Weekly news source for the Heartstream and CPD merger
May 4, 1998 Volume 1, Number 3
TRANSITION NEWSLETTER
(1) “Seal of Approval” from American Heart Association
(2) Payroll problems are being resolved
(3) What is the “HP Way”?
(4) Good Morning America features ForeRunner
(5) Facilities and stationery update
(1) “SEAL OF APPROVAL” FROM AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The American Heart Association (AHA) has determined that HP’s low-energy biphasic waveform technology is “safe, acceptable and clinically effective.” Low-energy biphasic waveform technology has made it possible to develop smaller, lighter, less expensive and virtually maintenance-free automatic external defibrillators (AED) needed to achieve widespread public-access defibrillation. The HP Heartstream ForeRunner is the only AED cleared for use by the FDA that incorporates low-energy biphasic waveform.
The AHA’s Committee on Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) and its subcommittees published their conclusions on the low-energy biphasic waveform in a scientific statement in the April 28 issue of “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.” They concluded that: “The initial low-energy (150 joules), nonprogressive (150J-150J-150J), impedance-adjusted biphasic waveform shocks for patients in out-of-hospital VF (ventricular fibrillation) arrest are “safe, acceptable and clinically effective.”
(2) PAYROLL PROBLEMS ARE BEING RESOLVED
“The first payroll for Heartstream didn’t go as smoothly as we’d hoped, and we apologize for the concern and confusion that resulted for some people,” says Transition Manager Bill Kelly. “It’s taken more time than we anticipated to get all personnel information into all the databases. Heartstream employees Laurie Wilson, Lynne Davison and others have worked hard to resolve the problems and are still working on a few outstanding issues. We think that most things have been fixed. Thanks for your patience while we work our way through any remaining issues.”
(3) WHAT IS THE “HP WAY”?
Heartstream Engineering’s Penny Dalton responded to our invitation in Issue #1 of the Transition Newsletter to tell us what employees want to know. “Everyone always talks about the ‘HP Way’ — what is it?” she asks.
David Packard and Bill Hewlett cofounded Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1939 and helped build it to become an employer of 105,000 people in 120 countries by 1996. (Today there are more than 120,000 employees.) Many people who worked with Packard and Hewlett claimed that their values — “the HP Way” — contributed to the company’s success. These values included trust and respect for people, focus on contribution and quality, a promise to conduct business with uncompromising integrity, a commitment to teamwork, and a belief that people need to be flexible and innovative.
In addition, the founders developed such management practices as “management by walking around,” decentralized decision making, open offices with few doors, and the refusal to take on debt to finance new ventures.
HP’s famed “management by walking around” (MBWA) process is reportedly responsible for spawning new products. Researchers within HP Labs build prototypes of products that reflect their progress within specific technical areas. Engineers from the operating divisions visit the labs and examine the prototypes. If the operating divisions like what they see, they adopt them as a product.
More information about the HP Way will be provided over the coming weeks.
(4) GOOD MORNING AMERICA FEATURES FORERUNNER
Good Morning America, ABC’s morning news talk show, reported on “How Airlines Are Making the Skies Safer” on Tuesday, April 28. ForeRunner was prominently displayed throughout the more than five- minute segment.
GMA reported that international airlines have had adequate medical equipment on board for many years, while domestic airlines lagged far behind. The culprit, it seems, is our litigious society, which keeps in their seats people who could help during a medical emergency— and makes airlines afraid to train in-flight personnel and provide medical equipment.
With increasing demands from the public and a push from a doctor who watched a young woman die during a domestic flight, Congress recently passed a Good Samaritan law that protects those who help people during an emergency.
Delta and American Airlines now equip most of their domestic flights with complete medical kits that include portable defibrillators. United Air Lines plans to equip its entire domestic fleet, with many other domestic airlines following suit by year end.
While ForeRunner and Heartstream weren’t mentioned by name, the AED was prominently displayed throughout the program.
(5) FACILITIES AND STATIONERY UPDATE
Heartstream Facilities Manager Mary Joyce reminds everyone that stationary with the HP logo is on order and will arrive during the week of May 4th. In the interim, continue using Heartstream stationary or the Hewlett-Packard, Heartstream Operation stationary depending on the situation.
Employees in the Seattle operation who need business cards should complete an order form (located in supply rooms) and return them to Mary Joyce. Field personnel, please order cards through Donna Aldrich. The cards will be ordered at the end of May. Call Mary at 206-664-2055 if you have any questions.
We have room to expand to the 5th floor of the Fourth & Battery Building now that the lease has been signed. Operations Manager Keith Serzen will work with his senior staff to determine how best to use this additional space.
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FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
The Transition Team publishes the Transition Newsletter every week for Heartstream and CPD employees. Send your comments, suggestions or news items to:
Sandy Prater, Editor
sprater@halcyon.com
425-883-4725
fax: 425-867-5539
Note: Sandy Prater is a contractor based in Redmond, Washington.
Distribution:
Maura Renaud, CPD
978-659-4753
Lynne Davison, Heartstream
206-664-5176
MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS: PLEASE PROVIDE HARD COPIES TO EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC MAIL.
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