CMC ReSearch Combines Merck Manual, Merck's Geriatrics, and Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary on CD-ROM.

PORTLAND, Oregon--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 1996--CMC ReSearch, Inc. Tuesday introduced a major addition to the professional medical literature: The Merck Manual Illustrated on CD-ROM, which includes electronic versions of the 16th edition of The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy coupled with the second edition of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics and the current edition of Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary, along with a series of color illustrations that help illustrate various disorders and therapies.

The new product enhances the company's existing CD-ROM that contains only The Merck Manual.

The Merck Manual Illustrated provides the benefits of rapid computer-aided text searching for two of the medical community's most respected and widely used reference publications, along with the simplicity of an electronic dictionary and illustrations to foster understanding.

Selections from The Merck Manual Illustrated can be copied and printed, combined with illustrations to provide customized patient information, or presented in larger, easy-to-read type. The product's rapid search and retrieval capability produces virtually instantaneous results and allows a user to conclude a search within seconds.

Two eminent reference texts, dictionary and illustrations all on one CD-ROM

The new CMC ReSearch product combines for the first time on one CD-ROM two Merck Manuals with a well-respected medical dictionary. The Merck Manual has long been the most widely used medical reference text in the world.

The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, first published in 1990, and completely updated for the 1995 edition, includes information about the multi-disciplinary approach and the many complications, nuances, and differences in caring for older persons. Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary was called "A reference masterpiece for use by health professionals, biologists, science writers and virtually all readers" by SciTech Book News.

"The addition of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics to The Merck Manual adds significant new value," noted John Calhoun, CMC ReSearch's president. "Now, users can quickly find subjects of interest, review, save or print them, and look up unfamiliar words in Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary as they are reading."

Computing technology supports customized, high-quality patient education

The ability of computers to provide physicians and other medical professionals with more rapid access to useful information in a rapidly changing health care environment has been expanded by CD-ROMs. In an environment when professional time is precious, the ability to rapidly access extensive medical information allows medical professionals to provide custom patient information with only a few clicks of a mouse.

The reason The Merck Manual is so useful in patient education, Robert Berkow, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The Merck Manual noted, is that it covers "all but the most obscure disorders of mankind, not only those that a general internist might expect to encounter but also problems associated with pregnancy and delivery; common and serious disorders of neonates, infants, and children; information for special circumstances, such as radiation reactions and injuries, problems encountered in deep-sea diving, and dental emergencies."

"We've used The Merck Manual Illustrated to help educate both donors and recipients," noted Reid S. Connell, M.D., technical director of the Oregon Tissue Bank. "The ability to do a quick search, print articles and sections, and provide it quickly to the patient or the patient's family has been a major advantage."

Hyper-Link search capability, Bookmarks and Annotation aid ease of use

The introduction of this new version of The Merck Manual Illustrated also notes for CMC ReSearch an improved "look and feel" for the powerful search and retrieval technology used on the CD-ROM. Searching by subject or by a selected word is both fast and powerful -- the entire contents of the CD-ROM can be searched in seconds.

In addition, images, charts and tables can be viewed in a window merely by clicking on the word "figure," so one can view both the relevant text and illustrations or tables at the same time.

Perhaps the most practical improvement for medical professionals will be noticed via a nearly instantaneous hyper-link capability. Each topic of The Merck Manual has been cross-referenced with other topics, and with The Merck Manual of Geriatrics.

Thus, when viewing one topic, other related topics from both The Merck Manual and The Merck Manual of Geriatrics are highlighted on the computer screen. Clicking on the highlighted items immediately calls up the new, related information. Once the related information has been noted, clicking on the "Go Back" button allows the user to return to the original information or branch out to other areas.

The new technology also allows the placement of "bookmarks" to allow quick access to commonly used sections, and annotation that supports the use of notes or comments that are "paper clipped" to a topic, and can be added, deleted, copied or pasted with a click of a mouse or a few keystrokes.

Pricing and Availability

The Merck Manual Illustrated is available now from CMC ReSearch, from selected distributors and many medical bookstores. Each CD-ROM contains versions for Microsoft Windows 3.X, Windows '95 and Apple Macintosh computers. World-wide suggested list pricing is $95. CMC ReSearch's existing Merck Manual CD-ROM, without The Merck Manual of Geriatrics or Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary will continue to be available for a suggested list price of $75.

The Merck Manual Illustrated complements a number of other medical CD-ROM products from CMC ReSearch, including the American Family Physician, The New England Journal of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Annals of Internal Medicine, as well as titles focused on patient education, such as Breast Self-Examination and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. Additional information on CMC ReSearch's products can be found on the world wide web at "http://cmcresearch.com/~cmcr".

CMC ReSearch has been producing professional medical titles on CD-ROM since 1987. In addition to continuing to develop and market medical and patient information titles, CMC ReSearch also develops titles for other professional and academic markets, and provides development resources to organizations who want to use CD-ROM to distribute professional and technical reference information. (30)

Note to Editors: All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Review Copies of The Merck Manual Illustrated on CD-ROM are available.

CONTACT: Alliance Consulting Group, Inc.

10250 SW Greenburg Road Suite 213

Portland, Oregon 97223

Lee James, 503/452-59200

or

CMC ReSearch Inc.

322 N.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 201

Portland, Oregon 97209

John Calhoun, 503/242-2567

Fax: [phone]

email: [e-mail]