MedMined's Infection-Tracking Technology Reduces the Human and Economic Toll of Hospital-Acquired Infections; Collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and Alabama Hospitals Shows Effectiveness of Data Mining Surveillance Service.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- MedMined, Inc., a medical information technology company, today announced a landmark analysis of the Alabama Hospital Quality Initiative (AHQI), which demonstrates that the company's Data Mining Surveillance(R) service and Nosocomial Infection Marker (NIM(TM)) significantly reduced hospital-acquired infections and lowered the financial burden for payors.

The AHQI Impact Analysis, based on a review of clinical data from six pilot medical centers in Alabama from 2002 to 2004, revealed that AHQI helped the hospitals reduce their rate of infections by more than 19 percent. This reduction lessened lengths of stay and unnecessary readmissions due to infections. There are currently 37 Alabama hospitals participating in the program.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama provide the majority of the financial support for AHQI to improve the quality of patient care for all Alabamians. Among Blue Cross customers, infection rates were reduced 15 percent, representing a considerable decrease in unnecessary expenditures, while improving care.

G.T. LaBorde, MedMined's chief operating officer, said, "This analysis validates that AHQI is truly a win-win opportunity for patients, hospitals, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. It has been very exciting to see clinicians, hospital administrators, and associates of Blue Cross work together on this pioneering effort to improve the quality of care for all patients in Alabama, regardless of insurance coverage. We now see the enormous impact of these combined efforts and are pleased with the role that the MedMined Data Mining Surveillance technology has played in this initiative."

In the United States, hospital-acquired (or nosocomial) infections affect nearly 2 million patients each year and contribute to approximately 88,000 deaths. MedMined employs artificial intelligence technology to continually monitor hospital data for possible warning signs of hospital-acquired infections. The Data Mining Surveillance service combines ongoing review and analysis of infection-related data from hospital systems with clinical support and educational tools designed to facilitate meaningful change and process improvements, and comply with state mandatory reporting requirements.

About MedMined

MedMined is a Birmingham-based medical information technology company founded in 2000 to provide data mining analysis and related technical, clinical, and financial consulting services to the healthcare community. MedMined's patented infection-tracking technology and proprietary service are being used by more than 100 hospitals nationwide, covering more than 1 million hospital admissions yearly. MedMined also has established arrangements with both Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Blue Shield of California Foundation will launch a community-based initiative later this summer. For more information, visit www.medmined.com.

Note to editors: To request a copy of the AHQI Impact Analysis (2003/2004) or to schedule an interview with G.T. LaBorde, MedMined's chief operating officer, please call Barbara Sullivan at 714/374-6174.