Measuring Pain from the Patient's Point of View

QualityMetric Pairs Pain Impact Questionnaire(TM) (PIQ-6(TM)) and SF-12v2(R)
Health Survey to Measure Health Status and Pain Simultaneously

LINCOLN, R.I., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National Centers for
Health Statistics, 76.2 million Americans report problems with chronic pain;
more than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. The same report notes
that the annual cost of chronic pain in the United States, including
healthcare expenses, lost income, and productivity, is estimated to be $100
billion.

"Despite the obvious impact on our society and economy, pain can be difficult
to measure. There are many variables such as the association of pain with
multiple conditions and the lack of a standardized metric for measuring the
impact of pain on an individual's daily life," says Gus Gardner, President and
Chief Operating Officer at QualityMetric Incorporated. "Recently, we've
noticed a marked increase in our customer's desire to measure pain accurately
and efficiently, and the PIQ-6 provides this ability."

To address this trend, and the common need to measure general health as well,
QualityMetric today announces the availability of the SF-12v2(R) Health Survey
Pain Enhanced, a combination of the Pain Impact Questionnaire(TM) (PIQ-6(TM))
and SF-12v2(R) Health Survey. "This combined tool offers a unique perspective
of patient health not previously available through one tool, and allows for
more comprehensive and targeted care," says Jeff Hallowell, Vice President of
Business Development at QualityMetric. "The SF-12v2 Pain Enhanced quickly and
effectively measures pain severity and impact along with a more comprehensive
measure of an individual's functional health and well-being".

The PIQ-6, SF-12v2, and the SF-12v2 Pain Enhanced are available online and in
traditional paper and pencil format with fax capability. This fax feature
allows the survey data to be collected automatically by simply placing the
completed survey into a fax machine. The scanned results are then uploaded
into our Smart Measurement(R) System, allowing the results to be collected and
scored, with reports available in real time.

To learn more about the SF-12v2 and PIQ-6, please visit:
http://www.qualitymetric.com/GenericHealthSurveys.

About QualityMetric Incorporated:

QualityMetric works with the world's largest healthcare and life sciences
companies to measure health outcomes. Our products help market new drugs and
biologics, track health improvement or decline, screen populations for
disease, and identify future health risks. QualityMetric's patient-reported
outcome (PRO) surveys provide scientifically valid assessments of both
physical and mental health. Our PROs include the SF-36v2(R), SF-12v2(R), and
SF-8(TM) Health Surveys, SF-10(TM) Health Survey for Children, Asthma Control
Test(TM) (ACT(TM)), Pain Impact Questionnaire(TM) (PIQ-6(TM)), and DYNHA(R)
Dynamic Health Assessments. Our Outcomes Insight Consulting(TM) Division can
develop customized PROs and provide in-depth analysis of the results. Visit us
at www.qualitymetric.com.

SOURCE QualityMetric Incorporated

Jim O'Connor, QualityMetric Incorporated, +1-401-334-8800, ext. 204,
joconnor@qualitymetric.com