Central Ohio Health System Completes Implementation of Lawson Surgical Instrument Management.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2004

Mount Carmel Uses New Lawson Product to Reduce Surgery Delays,

Control Instrument and Staff Costs

Lawson Software's (Nasdaq:LWSN) new Surgical Instrument Management solution is helping Mount Carmel improve service to operating room patients and staff by automating the management of its instruments and trays. The Columbus, Ohio-based health system completed implementation of the software in January 2004.

One of Ohio's largest healthcare providers, Mount Carmel has 8,000 employees, 1,208 licensed beds and is a member of Trinity Health. Mount Carmel operates three hospitals - Mount Carmel East, Mount Carmel West and Mount Carmel St. Ann's - as well as outpatient services, a community outreach program, a college of nursing and a Medicare HMO called MediGold.

Lawson Surgical Instrument Management has replaced Mount Carmel's manual processes for managing its surgical instruments and trays. Prior to using Lawson, Mount Carmel employees frequently lacked current data on surgical tray contents as daily updates circulated through multiple sets of paper documents. This resulted in inconsistent surgical tray assemblies and urgent instrument searches by O.R. staff.

Mount Carmel currently uses Lawson Surgical Instrument Management via workstations on its network and mobile handhelds. This gives employees easy-access to applications from a single, Web-based system, assisting with the timely delivery of information and promoting productivity.

In addition to helping Mount Carmel reduce surgical delays and improve productivity, Lawson has enabled the health system to improve the training of sterile processing staff. Because this department traditionally has high turnover as employees move on to technician and nursing positions, Mount Carmel wanted a software tool that shortened training time while improving staff performance. By providing an online visual aid for instrument recognition, the Lawson application has simplified the training process and promoted more accurate tray assembly.

"We've seen a notable gain in staff productivity using Lawson and can locate instruments and trays significantly faster than previously possible," said Kevin Adams, manager of sterile processing at Mount Carmel. "Lawson's implementation team also eased our transition with a concrete project plan and timely responses to our specific needs."

Mount Carmel took a multi-phase approach to implementing the Lawson system. Infrequent computer usage among its employees posed a key implementation challenge. The health system overcame this challenge by providing tailored training and additional workstations for employees in several departments. Mount Carmel also cites Lawson's clear project management methodology, weekly team calls and open relationship as key factors to its successful implementation.

"Lawson Surgical Instrument Management helps hospitals ensure the right instruments are available at the right time - directly improving patient care and their bottom line," said Angie Franks, director of healthcare market development, Lawson Software. "Through our enterprise resource optimization strategy, leading healthcare providers are reducing instrument costs, increasing staff productivity and improving service to the O.R."

Lawson serves more than 400 healthcare industry customers representing more than 4,500 facilities, including eight of the top 10 integrated delivery networks. Lawson also serves academic medical centers, hospitals, managed care systems, clinics, physician group practices, home healthcare, long-term care and other health services enterprises. Lawson solutions help healthcare organizations manage their business so they can focus on their patients, automate and streamline materials management for a better bottom line, and overcome the challenges of labor shortages.

About Lawson Software

Lawson Software provides business process software solutions that help services organizations in the healthcare, retail, professional services, public sector, financial services and other strategic markets achieve competitive advantage. Lawson's solutions include enterprise performance management, distribution, financials, human resources, procurement, retail operations, and service process optimization. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Lawson has offices and affiliates serving North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Additional information about Lawson is available at www.lawson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software, Inc., and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. In addition to factors discussed above, risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: a decline in general economic conditions; uncertainties in the software industry; global military conflicts; terrorist attacks in the United States, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted service industries; increased competition and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as included in other documents the company files from time to time with the Commission.