Pharmex Founder, Patient Safety Innovator, and Pilot, Richard "Dick" Foote, Passes Away at Age 89
San Fernando, CA (January 21, 2009) – Precision Dynamics Corporation / TimeMed Labeling Systems announced the passing of Pharmex Founder, Richard “Dick” Foote on January 17, 2009. He was the pioneer of the first, standardized prescription warning label system, The Pharmex Warning Label System, that is now known as the industry standard in patient safety and compliance in today’s pharmacies and hospitals. The Pharmex Warning Label System resides in the Smithsonian Institution’s archive on American Pharmaceutical Artifacts for its significant contribution to advancing patient safety. Foote’s successful business career followed his military duty as a pilot and Navy veteran of World War II and his career as a test pilot of various fighter planes.
“We wish to express our condolences to the Foote family,” said Gary Hutchinson, CEO and President of Precision Dynamics Corporation-TimeMed. “Dick was an incredible man who contributed life-saving identification systems to the pharmaceutical industry that helped pave the way for current patient safety initiatives. His legacy leaves a significant impact among pharmacies and the healthcare industry to this day.”
Foote was born in Providence, Rhode Island on February 6, 1919. He attended the University of Connecticut and Parks Air College. He was a Navy veteran of WWII, flying heavy cruisers in the South Pacific. After release from the Navy, he held position as a test pilot for Chance-Vought, flying the F4U-1 Corsair Fighter. He was instrumental in the development of the first “pressure suit” (a forerunner to today’s NASA spacesuit) and was credited with saving the lives of many fighter pilots. After being promoted to Chief Experimental Test Pilot at General Motors, he was assigned to do extensive flight testing of Wildcat fighters.
He started his business career by opening a stationery store that he later expanded in 1947 to include business forms and labels and named it Automatic Business Products. In 1956 The Pharmex Division was created. Recognizing a need for increased patient safety, Foote developed a revolutionary, standardized prescription warning label system offered on pressure sensitive material. He was the first to manufacture and copyright the Pharmex Warning Labels which soon became the industry standard in patient compliance, safety, and recognition. Subsequently, Pharmex introduced the warning labels on rolls along with a warning label dispensing system that housed and dispensed a library of the preprinted warning labels. The Pharmex Warning Label System was such a significant innovation, that it resides in the Smithsonian Institution’s archive on American Pharmaceutical Artifacts.
In 2006, TimeMed Labeling Systems, Inc acquired the Pharmex division to continue to expand and provide the valuable pharmacy products to this industry. In November 2008, Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC) acquired TimeMed and the Pharmex division with the shared vision to deliver the best patient safety solutions to healthcare providers worldwide.
With the combined efforts of PDC-TimeMed and Pharmex, Foote’s vision and legacy will continue to define leadership in patient safety.
For more information about the PDC-TimeMed or its Pharmex Division, visit one of its corporate websites www.timemed.com, or www.pharmex.com or call 800.323.4840.
About PDC-TimeMed ... Your Partner in Patient Safety™
In November 2008, TimeMed Labeling Systems Inc. was acquired by Precision Dynamics Corporation, the global leader of healthcare identification solutions, becoming PDC-TimeMed. The combined companies have more than 100 years of collective experience in developing innovative and reliable wristband and labeling systems that meet important patient safety guidelines of the Joint Commission, FDA, AHA, and HIPAA.
PDC-Time products improve patient safety and medical accuracy and support supply chain management for all critical department functions, including Admissions, Medication Administration, Transfusion, Laboratory, Pharmacy, IT, and Surgical Procedures. PDC-TimeMed developed the first single-piece patient wristband, the first bar code wristband system, and the first Smart Band® RFID wristband system. It also originated hospital labeling with Time® Tape, which expanded to include a variety of label products in the 1960s, EDP labeling in the 1970s and 80s, and a full line of thermal labeling systems in the 1990s. For additional information, please visit www.pdcorp.com or www.timemed.com.
Information included in the press releases is accurate as of the date of the release and can be subject to change.
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PDC
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