Posted By: See Message. on 2005-09-15

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, MedQuist
Inc. (Pink Sheets: MEDQ), with nearly 10,000 people spread across the United
States, announced the immediate actions that the company took in response to
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, including aid from the company to its
people in the areas hardest hit by the hurricane.  The Company's first
priority in the days after the storm was to identify the Medquist employees
and statutory workers who were in Katrina's path, determine their status and
set aside funds to provide financial assistance to those who lost their homes.
"We have been concentrating first on finding our people - many of whom work
from home - to provide them with personal financial assistance if they have
lost their home, and, if necessary, with new computers to help them return to
work from wherever they are staying," says Frank W. Lavelle, MedQuist's
president.  Company employees and statutory workers who have been affected by
Hurricane Katrina are encouraged to contact MedQuist's toll-free technical
support line, 1-800-DICTATE.
    "We're encouraging everyone in the MedQuist family who has been affected
by Katrina to call in, even if they have already been in touch with someone
from the company," says Lavelle.  "And we want them to keep us updated on
their location if they move again in the next few weeks."  In addition,
MedQuist's clients who need any kind of assistance due to damage from Katrina
should call MedQuist's toll-free technical support line for clients,
1-888-DICTATE.  "Ensuring that our clients have the ability to continue to
provide medical care is of the highest priority to everyone at MedQuist," adds
Lavelle.
    In addition to providing personal financial assistance to MedQuist's
employees and statutory workers who have lost their homes to the storm,
MedQuist has also made a donation of $20,000 to the American Red Cross for
Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. The company is committed to matching the
donations of its employees and statutory workers as well, up to an additional
$30,000.
    "Since the storm, MedQuist people have been calling and asking what they
can do to help," says Lavelle.  "They have offered everything from places for
people to stay to giving some of their paid time off to our employees who are
out of work because of Katrina."  In response to that generosity, MedQuist has
set up a "bank" for paid time off hours so that employees can donate time that
will be used for other employees who have been victims of the storm.  "The
outpouring of offers doesn't surprise me a bit," adds Lavelle.  "We are
fortunate at MedQuist that we have such wonderful caring people affiliated
with the company who have been looking for ways to help each other and others
in the region affected by Hurricane Katrina."

    MedQuist, a member of the Philips Group of Companies, is a leading
provider of electronic medical transcription, health information and document
management products and services.  MedQuist provides document workflow
management, digital dictation, speech recognition, mobile dictation devices,
Web-based transcription, electronic signature, medical coding products and
outsourcing services.

    "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding MedQuist's business which
are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks
and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-
looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form
10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002.

• MedQuist Relief for Katrina Victims - See Message. (Views: 232, 2005-09-15)