SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LodgeNet Healthcare, a division of LodgeNet Interactive Corporation (Nasdaq: LNET), today announced they have deployed the first all digital, high definition healthcare solution at three facilities within NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore), headquartered in Evanston, Illinois.

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NorthShore's Evanston, Glenbrook and Highland Park Hospitals, located in the Chicago area, are the first facilities to offer their patients a full-circle digital patient television experience. In addition to providing an HD interactive patient television system, HD off-air channels and DIRECTV® satellite programming, LodgeNet and SWANK HealthCare have delivered the first HD movie package for healthcare environments.

SWANK HealthCare is part of the largest non-theatrical distributor of motion pictures for public performance. The cooperation between LodgeNet and SWANK allow patients at these facilities to watch movies on-demand in high definition. "It was only a matter of time before hospitals caught up with the technology available today," said Tim Swank, Chairman for SWANK Motion Pictures. "LodgeNet's integration makes delivering our content simple and easy for the hospital and enjoyable for the patients. We're excited to be a part of this project."

Industry experts project that more than 120 thousand HD television sets will be purchased this year for use in healthcare settings. As hospitals purchase televisions that are capable of more than the traditional CRT televisions, they are looking for assistance in leveraging the added features and benefits. "Hospitals that make the decision to buy attractive HDTV's want to showcase that purchase," explained Gary Kolbeck, General Manager of LodgeNet Healthcare. "When patients and visitors see a flat-panel LCD in the room, they expect to have access to HD content. LodgeNet has extensive experience in the construction, support and delivery of the content and architecture hospitals are now demanding. From HD digital viewing to full interactive television with clinical integration, we can help them get the most from their new televisions."

Hospitals across the country are finding ways to improve the patient experience. Many of those improvements include simple amenities to make the hospital stay more comfortable. LodgeNet is well positioned to assist facilities with these improvements because of their proven experience in hospitality. "Our top priority is to make our patients as comfortable as possible during their hospital stay. We feel the investment in this digital television technology will help to accomplish that goal," said Scott Hallen, Manager of Multi-Media Systems at NorthShore.

NorthShore plans to install the digital television upgrade at its fourth facility, Skokie Hospital, in 2010.

About LodgeNet Interactive

LodgeNet Interactive Corporation is the leading provider of media and connectivity solutions designed to meet the unique needs of hospitality, healthcare and other guest-based businesses. LodgeNet Interactive serves more than 1.9 million hotel rooms worldwide in addition to healthcare facilities throughout the United States. The company's services include: Interactive Television Solutions, Broadband Internet Solutions, Content Solutions, Professional Solutions and Advertising Media Solutions. LodgeNet Interactive Corporation owns and operates businesses under the industry leading brands: LodgeNet, LodgeNetRX, and The Hotel Networks. LodgeNet Interactive is listed on NASDAQ and trades under the symbol LNET. For more information, please visit www.lodgenet.com.

LodgeNet and LodgeNetRX are registered trademarks of LodgeNet Interactive Corporation. DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About SWANK HealthCare

SWANK HealthCare is a leading distributor of patient entertainment and staff accredited continuing education to hospitals, clinics and medical treatment facilities worldwide.

SWANK HealthCare's patient entertainment service distributes movies, television and other patient entertainment content to enhance the patient experience through promoting patient comfort and healing. SWANK holds exclusive rights with major and independent movie studios, offering healthcare facilities a single source for all patient entertainment needs. SWANK represents and distributes for Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Warner Bros., NBC Universal , Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists, Miramax Films, Focus Features, IFC Films, Lion's Gate Films, ThinkFilm and many other movie and television studios.

SWANK HealthCare also supports healthcare facilities as a leading distributor of online accredited continuing education for medical professionals. SWANK HealthCare offers a comprehensive training solution which includes Continuing Education (CE) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) to assist healthcare facilities in training employees to deliver an excellence in quality of care, maintain licensure, and comply with regulatory requirements. SWANK HealthCare's comprehensive training solution includes over 450 accredited courses across 16 medical disciplines, plus a learning management system to evaluate and track employee training. The library of courses is updated with over 15 courses monthly to insure the latest issues in the medical community are addressed.

SOURCE LodgeNet Interactive Corporation