Digital Group of Telehealth Companies - October 1, 2000 Press Conference

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT GOLD MEDAL AWARDED TO PEI TELEHOSPICE PROJECT

Darmouth, Nova Scotia - October 1, 2000

The Digital Group of Telehealth Companies announced today that the West Prince Health Telehospice Project took home a gold medal for innovative services at the Distinction 2000 Awards which were presented at the Government Technology Exhibition (GTEC) conference in Ottawa September 30th. The Distinction 2000 Awards are designed to formally recognize leadership, innovation and excellence in the management and use of information and information technologies within the public sector. The project and its committee members were selected out of a field of 200 outstanding individuals and teams from all levels of government nominated by their colleagues.

Through the use of a video-conferencing system, terminally ill patients in West Prince Edward Island now receive 24-hour-a-day care in the comfort of their own home. The program allows the nurse or doctor to visit with the patient via a patient station located in the home. The station provides both audio and visual contact between the patient and health care provider, and enables monitoring of such things as blood pressure, heart and lung sounds, weight, temperature, blood glucose and oxygen. The service is designed to give the dying person and their family the kind of reassurance and support which is crucial when the choice to die at home has been made.

"It is an honour for PEI to receive such an award in health care technology, especially considering that we were competing with several larger provinces," said Premier Pat Binns. "I think this project had particular appeal because it has a direct impact on patient care. Although it is the only one in Canada, its simplicity gives it the capacity to be used in many other areas of patient care."

The Digital Group of Telehealth Companies undertook the development of this project, in partnership with West Prince Hospice, Island Hospice and the Canadian Association for Palliative Care. Digital Telehealth provided project management, telemedical, and legal expertise as well as tabulated and reported on project outcomes. Digital Image FX Inc. coordinated the provision of equipment and training for the project staff.

"The West Prince Health Authority deserves to be congratulated for their unwavering dedication to this project. Digital has enjoyed working with such a dedicated group of healthcare professionals. " states Wayne Bell, CEO of the Digital Group. " This project has proven that the sensible application of patient focused technology can not only be cost-effective, but preferable, providing a meaningful supplement to the present healthcare infrastructure."

The Digital Group of Telehealth Companies provides telehealth consulting, training, equipment and software/Internet applications. It has developed strategic alliances with various telehealth equipment and software vendors including American TeleCare, TANDBERG and Clinician Support Technology. Digital has research alliances with numerous national and international universities and research centres. Formal agreements include a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Air Force and a technology transfer agreement with NASA. Headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the companies are privately held corporations.