Leading Medical Institution Tests Newly Released Technology; Industry Leaders Commission Study to Evaluate Handheld Technology Application in Medical Practice
LAS VEGAS — November 18, 1996 — PHYSIX(TM) Inc., a worldwide leader in point-of-care solutions for the health care industry, has joined forces with industry giants Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE: CPQ) to conduct a study with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School on the application of portable, pen-based computer technology to the practice of medicine using the Compaq PC companion with the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE operating system.
"This project intends to study the usefulness of this novel technology at the point of medical care," says Dr. Scott Fishman, the study's principal investigator and medical director of the Pain Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Our goal is to determine how this technology impacts patient care and physician effectiveness and efficiency."
"In the burgeoning field of health care information systems this combination of products provides a pioneering tool for the largest medical informatics initiative in the next decade — automating the environment of health care providers," says Dr. Thomas Giannulli, president of PHYSIX.
"We are seeking to evaluate this technology which promises to provide health care professionals with the technological freedom to concentrate on the patient at the most critical moment — the point of care."
The study will attempt to determine subjective and objective measures of utility and benefit to the physician and health care providers of this technology.
"We are conducting this study with Microsoft and PHYSIX because we think portable PC technology — in particular products like the Compaq PC companion — will have significant potential in the field of medicine and we want to learn more about how this extremely valuable tool can help physicians and health care providers be even more productive," says Ed Olkkola, vice president, communications products division, Compaq Computer Corp. "At less than a pound and small enough to fit in a doctor's lab coat, the PC Companion is ideal for end users in the medical community."
"In our quest to offer new categories of devices to a broad range of industries, we commissioned this study to test the proven technology of the application to our new operating system, Windows CE, and its impact to medicine," says Craig Mundie, senior vice president, consumer platforms division at Microsoft Corp.
"A prime measuring stick will be the overall impact on patient care with this new system," says Giannulli. "Whether it's in the office or at the bedside, we must determine how significantly this technology benefits the physician and, ultimately, the patient."
About PHYSIX, Inc.
Based in Houston, PHYSIX Inc. is the market leader in medical software for mobile pen-based computers. Founded in 1994, this rapidly expanding new health care technology company develops and markets software solutions for managing patient information at the point of care.
About Microsoft Corp.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
About Compaq Computer Corp.
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is the fifth largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers, delivering useful innovation through products that connect people with people and people with information.
About Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital, established in 1811, is the oldest and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic care in virtually every specialty and subspecialty of medicine are offered at the main hospital campus and in three community health centers. Massachusetts General Hospital conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States.
PocketChart and PHYSIX are trademark of PHYSIX, Inc. Microsoft, Windows and Windows CE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
SOURCE: PHYSIX
CONTACT:
John Oleson, SVP of PHYSIX, 800-749-2585, or [email protected];
or
Michelle Herskowitz, Agency, 713-297-9595, or [email protected]