Thomson Micromedex teams with Geisinger to advance evidence-based decision support solutions

Micromedex Order Sets address healthcare organizations’ needs to keep current with medical advances to improve patient care, quality, outcomes, and regulatory initiatives.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., April 10, 2006 — Thomson Micromedex, part of the Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), today announced an alliance with Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa., to develop comprehensive evidence-based order sets (medication instructions and treatment options) that healthcare organizations can use to standardize and improve patient care, quality, outcomes and efficiencies.

Through this collaboration, Micromedex will acquire a substantial collection of proven inpatient order sets from Geisenger, a leader and pioneer in patient care, clinical translation, outcomes research and education. The two businesses will then collaborate on projects that integrate these established proven medical protocols with evidence-based clinical knowledge solutions. The new product, Micromedex Order Sets, will address healthcare organizations’ needs for detailed instructions and treatment options that reflect current standards, medical evidence, and quality and regulatory initiatives for the most frequent hospital and emergency department diagnoses, procedures and complaints.

The 3,400-plus hospitals in Canada and the U.S. currently using Micromedex knowledge products can apply Micromedex Order Sets workflow capabilities to maintain a clinically consistent knowledge base. Micromedex Order Sets also will include a customization tool that links to a variety of Micromedex evidence-based clinical decision support modules¾summary drug, lab and disease, patient education, and integrated hospital formularies¾to help healthcare organizations adapt and individualize the product to their own hospital policies and procedures.

“Geisinger’s clinical experience and expertise in clinical translation and electronic health record utilization complement Micromedex knowledge solutions,” said Ronald A. Paulus, M.D., M.B.A., Geisinger’s chief health information technology venture officer. “This new solution supports institutions striving to deliver customizable and flexible patient care through an optimally integrated clinical workflow. The combination of our best practices and Micromedex clinical content addresses customer needs to decrease the time it takes to research, create, and maintain updated Order Sets that facilitate the delivery of evidence-based care in a safe, reliable and efficient manner.”

Hospitals are under increasing pressure from consumer safety advocates, health quality authorities and regulatory agencies to improve the quality of healthcare delivery. For example, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 100,000 Lives Campaign asks U.S. hospitals to commit to changes that would improve patient care and prevent avoidable deaths. Micromedex Order Sets will help healthcare professionals reach their goals. They are written in compliance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

“Together, Thomson Micromedex and Geisinger Health System will provide powerful, easy-to-use evidence-based clinical knowledge to help healthcare providers improve outcomes, as well as meet and maintain high quality standards,” said Jay Katzen, vice president of marketing and product development, Thomson Micromedex. “This alliance also supports our strategic commitment to provide point-of-care workflow tools that help drive improved enterprise performance.”

Micromedex Order Sets will be available as a standalone solution for pre-integration, and to help ease the transition to an integrated setting, and as an integrated solution for computerized physician order entry (CPOE).

About Geisinger Health System
Geisinger Health System, is the foremost and largest rural healthcare provider in the United States.  Founded in 1912, it has evolved into one of the nation's leading fully integrated healthcare providers. Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. With three major regional medical centers and a 650-member group practice, the pioneering system is  home to the industry's pre-eminent not-for-profit rural HMO and the renowned Center for Health Research and Rural Advocacy -- dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Geisinger Ventures is the Health System's development and commercialization arm, designed to leverage Geisinger’s experience in clinical translation, outcomes research and electronic health records.  For more information, visit www.geisinger.org or www.geisinger.org/professionals/ventures.
 
 About The Thomson Corporation and Thomson Micromedex
The Thomson Corporation (TOC), with 2005 revenues of $8.70 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of scientific research, healthcare, law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, and corporate e-learning and assessment.. Thomson, with operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., has approximately 40,000 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). Thomson Micromedex (www.micromedex.com), a part of Thomson Scientific & Healthcare, is the premier global provider of integrated clinical knowledge solutions that are delivered to clinicians whenever and wherever needed.