Broadlane Completes Computed Radiography Group Buy, Creating Significant Savings For Hospital Customers.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2004

Broadlane, the leading provider of innovative business services for the healthcare industry, announced today that it has successfully completed the industry's first pre-committed, sole-source award for computed radiography (CR) products through a group purchasing organization. A pre-committed group buy for CR equipment will offer participating hospitals significant savings.

The winning supplier, Konica Minolta Medical Imaging, has been awarded a sole-source contract to provide CR equipment to more than 200 Broadlane Group Buy hospital participants.

Through its unique pre-committed Group Buy program, Broadlane brings together hospital clinicians interested in voluntarily committing purchases of a specific diagnostic modality to a winning vendor with the most advanced technology, before bidding even begins. This gives suppliers the knowledge that they could receive significant market share in constructing competitive bids. For participants, it assures the most favorable terms, conditions and pricing for key capital equipment products and guarantees the combined buying power of all participants. When Broadlane can make significant shifts in market share, suppliers respond with better pricing.

For the CR Group Buy, the selection committee consisted of 14 clinical representatives, including delegates from some of Broadlane's customers such as CHRISTUS Health, Tenet Healthcare and Universal Health Services. The committee conducted comprehensive technology evaluations on all vendors and held final negotiations between two suppliers. Konica Minolta emerged with the best combination of technology and total cost of ownership.

"Even though we currently don't use Broadlane as our group purchasing organization, we found their Group Buy program an excellent opportunity to purchase the most technologically advanced capital equipment at the lowest possible price," said Bob Wilkins, radiology director at Sweetwater Hospital. "We definitely plan to participate in more of Broadlane's group buys in the coming months."

Michael Berryhill, vice president, contracting services at Broadlane said, "Broadlane's Group Buy program has again proven that we have a unique capital equipment program that leverages the committed buying power of its participants to drive significant savings. Hospitals do not have to be Broadlane customers to take advantage of our Group Buy program."

Terry Hasegawa, president and chief operating officer of Konica Minolta Medical Imaging, said, "Broadlane's selection of Konica Minolta as its sole CR partner is further proof that our products, technologies and customer service are second to none. We know Broadlane to be a serious and discerning player in the field of medical imaging marketing, and we are eager to validate this choice with all the technological advancements and product support skills we have to offer. Konica Minolta Medical Imaging is looking forward to working with Broadlane and its customer facilities in the weeks and months ahead."

About Konica Minolta Medical Imaging

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging USA Inc. is a leading manufacturer/distributor of digital and traditional imaging products for diagnostic use by hospitals, imaging centers, clinics and private practice physicians. Leading products include the Regius family of Computed Radiography Systems, the DRYPRO family of laser imagers and image networks, NetStar Image Management Solutions, medical, laser and specialty films, and film processing equipment. For more information, visit medical.konicaminolta.us.

About Broadlane

Broadlane delivers transformational business services to healthcare providers, enabling them to reduce costs and improve operational performance. Through the application of innovative technology and scaled solutions that range from consulting to full-service management, Broadlane is helping to set new standards for efficient healthcare delivery. Broadlane focuses on a growing list of business operations that includes supply chain management, purchased services and labor solutions.

Broadlane customers include leading healthcare providers such as Advocate Health Care, CHRISTUS Health, Community Health Systems, Continuum Health Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Kindred Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, Universal Health Services, US Oncology, William Beaumont Hospitals and others. Broadlane counts among its customers more than 800 acute care hospitals, more than 3,400 sub-acute care facilities and thousands of physician practices. Broadlane is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Oakland, Calif.; Cincinnati; Dallas; and New York City. For more information, visit www.broadlane.com.