eICU® Solution Named Finalist by Microsoft in Annual Awards January 26th, 2004 Microsoft Healthcare Users Group and Microsoft Announce Finalists Of MS-HUG Annual Awards Awards Recognize Innovative Microsoft-Based Healthcare Solutions CHICAGO and REDMOND, Wash. - Jan. 26, 2004 - Microsoft Healthcare Users Group (MS-HUG) and Microsoft Corp. today announced 28 finalists for the MS-HUG annual awards, which recognize the most innovative solutions and customers of Microsoft® technology in the healthcare industry. The honors are awarded annually by MS-HUG, a part of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society's (HIMSS) Users Group Alliance Program. The awards recognize healthcare organizations and individuals who exhibit the best use of Microsoft-based products, and independent software vendors (ISVs) that develop solutions on Microsoft technology for the healthcare industry. Award contestants are evaluated on the extent to which they provide significant business benefits to healthcare organizations and improve patient care. Microsoft introduced a new awards category for the 2004 competition, the Microsoft Nurse of the Year Award, to recognize the nurse who demonstrated the best use of Microsoft-based products and tools in her or his field. "The MS-HUG annual awards program gives Microsoft the opportunity to recognize ISVs offering healthcare technology that addresses industry challenges, and customers who are using Microsoft's proven innovation to provide higher-quality service in the healthcare community," said David Lubinski, managing director of the Healthcare and Life Sciences Group at Microsoft. "By offering new and improved ways to increase productivity, safety and efficiency, all MS-HUG annual award entrants are helping realize the potential of technology in the advancement of healthcare." "The companies and healthcare organizations participating in the MS-HUG awards program are leading the way for dramatic change in the healthcare industry, using proven technology solutions to reduce the rising costs of medical care," said Andrew Fowler, chairman of the MS-HUG Advisory Committee. "By honoring these individuals and organizations, we show our support for, and move toward our goal of, improving the overall quality and effectiveness of patient care." Recognized as leaders in the healthcare industry by Microsoft and MS-HUG, the ISV finalists will demonstrate their solutions in the Microsoft booth at the HIMSS 2004 Conference & Exhibition, Feb. 22-26, in Orlando, Fla. Winners will be announced in the theater at the Microsoft booth, No. 3069, at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. In addition, the ISV and customer winners will be highlighted on the HIMSS and MS-HUG Web sites. The 2004 Acute Care: Clinical/Patient Information Systems finalists for the MS-HUG annual awards are as follows: VISICU Inc., eICU® Solution Stentor Inc., iSite "Enterprise First" PACS Eclipsys Corp., Sunrise Clinical Manager About MS-HUG Microsoft Healthcare Users Group is a membership community within the HIMSS Users Group Alliance Program, providing technology leadership and knowledge for improving healthcare delivery and efficiency. The alliance provides HIMSS with targeted industry expertise to help broaden its professional and industry contributions, and MS-HUG members with the opportunity to reach new markets with educational and professional development programs. MS-HUG is the leading healthcare industry forum for exchanging ideas, promoting learning and sharing solutions for information systems using Microsoft technologies. MS-HUG works to provide industry leadership, drive appropriate standards and develop associated requirements in support of healthcare solutions. The diverse membership of MS-HUG is united by a shared interest in implementing vendor- and user-developed software based on Microsoft technology to improve quality and efficiency in healthcare. More information can be found on MS-HUG's Web site at www.mshug.org.