MILWAUKEE, Wis., (July 6, 1999) - Calgary Regional Health Authority has unveiled the first regional Clinical Information System in Canada, providing the organization with the ability to share patient data from three separate facilities; Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre and Rockyview General Hospital. Patient data that is needed for critical diagnostics and treatment decisions in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Cardiovascular ICU will now be accessible at any of the regional facilities using the QS®Critical Care Clinical Information System from GE Medical Systems Information Technologies.

"Together, we have created an integrated system that gives healthcare providers better access to patient information for critical care decision-making than ever before," said Jim Wolch, Manager, Canadian Operations, GE Medical Systems Information Technologies. "At the same time, this clinical information system provides real-time documentation of patient data that feeds a unique regional outcomes management system."

"Only the most accurate and clinically relevant patient data can build an outcomes management system that will allow us to continually improve treatment processes and clinical resources decisions," said Dr. Dean Sandham, Director of Intensive Care, Calgary Regional Heath Authority. "A combination of GE Medical Systems Information Technologies monitoring and clinical information systems technology and our proprietary statistical reporting tool, TRACER, has allowed us to automate several manual charting processes, creating a tremendous time savings for our staff."

Since 1995, Calgary has relied on the QS Critical Care Clinical Information System to meet its changing clinical needs. The scalable database of QS Critical Care has allowed Calgary to expand its clinical information system from a single critical care area to the first regional clinical care system in Canada.

According to Joanne Bouma, RN, BN, Clinical Information Systems Coordinator, Foothills Medical Centre, "The QS Critical Care systems' navigation tools create a logical progression of easy-to-follow steps that has allowed us to reduce the amount of time needed for charting by more than 50%. It has also given our staff the ability to customize charts and forms based individual patient needs."

For more than 15 years the QS Critical Care Clinical Information System has provided healthcare organizations around the world with a configurable, cost-effective approach to clinical information management. Most recently, GE Medical Systems Information Technologies introduced a new Medication Administration and Recording (MAR) application for the QS Critical Care system. This application helps transform the order entry of medications, fluids and infusions from a clerical function to a powerful clinical decision-making tool.

The Calgary Regional Health Authority (CRHA) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, supports the delivery of health services for Calgarians through the operation of four acute care hospitals, 25 continuing care centres, 15 public health offices and centres, home care and various other health resource programs. It serves the needs of 900,000 people in the region. The goal of the CRHA is to ensure health care quality and to promote general population health.

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies is a leading global provider of medical diagnostic equipment and services including diagnostic cardiology, patient monitoring and integration of clinical information. Information Technologies, a GE Medical Systems Company, is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Additional information about GE Medical Systems and its products can be found on the company's web site at http://www.gemedicalsystems.com.

GE Medical Systems is a $6 billion business, employing nearly 20,000 people worldwide. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology, services and productivity solutions.

For media inquiries, contact:

Jennifer Christiansen
GE Medical Systems Information Technologies
Phone: (414) 362-2544

Maureen O'Connor
Calgary Regional Health Authority
Phone: (403) 541-3232