Ontario Internet Health

Company Announces New Internet

Based Services

Most Extensive & Conservative Use Of Internet For Increasing Health Care Access In Ontario

August 1, 2000 --

Prescription Renewals On-Line
Physician Referrals to U.S. for MRI, CT SCANS, Mammography and other testing
Physician Referrals to U.S. for physician specialist services
Medical Information Websites

MEDIA CONTACTS: Contact Dr. Lamb at his practice in Oakville 905-844-3561`

Dr. G. Blair Lamb, MD, President of the Iasis Corporation of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada announced today new internet based medical services for Canadians.

"We are pleased to be a part of renewal of the Ontario health care system by giving Canadians better access to health services using the internet." said Dr. Lamb. "We combine the convenience of the internet with the excellence of Canadian and American physicians and services to give patients greater choices in their health care. Canada has the best health care system in the world – expert physicians, dedicated nurses and hospitals staffed by people committed to serving patients. Our country and its provinces have invested a huge percentage of our national wealth in creating access to healthcare."

"Now with a growing and an aging population needing more health services combined with fewer physicians to meet those challenges, it is more difficult for many people to access the health system quickly. We have designed our services to help the health system be more efficient and to create new ways to access care."

"Iasis Corporation is a private, Canadian for-profit corporation. All of the fees for our services are fully disclosed to allow Canadians to make informed decisions about their healthcare. We believe that this openness reflects our respect for Canadian healthcare consumers."

Iasis Safeguard

The key to the internet-based services is our Iasis Safeguard health system - an extensive information and verification process to maximize security and accuracy. Each client completes a medical review form on-line. Iasis Corporation then confirms key elements of the information to authenticate the client. The annual cost of being in the programme is C$25.

Prescription Renewals

Patients may request on-line a renewal of their prescription from their physician. Using this process, patients may avoid the need for time-off work for unnecessary appointments. Physicians can free the time these appointments take to see other patients who may be waiting for an appointment. Using this renewal system gives the physician a faxed hardcopy of the request to review for approval rather than a telephone request.

This will improve patient safety and will give the physician better documentation. If approved, the physician’s office faxes the approval to the patient’s pharmacy already identified on the renewal request by the Iasis Safeguard health system. If the doctor wants to see the patient before issuing the renewal, the patient is called for an appointment.

The medications covered in this prescription service are non-narcotic, non-critical, standard prescriptions. The administration cost of the service is C$30 per request of up to three medications with C$15 to the doctor and C$15 to Iasis. A refund of C$15 is issued when the renewal requires an appointment.

www.drugsanddocs.com

There is no cost to the physician to participate in this service.

Physician Referrals For U.S. Imaging

A referral service is provided by Ontario physicians for MRIs and CT scans (often used to investigate knees, hips, back or neck problems, rule out cancers or tumours.) Mammography (breast scan), and other imaging services.

These scans can usually be arranged in border cities like Buffalo, New York within a few days with results available within 48 hours.

For many waiting for these procedures in Ontario, this alternative will provide a faster solution. As some Ontario patients access this US service, other Canadians will be able to have their procedure sooner.

Payment for the procedures is made directly by the patient to the imaging facility. For example, an MRI in Buffalo is currently priced at US$465.

The administrative cost for arranging the Canadian physician assessment for referral to the U.S. is C$50 payable to the Iasis Corporation. Clients must also be a member of the Iasis Safeguard health system for information and verification – annual cost C$25.

www.vipdocs.com

Physician Referrals To U.S. For Physician Specialist Services

Ontario patients who need treatment for specialist treatments such as orthopedic (like knee or hip replacements), neurology, cancer, dermatology, urology may be referred to the U.S. for treatment.

For some clients access to a specialist’s assessment is the goal. For others, specific treatment or a medical procedure is required. Working cooperatively with selected physician groups in the U.S., VIP Docs can arrange for a referral from an Ontario physician to the U.S. to access treatment if medically necessary.

The administrative cost to arrange the Canadian physician assessment and ongoing services is 5% of the treatment cost. Estimates of assessments and treatment are available on request.

Clients must also be a member of the Iasis Safeguard health system for information and verification – annual cost C$25.

www.vipdocs.com

Medical Information Websites

Other affiliated websites include:

www.drlamb.com A website by Dr. Blair Lamb, MD of Oakville, Ontario to understand pain and treatment of conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, whiplash and more.

Iasis Corporation is a private corporation.

All prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.