Cogent and Equicare CS ™ Well-Aligned with Patient Focus at Upcoming 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic and Radiation Oncology

The 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic and Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will take place September 21 – 25, 2008 in Boston. The theme for this year’s meeting is “50 Years of Learning, Caring and Collaboration in the Treatment of Cancer Patients”. Survivorship is a key component of this year’s theme and Equicare CS ™ is well-positioned with the society’s mission; “To improve patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and technology and advocacy”.

ASTRO’s Annual Meeting is the premier educational event for members and draws more than 11,000 attendees from around the world. A robust scientific program presented by preeminent clinicians and researchers forms the core of this five-day meeting. This year’s meeting is designed to disseminate new scientific findings and technical innovations and expand basic clinical knowledge relevant to clinical practice and to the improvement of patient outcomes.

“The focus of this year’s annual meeting is of great strategic value to our company, as survivorship comes into the spotlight as part of overall clinical practice”, states Cogent President & CEO, Len Grenier. “There has much been much discussion over several years regarding survivorship and the tremendous value it brings to the patient regarding on-going structured care and improved clinical outcomes. It’s very encouraging to see the importance ASTRO is placing on patient management and survivorship as part of overall patient care.”

As cancer survival rates continue to rise, more and more emphasis will be placed on the on-going care of cancer survivors. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer make up more than half of all cancers treated with radiation therapy. Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy during their illness. Currently, there are over 10 million cancer survivors living in the US and nearly 1 million new survivors are added each year, thanks to earlier detection and improved treatment methods.

“EQUICARE CS™, Cogent’s system for cancer survivorship, will be ‘front and center’ at this year’s Annual Meeting”, says, Mark Thomson, Cogent’s COO and head of sales operations. “We have a unique position within the market, as we are the only company to offer a comprehensive survivorship solution, which is delivered through the health provider, offering long-term structured care and follow-up to the survivor.”

The EQUICARE CS ™ system features a web-based, patient-centric approach which enhances a care team’s ability to collaborate with the patient in an efficient and secure manner. A dynamic link is created between all the stakeholders involved in a cancer survivor’s on-going recovery, including the oncologist, nurse navigator, PCP and the patient and their family. EQUICARE CS ™ also features menu-driven functionality for patient set-up and record keeping, a comprehensive knowledge base for management of clinical symptoms and events, incorporation of standardized practice guidelines for patient management and the ability to seamlessly integrate with a treatment facility’s oncology and health information systems.

ASTRO Annual Meeting attendees can learn more about EQUICARE CS ™ and its capabilities by speaking with Cogent personnel at booth number 1251or by visiting our partner, Varian Medical Systems, at booth number 547 in the main hall of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

About ASTRO:

Founded in 1958, ASTRO’s mission is to advance the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

Radiation oncologists, radiation oncology nurses, medical physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and biologists comprise ASTRO’s more than 9,000 members, making it the largest radiation oncology organization of its kind. These medical professionals, found at hospitals and cancer treatment centers around the globe, make up the radiation therapy treatment teams that are critical in the fight against cancer.

About Cogent Health Solutions:

Cogent is a developer of disease case management software, solutions, and services for health care providers, patients and patient families. Improved survivorship care is critical to managing outcomes of life threatening diseases like cancer. The promise of more effective surveillance and ongoing structured evidence-based care, will provide for better patient outcomes, and healthcare system efficiency gains. This is the opportunity that fuels our drive to achieve. Cogent is focused on setting the new benchmark for patient management in cancer treatment facilities around the globe.