University of South Alabama and BellSouth Team Up to Bring Telemedicine to Rural Areas.

MOBILE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 1999--

BellSouth Business Organization Delivers High-Speed Video

Conferencing and Data Transmission to Allow Patients

to Be Examined Remotely By Physicians

The University of South Alabama's College of Medicine and BellSouth flipped the switch today on the area's first comprehensive telehealth network, which will help medically underserved patients in rural areas receive medical testing and diagnoses over a high-speed video conferencing and data network. The $3 million Southwest Alabama Rural Telehealth Network (SARTN) uses cutting-edge technology to provide services to patients previously isolated from medical specialty care.

Thanks to BellSouth DS1 (T1 carrier rate) and ISDN dial-up access technology, the network also gives rural nurses and healthcare professionals an integrated e-mail, patient information and telemedicine system as well as fast access to the University's extensive medical libraries.

"We've felt for a long time that it is important to extend medical care to patients wherever they may be," said Dr. J. Raymond Fletcher, medical director, telemedicine services for University of South Alabama. "This has been a total team effort between the University, BellSouth and VTEL to bring what I consider a `Star Wars' brand of medicine to rural areas surrounding Mobile."

The 18-month project to develop and implement SARTN now links medically underserved rural communities in Mobile and Washington counties to the regional healthcare resources and specialists in the University's health system. The University also plans to extend the network into Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Monroe, Wilcox and Montgomery counties.

Each rural site will be equipped with video cameras, computers, special electronic stethoscopes, opthalmoscopes (for eye examinations) and other electronic examination devices that will enable the University's medical specialists to "virtually" examine patients. The specialists can also formulate treatment plans which, in many cases, can be followed in the convenience of the patient's hometown physician's office. In many instances, this technology will alleviate costly and time-consuming trips to specialists in Mobile. The sites can also dial up and receive consultations for emergency or trauma patients. "It's a form of virtual triage," Dr. Fletcher added.

Using the network, the University can bring specialists in OB/GYN, ENT, pediatrics, gastroenterology, trauma/emergency medicine, orthopedics, radiology, cardiology, dermatology, neurology and psychiatry to a service area where many live below the poverty level. Low birth weights and infant mortality are among the highest in the state and across the nation.

"This telemedicine network turns cutting-edge technology into a vital health service for Alabama communities," said Rod Odom, president of BellSouth Business Systems, the network sales unit of BellSouth Business. "By working together, the University and BellSouth Business have been able to make needed care more accessible to a greater number of Alabama patients, while increasing efficiencies in patient information, research and education."

The telehealth network also incorporates rural residency programs for medical students, distance learning for area medical professionals, patient education and counseling, and community education programs. A major goal of the program is to provide continuing education for healthcare professionals in rural communities and to reduce the professional isolation these professionals experience.

Based in Mobile, Ala., the University of South Alabama Health Network is comprised of four hospitals, numerous clinic sites and a 200-member multi-specialty physicians' group. The system includes USA Medical Center, a 406-bed acute care hospital with the area's only Level 1 trauma center; USA Children's and Women's Hospital, a 219-bed birthing and acute care hospital dedicated solely to the healthcare needs of women and children; USA Knollwood Park Hospital, a 100-bed acute care hospital; and USA Knollwood Park Long Term Care Hospital, a 215-bed long-term care facility.

BellSouth Business, through BellSouth Business Systems, BellSouth Managed Network Solutions and BellSouth Communication Systems, serves the needs of mid- to large-size businesses, institutions and organizations. By strategically aligning its network sales, equipment and managed services affiliates under one organization, BellSouth is uniquely positioned to serve the complex telecommunications and data communications needs of its business customers.

BellSouth is a $23 billion communications services company. It provides telecommunications, wireless communications, cable and digital TV, directory advertising and publishing, and Internet and data services to nearly 34 million customers in 19 countries worldwide.

NOTE TO EDITORS: BellSouth Business(sm), BellSouth Business(TM) and BellSouth Business are a service mark, trademark and trade name, respectively, of BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation licensed to and with respect to the trade name, used to collectively identify BellSouth Business Systems, Inc., BellSouth Communication Systems, Inc. and BellSouth MNS, Inc.