Alteer and Zimmer Announce Partnership With Merge eFilm; Alteer Office Offering Expands With ``Paperless-Filmless'' Solution for Orthopaedic Practices.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2002

Alteer Corp., a leading provider of integrated software applications for medical practices, and Zimmer Holdings Inc., (NYSE:ZMH) a global leader in reconstructive orthopaedic implants and fracture management products, today announced a partnership with Merge eFilm (Nasdaq:MRGE), a medical image and information management solutions provider, enabling a paperless-filmless solution for Orthopaedic practices.

Under separate agreements, Alteer and Merge eFilm will integrate their respective products, Alteer Office and the eFilm Workstation, while Zimmer will distribute the offering to orthopaedic surgeons across the United States in conjunction with Zimmer's exclusive agreement with Alteer signed in November 2001.

"The combined offering will streamline workflow and provide seamless access to electronic patient charts and digital images," said Adam Harris, M.D., San Antonio Orthopaedic Services, San Antonio, Texas, a joint Alteer, Zimmer and Merge eFilm customer. "This allows me to be responsive to patient needs with on-demand access to clinical information and diagnostic quality images as needed."

"Zimmer is committed to identifying and offering tools that help our customers focus their time and energy on providing the best care for their patients," said Zimmer Chairman, President and CEO Raymond Elliott. "Our agreement with Merge eFilm, coupled with our partnership with Alteer, enables us to present to the orthopaedic surgeons a complete paperless, filmless solution that puts both clinical and administrative information at their fingertips electronically."

Commenting on the announcement, Charlie Hearn, president and CEO for Alteer said: "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Merge eFilm to further expand our offering to orthopaedic practices nationwide. Alteer's continued efforts with Zimmer coupled with leaders in the field like Dr. Harris provide a roadmap to the digital future in making the paperless-filmless environment a reality for orthopaedic practices today."

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Alteer and Zimmer to bring this comprehensive solution to the orthopaedic market," said David Noshay, vice president of business development for Merge eFilm. "We are proud to be a part of a whole new workflow efficiency and clinical effectiveness to the orthopaedic practice."

About Alteer Corp.

Alteer provides a complete solution for medical practices of any size. Alteer's Internet-based software is the first integrated platform that eliminates paper charts completely and automates the entire workflow in a physician's practice -- from scheduling to charting to billing and patient messaging. Designed to accommodate changes in regulatory compliance, Alteer reengineers workflow, patient flow, information and document management resulting in increased operational efficiency, better managed financial performance and enhanced quality of patient care.

A private company with headquarters in Irvine, Alteer markets its products through a direct sales force, as well as distribution partners in a few regions across the United States. For more information, visit www.alteer.com.

About Zimmer

Zimmer, based in Warsaw, Ind., is a global leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive orthopaedic implants and fracture management products. Orthopaedic reconstruction implants restore joint function lost due to disease or trauma in joints such as knees, hips, shoulders and elbows.

Fracture management products are devices used primarily to reattach or stabilize damaged bone and tissue to support the body's natural healing process. Zimmer also manufactures and markets other products related to orthopaedic and general surgery.

For the year 2001, Zimmer recorded worldwide revenues of approximately $1.2 billion. Zimmer was founded in 1927 and has more than 3,500 employees worldwide. Visit Zimmer on the worldwide Web at www.zimmer.com.

About Merge eFilm

Merge eFilm markets integrated healthcare image and information workflow solutions that create a filmless workflow environment, address the clinical imaging needs across the healthcare enterprise, and enable cost-effective, patient-centric care.

For more than 15 years, Merge eFilm has leveraged its healthcare IT, clinical and engineering experience to create elegant and affordable solutions that improve the clinicians' productivity and enhance the quality of the care they provide. For additional information, visit www.merge-efilm.com.