ASGE Announces CORI's Strategic Partnerships to Enhance Research Mission.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

Digestive Disease Week 2000

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2000

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) today announced that the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI), a not-for-profit subsidiary of the ASGE, is forming several major alliances to further CORI's mission to enhance GI research.

CORI will build upon the work done to date to develop the largest, internationally renowned, clinical data repository for GI endoscopy. Letters of intent have been signed for preferred partner status between CORI and several leading GI endoscope manufacturers and GI reporting software developers -- cMore Medical Solutions, FUJINON, Olympus America, Pentax, and Utech-ENDOSOFT.

"CORI research data has been used to support more than 50 major research initiatives to date, resulting in significant publications of work. We envision this repository becoming `the source' for endoscopic clinical data in the future. By creating open, non-competing relationships, CORI and its partners will be able to support the diverse research needs of community and academic GI physicians worldwide," said Michael B. Kimmey, MD, ASGE President-elect.

Currently CORI captures 8,000 clinical data records each month from almost 70 GI endoscopic sites and more than 700 clinicians nationwide. Through the proposed alliance agreement, CORI will work with the leading commercial providers of GI reporting software to allow their physician users to submit data to CORI and access the repository for research purposes. "By offering CORI to a new world of users through these preferred alliances, we expect to significantly increase the number of clinical records in the data repository to approximately 500 GI endoscopic sites and 50,000 patient exams per month," said David Fleischer, MD, Deputy Director of CORI.

Executives from each alliance organization expressed enthusiasm and support for CORI's new strategic direction. Rick Madan, President of Utech-ENDOSOFT, stated, "CORI's lead in facilitating development of a common GI database will be a significant step towards information systems integration. We are excited to be part of the groundbreaking CORI initiative.

Mark J. Sweeney, Chief Operating Officer, cMore, added, "cMore fully supports the ASGE's research initiative. Through cMore's partnership with CORI, our customers will receive the best solution for compliant procedure notes while also contributing to the improvement of the practice of GI endoscopy." David McKinley, Group Vice President, Endoscopy Group of Olympus America, commented, "Olympus is delighted to have the opportunity to expand its relationship with ASGE and work with CORI to further endoscopic research."

The goal of clinical outcomes research is to understand what works, as recognized by Eric Knisley, General Manager of FUJINON. "The bottom-line impact is to the patient -- by working together patients will benefit from higher quality care that results from an increased understanding of the outcomes of treatment for GI problems and the development of standards of clinical practice."

Over the next 60 days, CORI hopes to finalize long-term alliance relationships with each of its preferred partners. Paul Magrath, President of Pentax, commented on the enhanced relationship it will form with CORI, "We have been working with CORI to capture Pentax images in the database for over a year; forming this alliance partnership allows us to take this relationship to the next step."

David Lieberman, MD, Director of CORI added, "We are formulating a truly unique model of collaboration between non-profit and commercial interests toward the advancement of GI clinical research and enhancement of patient care. As a sign of our success, we hope to be able to sponsor future new GI research grants made available just to CORI physician participants."

About CORI:

In 1995, the ASGE founded the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI) as a national data repository for endoscopic research. The shared repository is designed to promote endoscopic research among GI physicians. CORI is a leading source of GI research information, receiving more than 8,000 patient clinical records from more than 700 physicians nationwide each month. Today CORI operates as a not-for-profit subsidiary of the ASGE. For more information visit CORI's web-site at: www.cori.org.

About ASGE:

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) represents more than 7,000 gastroenterologists, surgeons, and other digestive health specialists who are committed to furthering the knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of GI disease through the appropriate use of endoscopic techniques. For more information visit their web site at: www.asge.org.

About cMore Medical Solutions, Inc.:

Minneapolis-based cMore Medical Solutions is a leading application solution provider with a new generation of intelligent applications for medical specialists. cMore's software enables physicians to create a clinical record directly from their procedures by integrating image capture and advanced graphics with case-sensitive medical knowledge. Used by thousands of physicians daily, cMore's physician-built software improves workflow, minimizes errors and continues to raise the bar of technology in medicine. For more information visit their web site at: www.cmoremedical.com.

About FUJINON, INC.:

FUJINON, INC. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. FUJINON'S products and services enhance medical practices around the globe. Patient and physician needs come first at FUJINON and the company's wide array of products, image quality, handling characteristics, and end user reliability clearly support this position. FUJINON'S Ultra Vision Sigma (SIGMA) 400 targets high resolution/high magnification endoscopy needs by providing an image of 850,000 pixels. FUJINON'S 200 Series video sigmoidoscopy system is appropriate for a wide range of outpatient settings. For more information email [e-mail].

About Olympus America Inc.:

Olympus offers a full line of medical products and services, featuring the new EVIS EXERA 160-Series Video System. Among new offerings are a low-cost compact ultrasound probe and processor system, and a high-frequency ultrasound mini-probe. New EndoWorks software, which results from a strategic partnership with Computer Associates, provides an integrated information and management solution. With the Olympus DSD disinfector by MediVators, and full range of reusable and disposable endo-therapy accessories, Olympus provides you a total endoscopy solution. For more information visit their web site at: www.olympus.com.

About Pentax:

For over two decades, Pentax has provided physicians with world class endoscopic equipment. As an innovator in the fields of fiber and video endoscopy, Pentax has provided advancements in the development of video and fiber endoscopy equipment. Pentax's mission is to develop the most reliable and cost effective endoscopic equipment available and to provide the highest level of customer service so that medical professionals can confidently provide the highest level of care to patients. For more information visit their web site at: www.pentaxmedical.com.

About Utech-ENDOSOFT:

Utech Products is a pioneer in developing seamless computerized endoscopic medical records and is committed to providing its customers with high quality products and personalized service. Utech's ENDOSOFT is designed to emulate the gastroentrologist's thought process and workflow with cutting edge technology to produce photo reports with high quality digital images. At the same time, the built-in library allows physicians to meet all of the ASGE standards. For more information visit their web site at: www.endosoft.com.