Merge Healthcare Unveils New Fusion RIS/PACS MX(TM),

MILWAUKEE, April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Merge Healthcare (Nasdaq: MRGE; TSX: MRG), a leading provider of medical imaging software and services, today announced the release of Fusion RIS/PACS MX(TM), an imaging informatics solution that moves beyond the simple interfacing of RIS and PACS applications designed for imaging centers, hospitals, multi-facility physician practices and specialty clinics. Fusion RIS/PACS MX helps these organizations achieve new efficiencies by blending together the advantages of a RIS (radiology information system) and a PACS (picture archiving and communication system) into a single business and clinical application with a uniquely optimized radiologist workspace environment.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030430/MRGELOGO )


Fusion RIS/PACS MX delivers a single workflow application which is relevant to the entire spectrum of clinical and business needs for medical imaging. With exam-driven workflow and a single source of access to all patient information, duplicative and/or missing data is greatly reduced. Customizable, intuitive worklists and embedded tools, such as document management, enhance every user’s productivity and help imaging businesses reduce report turnaround times.


The solution is based upon a unique radiologist workspace that gives single-desktop access to all information required for reading and reporting on an exam via the Patient Master Jacket. Not only are all the advanced tools readily available that are required for today’s reading, but Fusion RIS/PACS MX also gives radiologists easy access to RIS-based data. Point and click linkage to additional workflow tools, such as relevant priors, embedded dictation, interrupt sessions and instant messaging, give radiologists a truly comprehensive “command center.”


“This is a big step forward for RIS/PACS and Merge specifically, and it improves on their already well-designed product. In our fast-paced work environment, we must ensure that our radiologists practice in the best and most efficient manner. We look forward to more fully leveraging Fusion RIS/PACS MX to improve workflow and capabilities not only for radiologists, but also for staff across our entire organization,” says Steven Mendelsohn, MD, medical director of Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, which operates seven New York-based imaging centers.


“Merge Healthcare’s comprehensive exam-driven workflow and customizable worklist management ensure that people across the organization, from scheduling through billing, can yield new efficiencies,” says Matt Dewey, Zwanger-Pesiri’s Chief Operating Officer. “Specially designed tools help move each case from order to report to reimbursement with quality, speed and efficiency. It’s been very rewarding to work as a development partner with Merge in helping to create Fusion RIS/PACS MX as a critical tool for imaging businesses in competitive environments.”


According to Kenneth Rardin, Merge Healthcare CEO, many of Merge Healthcare’s existing customers have performed ROI analysis and have shown tangible improvements such as:

  — turnaround times reduced from days to minutes
— addition of new imaging centers while limiting volume for new staff
hires
— increased exam volumes within the same cost structure
— condensed space requirements from distributed workloads


“Merge Healthcare has maximized its ability to bring together the ‘best of the best’ from our long-standing, proven RIS, PACS and RIS/PACS technologies,” says Rardin. “Fusion RIS/PACS MX is relevant to the growth and operations of an organization because, as a business and clinical workflow solution, it is designed for the explicit purpose of helping to improve performance today and in the future.”


Merge Healthcare is a market leader in the development and delivery of medical imaging and information management software and services. Our innovative software solutions use leading-edge imaging software technologies that accelerate market delivery for our OEM customers, while our end-user solutions improve our customers’ productivity and enhance the quality of patient care they provide. Merge Healthcare’s North American business unit is focused on accelerating productivity for radiology departments and specialty practices, imaging centers and hospitals. By combining sophisticated RIS, PACS, advanced visualization and clinical imaging applications, Merge Healthcare delivers integrated end-to-end software solutions and professional services that transform the way our customers interact with referring physicians, manage their workflow, position their businesses in their markets and deliver imaging and information services to their customers. For additional information, visit Merge Healthcare’s website at www.mergehealthcare.com .


Except for the historical information herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. When used in this press release, the words “will,” “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the uncertainty created by, the adverse impact on relationships with customers, potential customers, suppliers and investors potentially resulting from, and other risks associated with, the changes in the Company’s senior management; costs, risks and effects of the investigation by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors; the impact of the restatement of financial statements of the Company and other actions that may be taken or required as a result of such restatement; the Company’s inability to timely file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; risks associated with the Company’s inability to meet the requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market for continued listing, including possible delisting; costs, risks and effects of legal proceedings and investigations, including the informal, non-public inquiry being conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and class action, derivative, and other lawsuits; risks in product and technology development, market acceptance of new products and continuing product demand, the impact of competitive products and pricing, ability to integrate acquisitions, changing economic conditions, credit and payment risks associated with end-user sales, dependence on major customers, dependence on key personnel, and other risk factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances, or for any other reason.


First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: mgretzon@merge.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030430/MRGELOGO
AP Archive:
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk,
photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Merge Healthcare