FONEMED To Establish Medical Call Center in Bogotá, Colombia

September 11, 1997, GENEVA (ITU Inter@ctive Conference) -- FONEMED is pleased to announce the establishment of its second international joint venture, FONEMED Colombia. This announcement was made today to the world press at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Interactive Conference by Ken Bleakley, Managing Partner of FONEMED. The new company is the result of a joint venture between FONEMED, a US company, and Multimedia y Comunicaciones, a leading Colombian telecommunications company. FONEMED Colombia plans on launching its commercial operations for a Medical Call Center in Bogotá, Colombia before the end of the year.

Ken Bleakley commented on the technological breakthrough this joint venture marks in South America. "The Medical Call Center in Bogotá, with its fully automated and 24 hour service, will be interactive Communications Telephone Integration technology being used to significantly improve healthcare for millions of Colombians. FONEMED is proud to be the leaders in utilizing this important technology for the promotion of health in the nation of Colombia."

Eduardo Orozco, speaking on behalf of FONEMED Colombia, stated that, "The Medical Call Center will be a tremendous tool for Colombians and the organizations that pay for their health insurance. The Center will provide convenient access for workers to the national Social Security program and will make the nation’s insurance companies, HMO’s (EPS’s), and Workman’s Compensation program equipped to deliver better service to the citizens of Colombia."

FONEMED’s US and International operations are headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. In addition to establishing Call Centers abroad, FONEMED markets and manages Medical Call Center Services for US health plans, associations, non-profit organizations, businesses, public utilities, and the military. The FONEMED Medical Call Center provides 24-hour medical advice from a Registered Nurse using the software designed by National Health Enhancement Systems (NHES), clinical algorithms developed by MICROMEDEXâ , and pediatric guidelines written by Dr. Barton Schmitt of Denver Children's Hospital. The call center also features the largest fully-automated Audio Health Library in the health care industry with topics in English and Spanish.

Ken Bleakley commented on the technological breakthrough this joint venture marks in South America. "The Medical Call Center in Bogotá, with its fully automated and 24 hour service, will be interactive Communications Telephone Integration technology being used to significantly improve healthcare for millions of Colombians. FONEMED is proud to be the leaders in utilizing this important technology for the promotion of health in the nation of Colombia."

Eduardo Orozco, speaking on behalf of FONEMED Colombia, stated that, "The Medical Call Center will be a tremendous tool for Colombians and the organizations that pay for their health insurance. The Center will provide convenient access for workers to the national Social Security program and will make the nation’s insurance companies, HMO’s (EPS’s), and Workman’s Compensation program equipped to deliver better service to the citizens of Colombia."

FONEMED’s US and International operations are headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. In addition to establishing Call Centers abroad, FONEMED markets and manages Medical Call Center Services for US health plans, associations, non-profit organizations, businesses, public utilities, and the military. The FONEMED Medical Call Center provides 24-hour medical advice from a Registered Nurse using the software designed by National Health Enhancement Systems (NHES), clinical algorithms developed by MICROMEDEXâ , and pediatric guidelines written by Dr. Barton Schmitt of Denver Children's Hospital. The call center also features the largest fully-automated Audio Health Library in the health care industry with topics in English and Spanish.