Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. Completes Beta Testing for Medication Administration Verification System.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

MOBILE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2002

System Implemented in Four Hospitals

With Six Additional Installations Scheduled by Year End

Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:CPSI), a leading provider of healthcare information solutions, today announced that it has completed beta testing of its Medication Administration Verification system and is now marketing it to hospital clients throughout the United States.

The application, which is an integrated component of the CPSI hospital information system, utilizes a combination of bar coding, handheld devices operating on a wireless network and application software to confirm the accurate administration of medications to hospital patients. CPSI has implemented the Medication Administration Verification system in four hospitals and has six more installations scheduled before the end of the year.

According to Tommie Peterson, CPSI's vice president of clinical software services, "The Medication Administration Verification product is designed to reduce the possibility of drug administration errors. Prior to dispensing a medication, the nurse scans a bar code on the patient wristband to confirm the identity of the patient and then scans the bar code on the medication to be administered. The software compares the medication to the patient's orders and either confirms the administration as accurate or alerts the nurse of any discrepancies or errors. Our application ensures that the right patient gets the prescribed medication in the appropriate dosage at the correct time."

Patient safety remains a priority for healthcare providers and third-party payors. According to a study reported in the September 9, 2002, Archives of Internal Medicine, a staggering 19%, or one in five, of medication doses were in error. The accurate administration of medication goes beyond patient safety in that it can contribute to cost savings. As reported in the FDA's 2002 Performance Plan, medical error costs range from $20 to $75 billion annually. Preventing such events not only has the potential of saving lives and improving patient care, but can also improve the hospital's bottom line. CPSI's Medication Administration Verification product is already being used successfully in hospitals. According to Vicki Roby, nurse manager at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City, Iowa, "Patients joke about our nurses being Wal-Mart checkers when they scan the bar codes, but it's a safety issue, and the nurses understand that. With Med Verification, we know we've got the right patient, the right medication and the right dosage. I explained the system to a patient the other day, and he was impressed by the technology. It gives the patients a certain sense of security."

Roby also noted that the CPSI System improves efficiency as well as safety. "We have a float nurse who helps the other nurses, and one of her functions is to administer medications. With the Med Verification system, we don't have to worry if a nurse has had time to chart a medication. It's right there in the computer, so there are no double doses. The system really helps with communication issues. It's a good thing," she said.

About Stewart Memorial Community Hospital

Stewart Memorial Community Hospital and Center for Health Services are adjacent facilities in Lake City Iowa and serve a six-county region in western part of the state with a population of over 118,000. Stewart Memorial is a nonprofit hospital with services extending to hospice and home care. The Center for Health Services also includes Loeck Dental Clinic, Rock Vision Clinic and Community Pharmacy. Together they offer full-service healthcare for the entire area. For more information, visit www.stewartmemorial.org.

About Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.

CPSI is a leading provider of healthcare information solutions for community hospitals and has more than 400 hospital clients in 45 states. Founded in 1979, the Company is a single-source vendor providing comprehensive software and hardware products, complemented by complete installation services and extensive support. The Company's fully integrated, enterprise-wide system automates clinical and financial data management in each of the primary functional areas of a hospital. CPSI's staff of over 600 technical, healthcare, and medical professionals provides system implementation and continuing support services as part of a comprehensive program designed to respond to clients' information needs in a constantly changing healthcare environment. For more information, visit www.cpsinet.com.