Elsevier Launches First Wireless Product for Hospitals

ORLANDO, Fla., HIMSS Booth #2206, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsevier today announced FIRST Consult is available as a wireless tool for hospital physicians and students. This is the industry's first and only handheld decision support tool designed specifically for point-of-care and integration with a hospital network; enabling physicians full access to all resources and information available on FIRST Consult without having to leave their patient's side.

This announcement aligns with Elsevier's commitment to expand the electronic products within the MD Consult Clinical Knowledge System, the company's premiere online medical information system for physicians and medical students.

"In a point-of-care environment, such as a hospital, it's essential for clinicians to have access to the latest evidence-based information," said Holly Harden, Liaison Librarian, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "FIRST Consult enables our staff to obtain immediate diagnosis and treatment protocols for patients within moments, never having to leave the emergency or hospital room. FIRST Consult mirrors our commitment - to offer the most advanced tools available, providing a higher level of training for students and ultimately greater quality care for patients."

In the U.S., the number of wired hospitals continues to grow, with approximately 60 percent of hospitals wired today. That growth is the reason Elsevier designed FIRST Consult specifically for the point-of-care environment; the technology integrates with wireless computing systems that are already in place. The content is specifically formatted for a handheld device -- current wireless offerings need to be adapted from pre-existing systems and are often cumbersome to use. FIRST Consult is compliant with the latest Wi-Fi technologies, offering a significant cost savings for hospital administrators, as they do not have to upgrade their networks.

"The wireless expansion of FIRST Consult meets an integral demand for the medical community -- access to evidence-based, clinical information at any moment, any time," said Fiona Foley, Executive Vice President Global Medicine/MD Consult. "We will continue to address the needs of our customers -- providing physicians with the latest technological advancements to enhance their practice, hospital and care to patients."

FIRST Consult's Features include: * Differential Diagnosis tool enables practitioners to work back from a patient's presenting sign or symptom drawn from a list of 1,500 diagnoses, sorted by age and prevalence. * Medical Condition files offer consistently organized, regularly updated information on patient evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, tests, disease management and more. * Closer integration with MD Consult: more links between FIRST Consult and MD Consult, to ensure greater clinical decision support and ultimately improved patient care

In addition, FIRST Consult offers physicians step-by-step instructions with video demonstrations of commonly performed medical procedures; patient education materials in both English and Spanish. The wireless network capability of FIRST Consult is currently being tested at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, with additional medical institutions implementing shortly. It will be widely available in the Spring 2004.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading science and medical publisher. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, the company publishes more than 1,800 journals and 2,200 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect and MD Consult, bibliographic databases, online reference works and subject specific portals.

Elsevier is a global company headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

For further information, please contact: Jennifer Brendel, ext. 108, jbrendel@fischerhealth.com, or Cathy DiRamiol, ext. 129, cdiramio@fischerhealth.com, both of FischerHealth, +1-310-577-7870, for Elsevier.

Elsevier

CONTACT: Jennifer Brendel, ext. 108, jbrendel@fischerhealth.com, or
Cathy DiRamiol, ext. 129, cdiramio@fischerhealth.com, both of FischerHealth,
+1-310-577-7870, for Elsevier