International Health Care Videoconference Deploys VTEL's Visual Communication Solutions to Discuss New Medical Practices in Cardiology

Business Wire, Feb 25, 2000

Business Editors/Health, Medical & High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2000

VTEL Supports 15th Annual "Echo in Context" Videoconference hosted by Duke University Medical Center and King's College, London

VTEL(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:VTEL), a leading provider of interactive and Internet-based visual communication solutions, has partnered with Duke University Medical Center to provide trans-Atlantic videoconferencing for "Echo in Context," an international health care forum on today's most common valve disorder known as mitral regurgitation.

Originating simultaneously from Duke University in Durham, N.C., and King's College Hospital in London, the videoconference will be broadcast live to Europe, the Middle East and the Americas beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 26, 2000. The lectures will be rebroadcast to the Asia-Pacific region with a live faculty for discussions. The program will reach cardiologists and other health care professionals around the globe involved in the care of patients with heart disease.

"Much has changed in the diagnosis and treatment of mitral regurgitation. We are better at obtaining more precise diagnostic information, and we are better at medical and surgical management," said Dr. Joseph Kisslo, professor of medicine and program director for Echo in Context. "The purpose of the videoconference is to bring cardiologists, surgeons and other professionals together to share the latest medical information and diagnostic methods. VTEL's partnership is extremely valuable because it enables us to construct a didactic learning experience through real-time lectures, case reviews, faculty discussions and visual cues."

"Echo in Context" is the longest-standing and most popular recurring telemedicine educational event in the world. In its 15th year, the program presents comprehensive medical information in a concise and easy-to-understand format through live lectures, case presentations and pathologic reviews.

"Videoconferencing breaks geographical barriers and allows health care experts to learn common ways to diagnose mitral regurgitation through reflected images of the heart and through in-depth discussions online," said Stephen Von Rump, chief executive officer and president of VTEL. "VTEL is proud to be a part of this advanced educational forum that enables physicians from around the world to incorporate medical innovations into their daily practice."

Based in Austin, Texas, with offices and resellers in 61 countries, VTEL Corporation is a global leader in high-technology visual communications products and services. From Internet visual communications software and services to videoconferencing systems and video-networking solutions, VTEL offers customers the most complete range of products and implementation support. VTEL serves customers in the commercial, education, health care and government markets by combining the power of traditional videoconferencing with the vast reach of the Internet.

VTEL is a registered trademark of VTEL Corporation VTEL Corporation, 108 Wild Basin Road, Austin, Texas 78746 Phone: 512/437-2700, Fax: 512/437-2792 VTEL Web site: http://www.vtel.com