SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2006 — Given the rise of chronic conditions and the rapid aging of the population, the methods of managing health will need to shift from traditional institutional settings to peoples’ everyday environments, including the home. To enable this shift, a group of technology, healthcare and fitness companies have formed the Continua* Health Alliance, an open industry group that will establish an ecosystem of connected personal health and fitness products and services, making it possible for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers to more proactively address ongoing healthcare needs.

Founding members of the group include BodyMedia*, Cisco Systems*, GE Healthcare*, IBM*, Intel Corporation, Kaiser Permanente*, Medtronic*, Motorola*, Nonin*, Omron Healthcare*, Panasonic* (Matsushita Electric*), Partners HealthCare*, Polar Electro*, Royal Philips Electronics*, RMD Networks*, Samsung Electronics*, Sharp*, The Tunstall Group*, Welch Allyn* and Zensys*.