St. Luke's Episcopal Health System Decreases Patient Wait Time and En

St. Luke's Episcopal Health System Decreases Patient Wait Time and Enhances Patient Care Using Dell Technology

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/Technology Writers

    ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2005--

MediLogistics Electronic Bed-Management System, Dell Notebooks to aid in Bedside Diagnosis; Expected to Improve Patient Care, Staff Efficiency
    Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) has helped St. Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston launch a comprehensive set of technology programs that are expected to dramatically improve the system's ability to serve patients, while making it one of the most technologically advanced care centers in the United States.
    Chief among these projects is a new electronic bed-management system that allows members of the staff to manage the inventory of available hospital beds, helping to ensure that patients are admitted more quickly to the hospital. BedCentral by MediLogistics utilizes St. Luke's secure wireless infrastructure to deliver web-based content from Dell PowerEdge(TM) servers to Dell Axim(TM) handhelds. The system gives the hospital staff access to important patient information in real-time, from the moment patients are admitted to the hospital, to when they're discharged.
    For example, as soon as a patient has been discharged or transferred, environmental teams are automatically alerted and dispatched to rooms and beds needing service. Staff members update the information using their Dell Axims when the room has been cleaned and prepared. This new information is immediately uploaded into the hospital system, giving Patient Access Services the information needed to make admission decisions.
    In addition to the bed-management project, Dell and St. Luke's have completed a variety of other technology projects, including:

--	a powerful, secure wireless network that allows hospital caregivers to access electronic patient records at the point of care using Dell Axim handhelds
--	a comprehensive portal running on Dell PowerEdge servers allowing physicians and staff to view and update patient information at all times
--	use of Dell notebooks on mobile carts to aid in bedside diagnosis, allowing hospital personnel to access vital statistics, images, test results and patient demographics from anywhere in the hospital.

    "Our hospital has invested heavily in clinical information technology and infrastructure, but if we are unable to admit patients, our technology investment is not realized," said Kay Carr, chief technology officer of St. Luke's. "Every department at St. Luke's must have access to real-time patient information in order for us to provide first-rate patient care."
    "Medical teams can't care for patients while they're in the waiting room," said Karen Myers, vice president of nursing for St. Luke's, "and patients can only be admitted once our housekeeping teams have prepared beds and rooms. Now, through our electronic bed management system, all teams have the information they need to admit patients more quickly and begin the healing process."

    About St. Luke's Episcopal Health System

    St. Luke's Episcopal Health System comprises the flagship St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, founded in 1954 by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas; St. Luke's Community Medical Center-The Woodlands, opened in 2003; St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities, the largest charity in Houston devoted to health; and Kelsey-Seybold Management, LLP, overseeing 21 area clinic locations. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital is home to the Texas Heart Institute, founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD, and consistently ranked among the top 10 cardiology and heart surgery centers in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. St. Luke's was the first hospital in Texas named a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence and the Health System has been recognized by FORTUNE as among "100 Best Companies to Work For" (2002, 2004, 2005) and by the Houston Business Journal as the top healthcare employer in Houston for three consecutive years. For more information, visit www.sleh.com.

    About Dell

    Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) is a trusted and diversified information-technology supplier and partner, and sells a comprehensive portfolio of products and services directly to customers worldwide. Dell designs, builds and delivers innovative, tailored systems that provide customers with exceptional value. Company revenue for the past year was $49.2 billion. For more information about Dell and its products and services, visit www.dell.com.

    About MediLogistics

    MediLogistics, Inc., a Houston based software company, is a provider of Patient Flow Software for medium to large Hospitals and Health Care Clinics. BedCentral, MediLogistics' premier product, provides an innovative way for Hospitals to increase bed availability, track patient flow, reduce wait times and increase patient satisfaction. Information on MediLogistics and its products can be obtained at www.medilogistics.com.

    Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.

    Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

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CONTACT: Dell Inc., Round Rock Dean Kline, 512-728-8626 dean_kline@dell.com or Lacy Attuso, 512-542-2837 lattuso@gcigroup.com

KEYWORD: TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE MEDICAL DEVICES MEDICAL SOFTWARE NETWORKING PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Dell Inc.

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