Symbol Announces Duke Univ. Medical Center's Use of Symbol Palm Computer for Enhanced Patient Care

Symbol Announces Duke Univ. Medical Center's Use of Symbol Palm Computer for Enhanced Patient Care

Shirt-Pocket Device Provides Patient Information

1999-2-23 HOLTSVILLE, NY

Symbol Technologies, Inc. today announced that Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) is using Symbol's SPT 1550 palm-size computer - based on the popular 3Com Palm III computer platform -- for its physician charge capture initiative to enhance patient care. The initial programs have demonstrated that the combination of a powerful mobile device and the right software platform result in cost- and time-saving improvements.

"Symbol's Palm-based mobile device provides the flexibility and performance physicians need at any time, in any patient care location to help ensure accurate and timely capture of the care provided," said Dr. Peter Kussen, chief medical officer at DUMC. "Next-generation mobile solutions will expand our abilities beyond improving reporting of point-of-care information to also include checking e-mail and receiving lab reports at the point and time of patient care."

Symbol has partnered with Durham-based ClinEffect Systems, the leading developer of physician charge capture software, to create a customized solution for DUMC. The palm-sized SPT 1550 mobile computing device from Symbol, operating on ClinEffect's CEDS software platform, enables DUMC's physicians to scan patient wristbands for identification, view patient profiles on screen, select relevant patient care codes and make any clinical notations all at the point and time of patient care.

"Our expertise is in the development of software platforms that further physician's abilities to effectively and efficiently manage patient care from the bedside through the system," said Lloyd A. Hey, M.D., chairman of ClinEffect Systems. "The solution customized in partnership with Symbol eliminates the PC infrastructure, minimizing costs while increasing a caregiver's mobility to the point of care - be it in the operating room, emergency room, remote clinics or at a patient's bedside."

"The performance and shirt-pocket size of the SPT 1550 make it a perfect match for the portability and flexibility needs of physicians," said Joe McCormick, Symbol's senior director of worldwide healthcare markets. "Symbol Technologies brings to healthcare a long and proven record in technology innovation. Symbol invented hand-held laser bar-code scanning, pioneered hand-held mobile computing solutions and revolutionized wireless networking and telephony for business. Those four core enabling technologies are at the heart of clinical patient care applications being developed by Symbol and its partners for hospitals around the world."

About Symbol Technologies

Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company™, is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world's leading companies.

For press information:

Symbol Technologies, Inc.

Erin Farrell: farreler@symbol.com
+1.631.738.4068

Bill Abelson: abelsonb@symbol.com
+1.631.738.4751

Patricia Hall: hallp@symbol.com
+1.631.738.5636

Joey Marquart: joey.marquart@edelman.com
212-704-8133

Elizabeth Blicharz: elizabeth.blicharz@edelman.com
212.704.4484

Symbol Technologies Europe, Middle East, Africa:

Helen Rigby: helen.rigby@symbol.com
+44 118 945 7527

Symbol Technologies Asia Pacific:

Tze Hui Low: Lowt@symbol.com
+65 6796 9621

For financial information:

Symbol Technologies, Inc.

Erin Farrell-Talbot
+1.631.738.4068

Lori Chaitman: chaitmal@symbol.com
631.738.5050

For industry analyst information:

Symbol Technologies, Inc.

Shirley Schroedl: schroeds@symbol.com
631.738.4388