Encompass Health Corp (EHC)

[jmhollen]

HealthSouth Selects bConnected Software to Enhance Operating Efficiency

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec 17, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via Comtex/ -- HealthSouth Corporation (OTC Pink Sheets: HLSH) has licensed business process management (BPM) software and purchased implementation services from bConnected Software Inc., of Broomfield, Colorado, to enhance operational efficiencies surrounding its accounting data. The BPM software, which will be implemented in 2004, will enable HealthSouth to provide more timely operational data, and will assist in improving the company's overall internal control processes. In addition, bConnected will provide a detailed audit trail of HealthSouth's daily financial transactions, enabling process improvements throughout the organization from the field locations to the corporate offices. The company chose bConnected for its rapid implementation capabilities and ability to integrate with existing systems.

One of HealthSouth's first re-structuring initiatives was to improve the granularity and speed of the HealthSouth financial reporting by creating a consolidated financial audit trail that provides a single view of the company's financial activity in a simple, flexible manner. To meet this objective, HealthSouth installed the bConnected core process engine called the bConnected Process Integration Platform (BPIP) that communicates with the many independent computerized reporting and processing systems throughout the company. The company has completed the initial installation process with the full implementation scheduled for completion in early 2004.

Guy Sansone, Interim CFO, said "We chose bConnected Software because our financial team needed an easily deployed, flexible system that produced a company-wide financial audit trail. The software engine will provide a foundation we can leverage with additional helpful applications from bConnected in the future. This will add considerable efficiency and speed to our financial reporting environment."

"The early feedback on our initial phase of implementation from HealthSouth management has confirmed the strategic value of real time integration of accounting data. We are delighted to be working on such an important re-structuring initiative with such a significant client," commented Frank Bergen, bConnected's CEO.

About bConnected Software

Business Process Management Solutions from bConnected Software provide large healthcare organizations with a software-based processing engine and applications that quickly and accurately connect disparate computer systems, aggregate, and process data, to provide immediate and on-going access to critical transaction information, improve the way transactions are managed, and consolidate information into powerful views of the enterprise. bConnected offers an Enterprise Solution, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration, Financial Transaction Audit Trail, and Powered Procurement applications. For additional information: www.bconnected.com

About HealthSouth

HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, with nearly 1,700 locations nationwide and abroad. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com .

For more information contact Andy Brimmer at 205 410-2777.

SOURCE HealthSouth Corporation

Andy Brimmer of HealthSouth Corporation, [phone]