FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 26, 1998
 

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb 26, 1998 -- With its launch of Sequoia Interchange98, HealthCare's first XML transaction server, Sequoia Software Corporation of Columbia, Md., took a first and important step in bringing healthcare organizations into the electronic transaction revolution. The new software product, introduced at the national Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference here, speeds the onset of electronic medical record keeping and the ability of increasingly complex and widespread healthcare organizations to use and manage information over their diverse technology platforms throughout their widely distributed environments. Using XML, an Internet technical language that improves the way information is organized, searched and transported, Sequoia Interchange98 meets the need of physicians for complex clinical and patient encounter information as well as the need of administrators for wide ranging analysis and transaction management. Health care organizations are squeezed between pressure to lower costs and the imperative to maintain quality. Sequoia Interchange98 expands their ability-right now, not sometime in the distant future-to do both without compromise, said Sequoia president Mark Wesker. Costs are reduced because organizations can utilize best of breed technologies, continue to use legacy systems, and link disparate systems, all without expensive back-end modifications. Quality care is improved because physicians gain quicker, and sometimes first-ever access to a complete patient record including imaging. Sequoia was joined in its announcement by an array of technology and healthcare organizations all highly supportive of the XML standard and opportunity presented by Sequoia Interchange98. We are very pleased to be a part of the launch of Sequoia Software's new XML based product for healthcare said John Carpenter, Microsoft's WorldWide Health Industry Manager.

Working with our Industry Solution Award Winner, Sequoia Software, the Sequoia Interchange98 and SQL combination should open doors for more healthcare organizations to benefit from this powerful, nonproprietary technology solution. Sequoia Interchange98 is not a software application, but a foundation on which almost any application-from anesthesia to patient billing-can be built. It is being embedded within software applications and original equipment, and is expected to be installed by large healthcare institutions.

The company demonstrated the product by linking with applications of several healthcare equipment and software providers. Sequoia officials say they expect to bring Sequoia Interchange98 to the marketplace primarily by embedding it within original equipment and making it available through integrators and consultants.

In late 1997, Sequoia was selected by the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to develop a national Master Patient Index using the XML technology. Additional information about Sequoia Software Corporation, Sequoia's development of the national MPI, and Sequoia Interchange98, can be obtained from white papers, news releases, fact sheets and backgrounder through Sequoia's website at www.sequoiasw.com.