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West Virginia's Leading Hospital Selects Merge Healthcare for Cardiology Imaging and Information Solutions

Mon General is replacing all of the existing imaging systems in their cardiology department with Merge solutions, including information systems for cardiology image management, hemodynamics and ECG.

"We needed to eliminate the inefficiency caused by the disparate systems we previously had," said Steve Carter, CIO at Mon General Hospital. "We met with executives from Merge and were impressed with the company's direction and their roadmap for future products. Ultimately, we selected Merge because it was the best fit for our long term goal of having a fully integrated, enterprise-wide cardiovascular information system."

Merge Cardio is an enterprise-level cardiology image and information system that manages and analyzes digital medical images. It also provides clinical tools such as web-based physician reporting from office or home, and provides separate reports linked to a single imaging study.

Merge Hemo, a cardiac cath lab knowledge tool integrates complete functionality for data collection, waveform analysis, inventory control, patient charging, and procedure reporting.

Merge Cardio ECG will provide an integrated, vendor neutral, web-based visualization platform for all non-invasive cardiology data. Cardiologists, emergency room physicians, anesthesiologists and referring physicians will now have 'anywhere access' to not only the patient's ECG information, but their images and clinical data as well.

"Merge Hemo will streamline many of our current processes and give us real data in real time and allow staff to focus on the patient and procedure," said Diana Bridges, Director of Cardiovascular Services, Mon General Hospital.

"With Merge, Mon General will have a consolidated cardiology system that spans across their entire enterprise enabling them to improve communication and exchange image and patient information more effectively," said Jeff Surges, CEO of Merge Healthcare. "We look forward to developing our relationship with Mon General and to delivering solutions that will help them improve efficiency, image interoperability, and most importantly, patient care."

About Merge Healthcare

Merge Healthcare is the leading provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions. Merge solutions facilitate the sharing of images to create a more effective and efficient electronic healthcare experience for patients and physicians. Merge provides enterprise imaging solutions for radiology, cardiology and orthopaedics; a suite of products for clinical trials; software for financial and pre-surgical management, and applications that fuel the largest modality vendors in the world. Merge's products have been used by healthcare providers, vendors and researchers worldwide to improve patient care for more than 20 years. Additional information can be found at www.merge.com.

About Mon General Hospital

Mon Health System is an integrated health care delivery system that provides a full range of family centered care to residents of north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. Mon General provides quality patient care and clinical services and develops relationships with medical staff and other regional providers to improve its market position. Mon General is an independent organization that operates financially in the top quartile of West Virginia Health Systems/Hospitals.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The matters discussed in this news release may include forward-looking statements, which could involve a number of risks and uncertainties. When used in this press release, the words "will," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements

Media Contact:
For Merge Healthcare
Brenda Stewart, 312-540-6622
Director, Marketing Communications
brenda.stewart@merge.com