Nuffield Hospitals Selects BridgeForward for System-wide Integration.

BridgeForward's ClearSpan Server to provide connectivity for a comprehensive IT strategy led by Agfa Healthcare that includes Agfa's PACS, RIS and CR; Initiate's EMPI technology and Dictaphone's Powerscribe.

BOSTON, Mass. & BRACKNELL, England -- BridgeForward Software, Inc., a leading provider of application integration technology to the US and UK healthcare industry today announced that it has been selected by Nuffield Hospitals - one of the largest private hospital groups in the UK -- to enable them to transition into the fully digital imaging and data-management environment.

The project calls for the installation of Agfa HealthCare's next-generation PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications Systems), IMPAX[TM] 6.2, Agfa's RIS (Radiology Information Systems), CR (Computed Radiography) Systems, Initiate Systems[TM] MPI (Master Patient Index) and Dictaphone's PowerScribe. All 40 Nuffield hospitals are expected to complete the transition by December 2007.

"Following a comprehensive tender with several UK PACS providers the decision to go with Agfa HealthCare, BridgeForward Software and their consortium partners was based on their ability to deliver the project in a tight time-frame and to provide the level of integration required in a complex multi-site organisation," said Dr. Mohammed Hussein, PACS project manager and technical consultant, Nuffield Hospital Group. "With their exceptional support infrastructure and innovative solutions, the Nuffield Hospital group feels that Agfa HealthCare and its consortium partners will be able to provide the best long-term partnership to meet our IT requirements for the foreseeable future."

Agfa HealthCare's proven track record as a healthcare IT integrator as demonstrated under the NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) as well as BridgeForward's broad experience in application integration were critical to securing this project with Nuffield," added Grant Witheridge, UK country manager, Agfa HealthCare.

"We are delighted to have been selected by Nuffield Hospitals for this important, enterprise-wide project," stated Gina Stradis, BridgeForward's vice president for EMEA. "Each of the companies that comprises the Agfa HealthCare consortium is a technology leader in its field. Our goal was to support our consortium partners with a resilient integration platform and give Nuffield a cost-effective integration solution that expanded Nuffield's reach and capacity while reducing risk."

BridgeForward continues to expand its reach into the private healthcare sector in the UK. In 2005 BridgeForward was awarded the integration contract for the 49 hospital BMI Healthcare Group. Upon completion of the Nuffield Hospitals project, BridgeForward's market-leading integration engine, ClearSpan Server will be utilized by more than 90 private hospitals in the UK.

About BridgeForward Software, Inc.

Founded by the same team that created MicroScript Corporation, BridgeForward brings together the EAI pioneers who developed two of the most popular application integration products in healthcare: MicroScript Server and the award-winning e-Biz2000[TM]. Together these two products became the most installed integration technology in US and UK healthcare.

BridgeForward's ClearSpan Server[TM] integration platform and the embeddable, private label version, Edge4 are largely based on e-Biz2000[TM]. BridgeForward reacquired the e-Biz 2000 technology in 2003 and has added significant new features and functionality under the brand names ClearSpan Server[TM] and Edge4. With more than 2,200 healthcare installs of its core technology, BridgeForward Software Inc. is a leading provider of practical, healthcare application integration solutions. ClearSpan Server[TM] and Edge4 each provide a suite of easy-to-use, right-sized and right priced tools for the rapid integration of legacy and Web-based applications as well as data migration. www.bridgeforward.net

About Agfa HealthCare

Agfa HealthCare, part of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, provides advanced imaging and healthcare IT systems & services for clinical specialties and healthcare facility management. These systems and services span the entire healthcare enterprise, allowing facilities to improve efficiency and productivity while promoting advances in patient safety, medical outcomes, and quality.

Agfa HealthCare's solutions work across departmental disciplines to integrate information and to streamline the workflows and operations of hospitals, imaging centers, specialty clinics and other healthcare facilities. Imaging systems capture, process, and manage diagnostic images from a multitude of sources within and beyond the healthcare enterprise, integrating into a variety of workflows and systems. Specific Imaging & IT solutions serve several medical specialties and departments including radiology, laboratory, cardiology, orthopedics and Intensive Care Units. In addition, Agfa HealthCare is a leader in the fast growing market of IT systems that span the entire healthcare enterprise and through which significant gains are made in effectiveness and efficiency. Many of the solutions can be implemented on a stand-alone basis and serve as the building blocks for comprehensive imaging & IT solutions.

About Nuffield Hospital Group

Nuffield Hospitals was established in 1957 and has been providing high quality healthcare services to local communities ever since.

As a not for profit organisation and a registered charity Nuffield Hospitals does not have shareholders. We reinvest our entire surplus back into improved health services such as improved facilities and services, modern technology and equipment.

Nuffield Hospitals continues to grow our network through acquisitions and investment in extending our services. We currently have 39 hospitals in England and one in Scotland and have expanded our services to include Nuffield Proactive Health and Vanguard Healthcare. For more information, please visit http://www.nuffieldhospitals.org.uk/.