ms-sql OUTPUT equivalent

Is there an equivelent to the OUTPUT parameter in MS-SQL?
here is an example:
----------------------------------------
CREATE PROCEDURE GetPagedList
(
@CurrentPage tinyint,
@PageSize tinyint,
@TotalRecords int OUTPUT,
)
AS
Set NoCount On
-- ...some code here...

-- Return the total number of records available as an output parameter
Select @TotalRecords = Count(*) From tblemp

GO
---------------------------------------
I am using the Npgsql data provider in a .net app, and have noticed you can
set the Parameter direction to be output
eg "NpgsqlParameter.Direction = ParameterDirection.Output"
Is this just a case of npgsql getting ahead of pg?

Thanks
Clark