BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emageon Inc. , a leading provider of enterprise visual medical systems to hospitals and healthcare networks, announced today that it has extended and expanded its digital healthcare information management agreement with the Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy), a leading regional health system based in St. Louis, Mo.
Emageon and Mercy will be implementing a system-wide digital image management and visualization system. The enterprise system is designed to enhance patient care through state-of-the-art diagnostic tools available to its physicians anywhere, anytime. Emageon will provide software that distributes these advanced diagnostic tools across the entire healthcare system, giving physicians the ability to more effectively communicate, diagnose and treat patient conditions. The digital environment is designed to automate workflow to reduce/eliminate errors and create a more productive work environment for physicians and other professional personnel.
"Emageon is our long-term partner to provide viewing and content management for all diagnostic images," said Dick Escue, Mercy's Chief Information Officer. "Emageon's technology is also a key part of our enterprise electronic medical record project. Mercy initially selected Emageon to provide content management services in 2001. That contract was extended in 2004 to include radiology image review and distribution. This new and enhanced contract adds cardiology image review and image distribution at Mercy's facilities in St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri and also extends support on all products and services for five more years."
"The Sisters of Mercy Health System is consistently ranked as one the most technically advanced healthcare systems in the United States," said Chuck Jett, Emageon's CEO. "We share a common vision regarding the enterprise uses and demand for medical imaging with the talented team of clinicians and IT professionals at Mercy. We are pleased and excited to extend our relationship with Mercy throughout their enterprise."
About Sisters of Mercy Health System
The Sisters of Mercy Health System was established in 1986 to serve as the parent corporation of a variety of health care facilities and services sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the St. Louis Regional Community. Mercy consists of 18 acute care hospitals, a heart hospital, outpatient care facilities, physician practices, skilled nursing and long-term residential care facilities, clinics, a managed care organization and other health-related services. Mercy is the 9th largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S., based on net patient service revenue.
Today, Mercy operates facilities and services in a seven-state area encompassing Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Health System services are provided by approximately 26,000 co-workers
and 3,100 physicians. For more information and a complete list of Mercy- sponsored services and affiliates, go to http://www.mercy.net/facilities .
About Emageon Inc.
Emageon provides an enterprise-level advanced visualization and infrastructure solution for the clinical analysis and management of digital medical images within multi-hospital networks, community hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers. Emageon's software, including its HeartSuite set of cardiology solutions from its Camtronics subsidiary, provides physicians in multiple medical specialties such as cardiology, radiology, and orthopedics, among others, with dynamic tools to manipulate and analyze images in two and three dimensions. With these tools physicians have the ability to better understand internal anatomic structure and pathology, which can improve clinical diagnoses, disease screening and therapy planning. Emageon's open standards-based solution is designed to help customers improve staff productivity, automate complex medical imaging workflow, lower total cost of ownership and provide better service to physicians and patients. For more information, please visit http://www.emageon.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Emageon which represent the Company's current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on Emageon's historical performance and on current plans, beliefs and expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond its control. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the risk that it may not compete successfully against larger competitors, risks associated with its history of operating losses, the risk that it may not manage its growth effectively, the risk that acquisitions could result in integration difficulties, dilution or other adverse financial consequences, risks associated with its reliance on continuing relationships with large customers, the risk of significant product errors or product failures, its reliance on reseller arrangements for important components of its solution, the risk that it may not respond effectively to changes in its industry, its customers' reliance on third party reimbursements, and the potential impact on its business of FDA regulations and other applicable health care regulations. Additional information concerning these and other factors that could affect Emageon's financial and operating results may be found under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2006. Emageon undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or any other information provided in this press release except as may be required by law.
Emageon Inc.CONTACT: Bill Funderburk of Emageon, +1-205-980-7542,bill.funderburk@emageon.com
