Merge Healthcare Acquisition of Confirma Complete

With the completion of its acquisition of Confirma, Inc. today, Merge Healthcare Incorporated (NASDAQ: MRGE) has enhanced its medical imaging capabilities to become a market leader in MRI computer-aided detection (CAD) applications. The combined business now has the capability to widen the global adoption of CAD technology through Merge’s international distribution network, as well as provide broader interoperability of this important tool within the health IT enterprise. The newly merged organizations also enjoy many common customers.

“We are committed to offering patients premium patient care,” says Susan Curry, MD, Founder and Medical Director, Women’s Center for Radiology. “To ensure patients receive the best chance at earlier detection and treatment, it is vital that we provide patients with access to the most innovative technology available for medical imaging.

Merge Healthcare Announces Definitive Agreement with etrials Worldwide

Merge Healthcare (NASDAQ: MRGE) (“Merge”), a leading health IT solutions provider, and etrials Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: ETWC) (“etrials”), a leading provider of clinical trials software and services, today announced that they have reached a definitive agreement for the acquisition of etrials by Merge. The combined organization will provide clinical trial sponsors and contract research organizations (“CROs”) comprehensive and configurable solutions that include both critical imaging technologies and proven eClinical capabilities.

“Our Merge OEM team has been a supplier of imaging solutions to pharmaceutical companies, CROs, the National Institute of Health and to veterinary hospitals for years,” states Justin Dearborn, CEO of Merge Healthcare. “We believe that there could be significant synergy from incorporating our imaging and data hosting solutions with etrials’ broad portfolio of integrated eClinical solutions. etrials’ experience in conducting global clinical trials also complements Merge’s international expansion initiatives.”

Conseco Reports First Quarter 2009 Net Income of $24.5 Million Vs. Net Loss in Year-Earlier Quarter; Operating Earnings Per Share Up 55% Over First Quarter 2008

Conseco, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) today reported results for first quarter 2009. "We are pleased to report operating earnings of 17 cents per share," CEO Jim Prieur said. "Conseco showed continued improvement and profitability in all three insurance businesses for the first quarter, which is a seasonally low quarter for our earnings. Core sales increased by 4% overall. We set records in the quarter for new agent contracts in our wholly owned distribution channels, and new agency appointments rose 73% in our independent channel, all key to future sales growth."

Omnicell Announces First Quarter 2009 Results

Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq: OMCL), a leading provider of system solutions to acute healthcare facilities, today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

GAAP results: Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $52.2 million, down $9.9 million or 15.9% from the fourth quarter of 2008, and down $9.9 million or 15.9% from the first quarter of 2008.

First quarter 2009 net loss as reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was $1.9 million, or ($0.06) per diluted share. This compares to net income of $3.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2008 and net income of $3.7 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2008.