Rosica :: Online+Traditional Public Relations & Marketing

Watertown, Massachusetts – (November 29, 2010) The Exergen Corporation has introduced The Virtual Classroom, a modern technological approach to training nursing and hospital staff on the clinical science and proper use of temporal artery thermometry. The Virtual Classroom is a computerized educational demonstration with avatars substituted for real people depicting familiar scenarios for clinicians.

 Comprehensive training for new technology can carry a substantial cost for healthcare facilities, particularly with something like thermometry, a key instrument used by millions of caregivers from MD’s to RN’s to PCA’s. Training videos, written educational materials and personal inservicing often fail to capture the attention of those being trained and may require expensive follow-up. There is also a substantial cost for hospitals to maintain competency levels on all equipment used in patient care. “Everyone is captivated by the avatars we use in our Virtual Classroom, which means they pay better attention to the training,” said Dr. Frank Pompei, CEO, Exergen Corporation.

“People tend to get bored with traditional training methods and retain less information, which means they need frequent and expensive follow-up.” In a trial of the technology, 1,000 nurses and PCA’s were trained for temporal artery thermometry (TAT) by viewing the Virtual Classroom on a large projection screen. One-hundred percent of the attendees passed the subsequent written competency exam, and 99.9 percent passed the product usage demonstration on the first try. In contrast, the initial pass rates on personal inservicing could run as low as 50 percent. The Exergen Virtual Classroom can also be easily updated to include new training, products and methods. A flash version is available at www.exergen.com/virtualclassroom and high resolution CD’s can be requested by emailing medical@exergen.com.

Exergen Corporation is recognized worldwide as an innovator and leading manufacturer of non-invasive thermometry systems for industry and medicine for both professionals and consumers. The TemporalScanner™ has produced an estimated $100 million in direct cost savings and 10,000 tons of waste reduction in the last few years for healthcare institutions. Further, a recent independent study reported that TAT also saves 87 percent of nursing time used for taking temperature. With more than 30 published studies attesting to its accuracy across all ages and clinical settings, it has become the standard for thermometry in thousands of healthcare facilities. For additional information, visit www.exergen.com.

CoverMate® has converted to sustainable packaging for its Stretch-to-Fit Food Cover product line. The new stand-up pouch is made from recyclable plastic and reduces packaging source materials by 75 percent.  Consumers can also reuse the pouch for other storage needs  before recycling it. In market testing consumers preferred the new pouch by a seven-to-one margin over the conventional cardboard box noting it was easier to use, saves space and fits easily inside kitchen drawers.

“We’ve noticed more shoppers have become eco-conscious in their purchasing decisions so we wanted to provide a new package that was earth-friendly and more convenient,” said Claus Sadlier, President of CoverMate.  “We’re excited to be the first in the foil and wrap category to offer a product in this type of green packaging.”  

CoverMate’s new pouch stands out on crowded retail shelves and uses the same UPC, case-pack and shelf foot print as the existing box for easy transition. The new pouch started rolling out in October 2010.

The new CoverMate Variety Pack contains a selection of stretch-to-fit food covers in four sizes, ideal for covering everything in the kitchen from small cans and food storage containers, to casserole dishes and large party platters. Manufactured in the U.S., the covers include a patent pending FlexBand, which is now color coded to differentiate each size. The FlexBand creates a secure seal over any size or shape container even after repeated use. Other patent pending features include built-in corners to fit both round and square dishware and vents that allow steam to escape during microwave re-heating.

CoverMate Food Covers, which are manufactured and marketed by CoverMate, Inc., are available at over 10,000 retail stores nationwide such as Target, Kroger and Publix.  Suggested retail price for the CoverMate Variety 10-pack is $3.99.  For more information, visit www.CoverMateCovers.com or call 201-843-5600.

You see it every day: people wearing their pajama pants out in public. Secretly, we all want to do this, because hey, let’s face it – no one really wants to go through the process of getting all dressed up just to run a simple errand. Introducing PajamaJeans™, the last pair of jeans you’ll ever want or need to own. Created with the everyday woman in mind, PajamaJeans offer the look of your favorite boot-cut, dark wash denims that hug your curves in all the right places. But the secret is on the inside, because PajamaJeans offer the luxurious feel of your favorite “pj’s.”

Great for travel or everyday wear, PajamaJeans are made from an innovative denim fabric called DormiSoft™, a patented, proprietary blend of cotton and spandex that’s super soft and stretchy to fit any size or figure from petite to plus sizes. The inside of the pants are a brushed fabric that literally feels as warm and cozy as a baby’s blanket. Plus, this unique fabric resists wrinkling, so they are ideal for traveling.

PajamaJeans look like designer boot-cut jeans, featuring brass rivets, European styling, mock fly, high-contrast stitching, five pockets and a chic dark wash. But unlike regular jeans, which can be tight and constricting, there are no difficult zippers or awkward buttons. PajamaJeans won’t dig into your hips, stomach or sides, or leave painful marks after sitting. You just slip them on and, thanks to DormiSoft™, they provide great structure and shape with an unrivaled level of comfort – the best of both worlds.

“Whether it’s running errands, walking the kids to the school bus or having lunch with friends, PajamaJeans give you permission to look great and feel comfortable at the same time,” says Steve Heroux, president of Hampton Direct, Inc., marketers of PajamaJeans. PajamaJeans™ offer a sexy designer look that anyone can wear, and are available in eight sizes ranging from XS to 3XL. They retail for $39.95 (plus shipping and handling) and have a 30-day money back guarantee. You can order them at www.pajamajeans.com or by calling 1-866-347-9047.

The ‘Jersey Doesn’t Stink’ campaign understandably aims to improve the image of our state, which many residents feel is a well-kept secret offering abundant activities and opportunities. But the negative and defensive slogan undercuts the campaign’s intention and will wind up making the state the punch line of even more bad jokes.

As a 30-year-old public relations firm founded and active in the beautiful Garden State, we believe the campaign is counterproductive. By associating stink with the state, the campaign slogan unwittingly perpetuates an unpleasant—and erroneous—stereotype. It’s a sad fact that some misinformed people have a negative opinion of New Jersey, but this campaign does little to educate them. It fails to capture everything that makes New Jersey a wonderful place to live and visit: its beaches, parks, farms, gardens and the rich cultural diversity of the residents. Jersey is the most densely populated state yet we still have lush open space as many first-time tourists delightfully discover.

Another negative campaign—“Just Say No to Drugs”—from the 1980s had no lasting impact on our country’s efforts to combat our country’s epidemic of drug abuse. Today not only are drugs and drug use more prevalent, but violence in Mexico and the United States has escalated alarmingly.
What really does stink about New Jersey is the number of politicians who are indicted or in jail. This, we believe, is a sign of the times considering the national average of crooked politicos. And it is definitely something the Governor went far in correcting when he was the federal U.S. Attorney for the New Jersey District.

But the positives about New Jersey far outweigh the negative aspects. We need a positive slogan so we urge our fellow New Jersey residents to share your creative ideas for telling everyone why our state is so great.

Christopher Rosica is CEO of Paramus-NJ based Rosica Strategic Public Relations. John Rosica founded the firm in 1980.

Watertown, Massachusetts – (July 26, 2010) The Exergen temporal artery thermometer outsells all other brands at retailers nationwide that stock the Exergen TemporalScanner™, according to data compiled by leading market research firms. In comparing sales of all types of thermometers, including national brands and private label products, Nielsen and Information Resources Inc. (IRI) found Exergen came out on top. Exergen’s retail unit sales rose an average of about 63 percent more than competing thermometers over the 12 months under review, which ended April 17, 2010, the data indicated.

“Consumers clearly have embraced the use of temporal artery thermometry as a reliable method to measure temperature,” said Marybeth Pompei, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Scientist, “The TemporalScanner is simple to use and doesn’t cause the discomfort that more invasive types of thermometers can cause. Parents caring for sick children—or anyone who needs to get an accurate temperature reading quickly—appreciate how easy it is to use the TemporalScanner instead of rectal, ear or oral thermometers.”

Retailers that sell Exergen’s thermometer account for roughly 80% of the market. TemporalScanners are sold in Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Babies R Us and Toys R Us as well as in warehouse club stores including Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Temperature taking is usually the first response when illness is suspected and it is the starting point of any basic health assessment. A quick stroke across the forehead is all that’s needed to obtain a reading with the TemporalScanner, which employs a patented arterial heat balance system that adjusts for the effects of the ambient and skin temperatures to produce a medically accurate body temperature.

“We developed this technology in response to the need for an accurate and noninvasive method of thermometry that was suitable for all ages,” said Dr. Francesco Pompei, CEO of Exergen Corporation. “Exergen’s TemporalScanner, with more than 30 published studies attesting to its accuracy across all ages and clinical settings, has become the standard for thermometry in thousands of healthcare facilities. The latest retail findings confirm our thermometer now has become most popular among consumers for home use.”

Exergen Corporation is recognized worldwide as an innovator and leading manufacturer of patented infrared thermometers, scanners, sensors and controls. Its products are used in a wide variety of industrial and medical applications for both professionals and consumers. For additional information, visit www.exergen.com.