of the ad schedule. It is a completely interactive platform that takes the advertiser all the way thru the process.

Aajay Shah, M.D., FACC, a member of the American College of Cardiology, has become the first advertiser to make use of the new service. Dr. Shah is a prominent Cardiologist with a large practice in the Lansing, Michigan area. His ad campaign will be seen in 44 Lansing-area pharmacies on the Lifeclinic monitors starting in July. The initial program is for three months with an expansion of the number of stores and the schedule being planned. Chains with pharmacies in which the ads will appear are: Kmart, Kroger, Meijer, Rite Aid, Walmart and Walmart Supercenters.

Eighteen different specialties have been targeted for Lifeclinic local advertising on the monitors including Ambulance Services, Dental, Medical, Optometry, Massage Therapy and Psychotherapy. These are typically the local wellness providers who rely on the neighborhood pharmacies to fill the prescriptions for their patients; therefore, a strong community connection exists between the wellness providers and the pharmacies.

Dr. Shah has a strong commitment to prevention and he has recognized the Lifeclinic blood pressure monitors placed in pharmacies as an ideal way to detect hypertension and those that are at risk. His messages will be about the importance of taking your blood pressure on a regular basis and 'knowing your numbers' – a reference to the fact that high blood pressure often does its damage without creating symptoms.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Shah and his Mid-Michigan Heart Group as the first advertiser to be able to utilize our local communications service," said Lon G. von Hurwitz, Executive Vice President of Business Development for Lifeclinic International. "We have designed LifeclinicLocal.com to create this outlet for local wellness providers to promote their services to their communities. Only certain wellness provider categories have been authorized by our retail pharmacy partners to insure that the messages on the Lifeclinic monitors are entirely relevant to the viewer."

"For a local practitioner, this provides an ideal platform to connect with the community," commented Dr. Shah. "With our sponsorship of the Lifeclinic machines, we can accomplish both a new presence and profile for our practice while at the same time helping to underwrite the free use of a very valuable and lifesaving service. I intend to tell other Cardiologists and Physicians about this innovative new way to build a relationship with patients and the community."

About Lifeclinic International

Lifeclinic International is the world's leading supplier of freestanding, automated, vital signs monitoring equipment designed to improve an individual's health and productivity while reducing healthcare costs. Established in 1976 as Vita-Stat Medical Services, Inc., Lifeclinic now has more than 35,000 systems installed worldwide. Lifeclinic monitoring stations can be found in more than 25,000 pharmacies and over 4,000 corporate, hospital and government locations throughout the United States, and are used more than 300 million times each year. Among the chains with Lifeclinic monitors are CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Stop & Shop, Winn-Dixie, Publix, Kmart, Walmart, and Sam's Club. For more information about Lifeclinic visit www.lifeclinic.com.

About Aajay Shah, M.D., FACC

Aajay Shah, M.D., FACC obtained his medical degree from Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College in 1987. He completed his transitional residency at MacNeal Hospital in 1989 and received his Board Certification in Internal Medicine at Sinai Hospital in 1992. He collected awards for contributing to education and for best resident. In 1995, he completed his cardiology fellowship at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine. His professional society memberships include the American College of Cardiology, the American Medical Association, and Michigan Medical Society. He is currently on staff at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Dr. Shah has comprehensive experience in all aspects of cardiology and an avid commitment to prevention. His Mid-Michigan Heart Group is based at 2134 Hampton Place in the Hampton Office Park in Okemos, Michigan. For more information visit http://aajayshahmd.blogspot.com/

SOURCE Lifeclinic International, Inc.