| GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS $1 MILLION IN NEW GLASGOW (NS) – February 3, 2008 – The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced $1 million in funding for Prudential Consulting Inc. to establish an operating division in Atlantic Canada, a move which will help develop a medical transcription industry across the region. “Our Government is getting things done for the people of Atlantic Canada,” said Minister MacKay. “Through this $1 million ACOA investment, we are supporting a project that will diversify and strengthen the region's economy and create up to 200 jobs across Atlantic Canada.” Prudential Consulting Inc. will train medical transcriptionists and provide transcription services to the medical community across the country. Medical transcriptionists ensure reports from healthcare professionals, doctors and specialists are typed correctly so they can be accurately documented in a patient’s file. “We are pleased to partner with ACOA as we establish ourselves in Atlantic Canada,” said Vikram Khurana, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Consulting Inc. “We are very optimistic about this move. It is our position that an increase in medical transcriptionists will reduce the time it takes for diagnostic test results to be received by physicians and patients throughout the region.” It is expected that some of these medical transcriptionists would work through a remote workstation network, enabling them to work from home via a secure high-speed internet connection. The funding is a repayable loan through ACOA’s Business Development Program. FOR BROADCAST USE: ACOA Minister Peter MacKay today announced funding for Prudential Consulting Inc. to expand operations into Atlantic Canada. Prudential will train medical transcriptionists, and provide transcription services to the medical community across the country. This new operation will create 200 jobs across the region. Medical transcriptionists ensure reports from healthcare professionals like doctors and specialists are typed correctly so they can be accurately documented in a patient’s file. Vikram Khurana of Prudential says the increase in medical transcriptionists could mean patients and doctors have less wait for diagnostic tests. INFORMATION: Niharika Sharma Alex Smith Cindy Roy |