FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ernie Rodriguez 310.510.0541
FROM GALLERY SHOWROOM TO HOSPITAL CUBICLE

The Art of Ernesto Rodriguez Debuts on Sereneview® Cubicle Curtains
Research Shows Viewing Nature Imagery Promotes Healing

AVALON, Calif., Sept. 30, 2002 – The Catalina Curtain Company, Inc. premiered its debut line of Sereneview® cubicle curtains at the Fall Symposium on Healthcare Design at Chicago’s Navy Pier, October 2 - 5. The curtains, which surround patients with photographic artist Ernesto Rodriguez’ nature landscapes, are designed to enhance healing by reducing stress.

The Symposium on Healthcare Design is produced by the Center for Health Design, an organization that advocates incorporating therapeutic design elements into health care environments to promote well-being for patients, staff and visitors.

“We’re thrilled to be able to introduce Sereneview® to the health care industry,” said Rodriguez, who has built an international following for his artwork. Rodriquez was inspired to develop the curtains after visiting an ailing friend in a sterile, traditional hospital room. “Through studying the research literature I learned that art, nature scenes, and color can be therapeutic tools in the healing process. After consulting with authors of the research, we selected appropriate images for the health facility environment,” Rodriguez continued.

Sereneview® curtains were tested in several hospitals over the past few months, including facilities at Kaiser Permanente, Tenet Healthcare, HCA, Universal Health Services, and at Avalon Municipal Hospital.

William Greene, FACHE, CEO of Avalon Municipal reported, “The curtains have provided several important benefits. Not only have they had an uplifting effect on our patients, they have positively impacted our staff of care providers as well by generating positive feelings and helping to boost morale.”

Ms. Texas Gustavson, Regional Vice-President for Universal Health Services (Nevada), said the curtains are a "beautiful and positive addition to our surgical center environment. They have had an uplifting effect on patients, physicians and other staff.”

Many experts in the field are encouraging health care administrators to consider holistic approaches to patient care in the face of heightened attention to patient outcomes and to lowering overall costs. The theory is that stress free patients heal faster.

“As a health care facility administrator, I need to listen to what patients say they want,” stated Greene. “Privacy and a calming, stress-free environment are at the top of most lists. At the same time, I have to remain focused on costs. Sereneview® curtains are easy to use and economical; they have completely and easily transformed many of our patient rooms.”

According to Rodriguez, Catalina Curtain Company is launching the line with two images, “Tranquility,” and “Tropical Breeze,” and intends to introduce one new image per quarter. Rodriguez is planning to highlight the U.S. National Parks, California scenes, including Big Sur, Catalina, and the redwoods, waterfalls and streams found in the Pacific Northwest, and tropical scenes from the Hawaiian Islands.

The Catalina Curtain Company, Inc. was founded by artist Ernesto Rodriguez, and is headquartered in Avalon on Catalina Island, California. The company develops and markets Sereneview® cubicle curtains for use in the health facility industry. Sereneview® cubicle curtains surround the patient with Rodriguez’ calming nature scenes to enhance healing and to promote well being. The competitively priced curtains meet all the strictest hospital standards. To learn more about Catalina Curtain Company, Inc., Sereneview® cubicle curtains, and for pricing and ordering information, please visit www.sereneview.com or call 888-515-6578.