(ORLANDO, Fla.) March 25, 2010 – Vestagen Technical Textiles announced that Mercy Medical Center St. Mary's, Mercy Medical Center North, and Mercy Medical Center West in Knoxville, Tenn., purchased 580 of its nanotechnology-based, Vestex™ lab coats. Mercy distributed the lab coats to all staff physicians in honor of National Doctors’ Day, an annual observance celebrating the service and contribution of our country’s physicians.

“From our advances in robotic surgery to our cutting-edge heart catheterization procedures, Mercy Medical Partners is well-known as a leader in advanced technologies.  Vestex technology is the latest advance in lab coats, so we want our physicians to have it.” said Jerry Sanders, M.D., and Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s.  “It’s our way of saying thank you for all you do to our staff physicians on Doctors’ Day.

The American Medical Association has been debating the future of doctors’ white coats, which have been criticized for unwittingly spreading infectious microbes, including MRSA, among patients.

Vestex lab coats, which repel blood and bodily fluids and rapidly kill microbes, allow physicians to maintain their traditional, identifiable attire without the threat of contamination by dangerous pathogens. In addition, Vestex minimizes odor and is naturally self-cleaning, helping to keep doctors and other medical personnel clean, cool and dry.  

“We are proud that Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s, one of the nation’s leading hospitals, has given Vestex lab coats to their physicians,” said Ben Favret, president and CEO of Vestagen. “Mercy is committed to delivering excellent, innovative care to patients and the community.  This Doctor’s Day gift is a visible sign of that commitment.”

About Vestagen Technical Textiles LLC

Vestagen Technical Textiles is an Orlando-based marketer and manufacturer of advanced performance textiles. Vestagen is led by a skilled management team with nearly a century of combined experience in the health care textile and apparel industries. Backed by V-Ten Capital Partners, Vestagen is committed to creating innovative textile solutions. For more information, visit www.vestagen.com.

About Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s

Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s is a member of Mercy Health Partners.  Mercy was formed by the merger of St. Mary’s Health System and Baptist Health System of East Tennessee in 2008.  The new healthcare system operates seven acute-care hospitals and 20 other healthcare facilities across East Tennessee.  In 2008, the Mercy facilities in East Tennessee provided more than $46 million in charity care and community benefits including services for the poor, community health screenings and research.

More than 1,000 of the area’s leading physicians are on the active staff at Mercy facilities.  One of East Tennessee’s largest employers, Mercy has 5,700 associates dedicated to providing compassionate care using the latest medical technology.
A complete list of Mercy physicians, facilities, services and extensive health information is available online at www.mercy.com.