Mobile, AL and Moorestown, NJ, July 31, 2002 — Meresys Development Corporation and Iridian Technologies announced that an innovative iris recognition-enabled medical records management solution has been launched at University of South Alabama (USA) Hospitals in Mobile, AL. Iris authentication replaces user ID and password access to the CARLOS (Computer Aided Record Location and Deficiency Systems) systems at the three USA Hospitals.

With iris recognition technology, only clinicians with appropriate access privileges are granted permission to view information and associated reports. The new system keeps sensitive clinical information secured from inappropriate access. These improvements are part of the University of South Alabama’s strategy for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

“In healthcare, protecting the confidentiality of patient information is very important,” said Dianne Bass, manager of medical records at USA Medical Center. “I think that iris recognition security systems can play an important role in preventing unauthorized users from accessing highly confidential databases. Since the iris of every person is unique, a higher level of confidence can be placed in this biometric security system than in security systems that use alpha or numeric passwords.”

Kirk Simm, manager of medical records at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital added, “We feel that by utilizing iris technology we are raising the bar regarding security access. Biometric applications are no longer figments of science fiction, they are a reality. Applications for this new and emerging technology are endless.”

Iris recognition technology is also user friendly. “It is very easy to use and very accurate,” said Martha Schultz, medical records supervisor at USA Knollwood Hospital. “I have had no rejections since it was installed. It is simply a matter of glancing up and within a second I am logged into the system.”

Iris recognition from Iridian Technologies is the most accurate, non-invasive and easy to use biometric for secure authentication and positive identification. Based on the rich detail of the iris of the eye – the most mathematically distinct feature of the human body – the technology’s one-to-many matching capability can scale to support large populations with millions of users.

“We have followed iris recognition technology and watched it evolve from its infancy several years ago,” said Rick Coyer, President and CEO of Meresys Development Corporation. “We recognized the value of this type of authentication within the healthcare industry and have applied considerable time and resources to building solutions around it. We are currently refining tools that will allow you to use iris recognition to track where individuals have been and/or what functions they may have performed within an application. Simply put, this technology makes good sense and has come along at a time when it is needed the most.”

CARLOS automates the process of tracking patient records and notifying physicians of deficient records. Information regarded as confidential is kept within the system for reporting purposes.

About University of South Alabama Hospitals
University of South Alabama Hospitals, located in Mobile Alabama, are part of the USA Health System. The three USA hospitals, along with the USA College of Medicine and USA Physicians, make up the region’s largest and most comprehensive health care system. As part of a teaching and research institution, USA Hospitals serve as a major referral center and offer many unique services for southern Alabama, southern Mississippi and northwest Florida.

USA Medical Center serves as the primary teaching hospital for the USA College of Medicine. It is the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, providing the highest level of emergency care 24 hours a day. The USA Regional Burn and Wound Center offers care for critically burned patients and is actively involved in burn care research.

Other unique services at USA Medical Center include the USA Regional Stroke Center and SouthFlite USA, the region’s only aeromedical transport service.

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is one of only a handful of free-standing hospitals in the U.S. dedicated specifically to the health care needs of women and children. The hospital emphasizes family-centered care in an environment that supports the healing process.

More babies are born at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital than at all of the other hospitals in the region combined. Mothers experiencing complications during pregnancy are treated in the USA High-Risk Obstetrical Unit. The USA Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery offers the most sophisticated care available for critically ill newborns. Babies born at other hospitals in the region who need this specialized care are brought to USA by the hospital’s Neonatal Transport Service.

Critically ill or injured older children are transported from other hospitals to USA’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit by a specially equipped and staffed Pediatric Transport Unit.

USS Hope provides a cheerful environment for children undergoing chemotherapy treatments and USA’s Childlife Program addresses the psycho-social needs of hospitalized children. The seven acre USA Children’s Park, adjacent to the hospital, reinforces the emphasis on a healing environment.

USA Knollwood Hospital offers a full range of medical and surgical services, as well many specialty services. These include a 24-hour, physician staffed, Emergency Center and Intensive Care Units. Among the specialty services are the USA Digestive Health Center, the USA Regional Breast Care Center, Urodynamics Laboratory and Sleep Disorders Center.

The Restorative Care Program offers a full range of physical and occupational therapy services and the Knollwood Pavilion offers extensive outpatient services.

USA Knollwood Hospital is the future site of the USA Cancer Institute and is home to the region’s only PET/CT, the most advanced technology available for diagnosing tumors.

About Meresys
Meresys Development Corporation is a software development company that targets the healthcare industry. The company partners with qualified individuals and companies in a cooperative effort to build quality systems that enhance the delivery of healthcare and information management. Meresys takes advantage of the latest technology available in Client Server and Internet development tools to produce superior products. For more information about Meresys, you can visit our website at www.meresys.com or contact Rick Coyer at Rcoyer@meresys.com.

About Iridian Technologies
Iridian Technologies, Inc. of Moorestown, NJ leads the world in research, development and marketing of authentication technologies based on iris recognition – the most accurate biometric identifier. Holder of exclusive US and international patents on the core concepts and technologies behind iris recognition, Iridian offers unparalleled security for public-use applications such as simplified passenger travel and border control, restricted access and information access. With blue-chip investors and Fortune 1000 customers in transportation, government, healthcare and security, Iridian Technologies is committed to providing the authentication infrastructures critical for today’s rapidly evolving physical and information security needs and for tomorrow’s wireless world. For more information, visit www.iridiantech.com.

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