GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Introduces First and Only Networking Tool for CardioLab Electrophysiology Data.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2002

CardioLink invasive network to provide electrophysiology (EP)

physicians and staff with remote, near real-time and simultaneous

access to EP case data for increased flexibility in case review and

analysis

For the first-time ever, clinicians can have near real-time access to CardioLab(R) electrophysiology (EP) patient data from anywhere on the network even while other clinicians are viewing the same data. CardioLink invasive network from GE Medical Systems Information Technologies is the first and only tool that connects EP labs, providing unprecedented access to case data without optical media. It can provide enhanced clinical productivity and accuracy by simplifying data entry and storage, and making case data easily and simultaneously available to EP physicians and nurses.

CardioLink extends the capability of GE's CardioLab EP monitoring system by integrating patient data into a centralized information hub. This advanced system consists of a powerful central server and a series of workstations, which provide benefits across the spectrum of care. The Remote Review Workstation allows physicians to analyze in-progress cases from outside the lab in near real-time or to continue their analysis after the case, as if they were in the lab. Meanwhile, nurses and technicians can join cases in progress from a Nursing Notes Workstation. There, they can simultaneously chart and enter data, notes, supplies and medications within the lab and update the case log even while a physician is using the system.

"CardioLink delivers major benefits to EP clinicians," says Mike Genau, vice president of cardiology systems for GE Medical Systems Information Technologies. "It connects what once were islands of information into one powerful system that physicians, nurses and technicians can use before, during and after a case is in progress. It also eliminates repetitive manual tasks enabling clinicians to work more efficiently and effectively on patients' behalf."

Historically, EP lab personnel have charted cases on paper then transferred the data to an end report. With CardioLink, clinicians can electronically view a case in progress down the hall in near real-time. All case data, including waveforms, snapshots, measurements and nursing notes are sent to one electronic patient file, so that staff members can easily share information and make quick, sound decisions on patients' behalf. Centralized electronic storage eliminates the need for long-term storage on optical media. Physicians can access, review and analyze patient waveforms from any workstation on the hospital network.

The system is currently deployed at nearly 60 sites in the U.S., according to Genau. At the Carle Hospital Heart Center located in Urbana, Ill., CardioLink provides their EP lab with new efficiencies and conveniences.

Nursing Coordinator Tracy White, R.N., reports that the Nursing Notes Workstations enable simultaneous entry of procedural notes into case logs without tying up the CardioLab keyboards. "With these workstations, our nurses can document everything from medications and supplies to assessments in real time," White says. The integrated system also allows Carle staff to accommodate the reporting preferences of individual physicians, such as by automatically presenting waveforms in the way each one finds most readable," says White.

About GE Medical Systems Information Technologies

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies provides hospitals and healthcare systems with advanced software and technologies to improve their clinical performance. The Company's expertise spans the areas of cardiology, patient monitoring, image management, clinical communications, clinical information systems and Six Sigma-based management tools to enable a real-time, integrated electronic medical record. GE Medical Systems Information Technologies is a business of GE Medical Systems, an $8 billion global leader in medical imaging and technology. Additional information about GE Medical Systems can be found at www.gemedical.com.