SOMERSET, N.J. - October 22, 2002

Netilla® Networks, Inc. said today that Deborah Heart and Lung Center, one of New Jersey's premier cardiac and pulmonary specialty hospitals, has implemented Netilla's Web-based remote access platform to provide its physician network with secure "anytime, anywhere" access to vital patient information via a standard Web browser.

Thanks to Deborah's use of the Netilla Security Platform, both affiliated and on-staff physicians at this 161-bed, Browns Mills, N.J. health care center can monitor the status of their patients by using a standard Web browser to securely connect to Deborah's centralized hospital applications. These include Medical Information Technology Inc.'s MEDITECH Client/Server Health Care Information System, a comprehensive Microsoft® Windows®-based hospital information system. Following a successful pilot program earlier this year, the Netilla-based solution has been rolled out to more than 70 physicians and administrators, with plans to extend access to more than 125 users at the center by year-end.

Netilla is the leading provider of secure Web-based remote access platforms that allow companies to deliver their centralized legacy applications and data to authorized users over any Internet connection. Netilla's Web-based "thin client" approach marks a significant advance over existing virtual private networking (VPN) remote access solutions by eliminating the time and cost of installing applications on the remote user's PC. The Netilla platform uses SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption - the proven technology embedded in today's Web browsers that provides a secure foundation for e-commerce transactions.

"What attracted us to Netilla is how non-invasive the system is for the end user: an authorized doctor can access our MEDITECH application from any Web browser, without having to configure software on their PC," said Gerard Williams, Deborah's director of information systems. "No matter where they're located, our affiliated physicians are now able to monitor patient status and get test results more quickly, with fewer errors. And that translates into better, more timely patient care."

"Deborah's use of our Netilla platform is a prime example of how a hospital can implement technology that simultaneously reduces costs while saving physicians precious time," said Reggie Best, president and chief executive officer of Netilla Networks, Inc. "Netilla has emerged as the clear choice for secure Web-based remote access for healthcare institutions, primarily because of our ease of use, quick integration with existing IT systems and a lower total cost of ownership compared to a traditional VPN."

Deborah's status as a pioneering specialty cardiac and pulmonary hospital - one of its surgeons performed the first open heart surgery back in 1958 - means that it draws patients from referring physicians located throughout south and central New Jersey. Providing an easy way for referring physicians to check the status of their patients admitted to Deborah was a primary goal in developing a remote access solution, Williams noted.

After researching alternatives such as Citrix and dial-up remote access servers (RAS), Williams settled on Netilla because of its functionality and clientless deployment. "What really got me excited about Netilla is that it could run on a standard browser," said Williams. "That means we didn't need to send our support staff out to configure dozens of remote PCs of individual doctors, which would be impractical."

The MEDITECH application provides a centralized repository of updated patient information, including clinical, laboratory, pharmacy, and order entry data. Netilla also met Deborah's requirement to provide remote access while meeting the privacy requirements now coming into effect under federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) guidelines. Data Matrix Incorporated (www.dmatrix.com), a Netilla reseller in Malvern, Pa., installed the Netilla platform in Deborah's data center in less than a day.

Benefits for both referring and consulting physicians
With the Netilla system up and running, referring physicians are now able to log onto the MEDITECH application to monitor the status of their patients once they are admitted to Deborah. For Deborah's consulting physicians, there's another benefit: they can electronically sign orders remotely. "Our unsigned orders have dropped by at least 80% because remote sign-off is now so easy. And until the chart is signed, you can't close it or bill for services," Williams said.

"We've gotten very positive response from our physicians, who love being able to get access to patient information from anywhere - at seminars, working from home, at other locations," said Williams. Just as importantly, this advanced remote-access capability is helping Deborah grow its physician network by strengthening its reputation as an innovator and an excellent physician resource.