Canada's first point-of-care medication dispensing and management system was launched at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre today. The PharmaTrust Dispensary, developed by Oakville-based PCA Services Inc., will operate within Sunnybrook's pharmacy during a three-month evaluation of patient experience with the dispensing process.

During the trial, a PharmaTrust pharmacist will process the prescriptions, verify each medication dispensed, and provide medication counselling to patients using the automation-assisted dispensary.

"Sunnybrook endeavors to be on the forefront in testing innovative new technologies and we're hoping this trial will provide pharmacists additional time with patients to provide optimal counseling and advice on the appropriate use of their medication," says Thomas Paton, director of Pharmacy Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "Our priority is to seek out opportunities that have the potential to enhance patient care."

The PharmaTrust Dispensary can stock up to 220 types of prescription drugs, including pre-packaged oral and topical medications, which are picked by its sophisticated robotic system, after the pharmacist processes the prescription. The system uses advanced RFID technology and bar code scanning systems to identify, label and deliver to the patient the medication prescribed. This is designed to eliminate the potential for dispensing errors.

Commenting on the system being evaluated at Sunnybrook PCAS Chief Pharmacist Jim Gay said, "Patient choice, convenience, safety and privacy are fundamental to our vision of PharmaTrust and we have spent much of the past two years ensuring we can deliver in these key areas at all levels."

"PCAS plans to conduct an independent outcome study to evaluate the benefits offered by PharmaTrust within the context of patient satisfaction and the evolving needs of the healthcare system and its provider," noted Don Waugh CEO and co-founder of the company.

About PCA Services:

Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, PCA Services Inc. is an innovator of hardware and software for the dispensing and ongoing management of patient drug therapy and the developer of the PharmaTrust Dispensary. The company has evolved from a virtual organization as recently as November, 2007 to one with a 16,000 square foot facility and 40 employees.

The PharmaTrust Dispensary is the product of two years of intensive research and development and was designed for deployment in hospitals, pharmacies, medical clinics and other locations. For additional information please visit www.pharmatrust.com.

The company is a federally licensed drug wholesaler and operates an accredited home delivery pharmacy, Direct Care Pharmacy. Additional information can be found at www.directcarepharmacy.ca

Don Waugh Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder:

Don Waugh is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the company. Prior to the start up of PCAS in 2006, he had built three successful technology companies - Quarsametrics, a developer of storage systems for the computer market place founded in 1994; Coolwater Ltd., an Internet access and marketing company, whose clients included Royal Bank of Canada and JVC Canada, Echoworx Corporation, a pioneer in secure email technology founded in 2000. In addition to his current responsibilities with PCAS, Don is Chairman of the Board of Applied Recognition Inc., a company that specializes in the application of face recognition technology. He began his career as a Certified Management Accountant and was involved in overseas development work for the International Development Research Centre before becoming Chief Financial Officer of the Institute for Space and Terrestrial Research.

Peter Suma, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder:

Peter Suma is responsible for the development and execution of the firm's business strategy including the company's day to day operations. Prior to joining PCAS in 2006, he was Vice-President, Investments, at GrowthWorks Capital Ltd., a leading venture capital fund. As principal at Start Seed Capital he invested in early stage technology companies. Peter founded, built and sold SRG Software Inc., a software development firm and repeat winner of Profit Magazine's 'Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies' award and Microsoft's Partner of the Year award. Peter has an Hon. B.Sc. degree from the University of Toronto, an MBA from the University of Chicago, L.L.M. in Securities Law from Osgoode Law School, and a PDAM from the Schulich School of Business. Peter is a certified corporate director with an ICD.D from the Rotman School of Management.

SOURCE: PCA Services Inc.

Paul Wilson, (416) 659-1912, paul.wilson@pcasinc.com; Nadia Radovini, (416) 480-6100,
Nadia.radovini@sunnybrook.ca

"With its outstanding industry knowledge, software expertise and proven technology, MapFrame is an excellent fit with our overall smart grid initiative," said Bob Gilligan, general manager of GE Energy's transmission and distribution business.

GE's smart grid offerings are designed to help utilities increase productivity and reliability, while also providing consumers with the information to better manage their electricity use and expenses.

"Adding MapFrame's experience and expertise to our portfolio further expands our capabilities to work with a number of technology platforms, enhancing our ability to support projects across a broad range of applications," added Gilligan.

"This acquisition is very positive news for all of our customers," said Paul Wilson, MapFrame founder and chief executive officer. "We are joining a company with great strengths in areas like technology, research and development and commercial operations. GE's commitment to invest in people and products will greatly increase MapFrame's capability to bring our innovative technologies to an ever-growing number of customers around the world."

MapFrame products provide utility employees with real-time information, enabling them to work more efficiently and productively in the field.

When the acquisition is completed, MapFrame's employees will join GE's transmission and distribution operations as part of the Smallworld business, a global leader in geographic information systems (GIS) that joined GE Energy in 2000. Smallworld technology supports application products for telecommunications, utility and public systems organizations.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About GE

GE is Imagination at Work--diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing and media content, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.

About MapFrame

Founded in 1991, today the company is an industry leader in the development of mobile mapping and field automation technology for electric, gas and water utilities, telecommunications and CATV/broadband organizations. With 35,000 deployed end users, MapFrame's FieldSmart software is a state-of-the-art mapping and field automation solution with a track record of successful implementations, end user acceptance and functionality.

SOURCE: GE Energy

GE Energy
Meg Chapman, +1 678 844 5869
margaret.chapman@ge.com
or
Masto Public Relations
Gina DeRossi or Howard Masto, +1 518 786 6488
gina.derossi@mastopr.com
howard.masto@ge.com

Mobile mapping and field automation technologies enable utilities to boost their productivity by automating field-based business processes through a map-centric user interface.

According to Martin Ansell, general manager of GE Energy's Smallworld business, "This new, fast moving and rapidly growing technology segment is highly complementary to GE's Smallworld business and consistent with our smart grid strategy. MapFrame's employees bring a wealth of experience in mobile mapping and field automation solutions and will be a welcome addition to our Smallworld business team."

About MapFrame

Founded in 1991, today our company leads the industry in developing mobile mapping and field automation technology for electric, gas & water utilities, pipeline, telecommunications and CATV/broadband organizations. With 35,000 deployed end users, MapFrame's FieldSmart(R) software is the strongest mapping and field automation solution currently available, based on a track record of successful implementations, end user acceptance and functionality. Visit MapFrame at www.mapframe.com.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About GE

GE is Imagination at Work--diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing and media content, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

SOURCE: MapFrame Corporation

MapFrame Corporation
Britton K. Cronin, 972-701-5452
britton.cronin@mapframe.com

GE's smart grid offerings are designed to help utilities increase productivity and reliability, while also providing consumers with the information to better manage their electricity use and expenses.

When the acquisition is completed, MapFrame's employees will join GE's transmission and distribution operations as part of the latter's Smallworld business, a geographic information systems firm that joined GE Energy in 2000. Smallworld technology supports application products for utility and public systems organizations.

Paul Wilson, MapFrame founder and CEO, said: "We are joining a company with great strengths in areas like technology, research and development and commercial operations. GE's commitment to invest in people and products will greatly increase MapFrame's capability to bring our technologies to an ever growing number of customers around the world."

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