APACHE CEO Names Former Professor, International Critical Care Icon, to New R&D Post.

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McLEAN, Va.--(BW HealthWire)--July 20, 2000

APACHE Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMSI), today announced that APACHE co-founder Jack E. Zimmerman, MD--an internationally recognized authority in critical care management and outcomes research--has joined APACHE as director, medical research and applications.

Based in McLean, Va., APACHE is a leading provider of clinical decision support systems and consulting services for high-risk, high-cost areas of medicine such as critical care.

Military and Civilian Critical Care Pioneer

"It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome Jack to APACHE in this important new R&D role," said APACHE CEO William A. Knaus, MD. "Jack is a living legend to the global critical care community. He pioneered many of the clinical, scientific and management concepts being used today."

A clinician, educator and researcher who many say has "changed the face of intensive care," Zimmerman, together with Knaus and others, is credited with developing the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scoring system--the most recognized and cited health outcomes research tool in the world.

The U.S. Navy's first "intensivist"--a medical specialty that focuses on critical care--"Jack also changed the face of military intensive care," noted Knaus. Zimmerman first created "an intensivist approach" to treating Vietnam War military personnel, and then was named the first officially recognized intensivist, serving at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

GWU Professor Emeritus, SCCM Honoree

Prior to joining APACHE in July, Zimmerman retired in June from an achievement-rich career at The George Washington University (GWU) Medical Center. Spanning a quarter of a century, his career at the nationally recognized Washington, D.C., healthcare center included 20 years as director of the intensive care unit (ICU) at The GWU Hospital (GWUH). More recently, he served as ICU research director.

This spring, the University--which owns the GWU Hospital in partnership with Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)--honored Zimmerman "for his internationally recognized contributions to the field of critical care medicine . . . commitment to critically ill patients and . . . education," naming the 1964 GWU School of Medicine alumnus "professor emeritus of anesthesiology and critical care medicine."

Eight years ago, Zimmerman received the highest honor his peers could bestow to a clinician and educator: the Society of Critical Care Medicine's 1992 Shubin-Weil Award. Over the years, he has published more than 100 articles, reviews and editorials in such peer-reviewed medical journals as the Society's internationally respected Critical Care Medicine.

"Personally, I am tremendously gratified to have a man who's so influenced my career join APACHE," said Knaus. "Jack was my professor in GWU's Department of Anesthesiology, where I completed a fellowship in critical care medicine. In fact, Jack initiated the program, one of the first of its kind in the United States." Many of the fellows of this stellar program have become key critical care leaders.

A native of Harrisburg, Pa., Zimmerman performed his internship and completed an internal medicine residency at the National Naval Medical Center. In addition to his GWU medical degree, the Olney, Md., resident earned a bachelors degree from the University of Maryland.

Zimmerman R&D Role to Include Study of Medical Errors

"Jack will champion development of APACHE tools for intensive care, intermediate care and other medically complex patient groups," explained Knaus, "as well as lead APACHE research efforts to help address such significant national issues as patient safety, medical errors and treatment effectiveness."

As a critical care "icon" and one of the developers of the APACHE methodology, Zimmerman is exceptionally well-qualified for his new R&D role at APACHE. He and Knaus--along with several GWU colleagues-- helped establish APACHE Medical Systems, Inc., in 1987.

About APACHE

APACHE Medical Systems, Inc.--a recognized leader in clinical decision support/outcomes management systems and consulting services for the care of high-risk patients--provides products and services that enable health systems, hospitals and providers to apply an evidence-based approach to achieve clinical performance excellence, reduce cost and compete effectively under managed care. APACHE is helping providers better manage the clinical, financial and patient outcomes of high-risk, high-cost patients in critical, acute, cardiovascular and HIV/AIDS care.

For more information, visit www.apache-msi.com or contact [e-mail].

APACHE(R) is a registered trademark of APACHE Medical Systems, Inc.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company wishes to caution readers that the following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the Company's actual results and could cause its actual results in fiscal 1999 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of the Company.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include but are not limited to the Company's having sufficient sales and timely collections to meet cash requirements and achieve profitability; ability to attract and retain key employees; success of its strategy to concentrate its product offerings on high-risk, high-cost patients; ability to timely develop new products and enhance existing products; ability to compete in the competitive and rapidly evolving healthcare information technology industry; ability to correctly estimate and manage its Year 2000 costs and liabilities; success of its marketing and consulting efforts and ability to effectively utilize its direct sales force; ability to protect proprietary information and to obtain necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms; and ability to comply with and adapt products and services to potential regulatory changes.

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