Camden/Willingboro, NJ – On July 1 the Lourdes Health System launched a new online store stocked with a full range of medical and wellness products for patients, announced Alexander J. Hatala, president and CEO of the Lourdes Health System and Catholic Health East New Jersey.

The virtual store, which can be accessed through the health system's "For Patients" section of its Web site, www.lourdesnet.org/healthconnection, carries a wide variety of products such as home health aides, post-surgical and rehabilitation products, fitness videos and accessories, pre- and post-natal care products, health books, wellness items and even uniforms for employees. The prices are competitive with local retailers.

The online initiative, which was developed by the Lourdes' parent organization Catholic Health East (CHE), in partnership with Paquin Healthcare Companies, is one of the first launching this summer. Other CHE hospitals will launch online stores in eleven distinct markets throughout the remainder of 2009.

"Through this new initiative, we are committed to extending our ministry of healing beyond the traditional medical encounter," said Hatala. "We believe our patients will benefit, not only from our comprehensive care management process at discharge, but also from the array of health recovery products that can be acquired on-line, on our health facility's Web site in a convenient and timely manner."

In addition to purchasing items, customers have the option for enrolling in a personalized e-newsletter and becoming a member of a rewards program, earning discount coupons for future orders.

This new store is one of many online features available through the Lourdes Health System Web site designed for the convenience of patients and their families. Other services include an e-greeting card and online gift shop service for patients at Lourdes and CarePages, a site that allows patients to update family and friends about their medical condition in a secure, self-created Web page.

About Paquin Healthcare:
Paquin Healthcare, the nation's leading specialist in healthcare-based retail, is an alliance of industry leading experts and resources created to assist hospitals in the identification and implementation of healthcare retail strategies. The company's core mission is to increase revenue opportunities and minimize risks for healthcare organizations. As Medicare reimbursement rates continue to be pressured downward and expenses rise, new sources for non-reimbursed revenues are becoming essential to the financial viability of hospitals.

About Lourdes Health System:

Lourdes Health System is one of southern New Jersey's leading healthcare providers. The system is comprised of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, a 410-bed regional referral center located in Camden, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, a 249-bed community hospital located in Willingboro and the Lourdes Wellness Center, the area's heart of integrative and wholistic health services.

The Lourdes Health System is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, N.Y., and is a member of Catholic Health East, a health system with 33 hospitals on the East Coast.