Broadlane Launches Industry's First Comprehensive Medical Capital Equipment Services.

Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2004

Broadlane, the leading provider of innovative business services for the healthcare industry, today announced the launch of the healthcare industry's first comprehensive services to cover the complete life cycle of medical capital equipment. Broadlane's program significantly reduces the costs of capital equipment by employing group buys, equipment planning, equipment contract quote reviews and service contract quote reviews.

Broadlane's unique new program offers support through all key phases of capital equipment's life cycle including analysis of equipment needed, contracting for appropriate equipment and service warranties, implementation and ongoing contract support. Broadlane has long provided powerful services for sourcing and acquisition of capital items and provides the best pricing available in the industry through its large, group buy programs and contracting expertise.

"Broadlane has long been the leader in addressing medical capital equipment needs, but we historically have provided these services only to our group purchasing customers," said David C. Ricker, chief operating officer. "Our new program provides a more comprehensive solution for not only these customers, but also for any healthcare provider regardless of their group purchasing affiliation."

Broadlane's comprehensive services have features that help healthcare providers navigate the difficult terrain of medical capital equipment. Broadlane's service includes the following:

-- Medical capital equipment portfolio where customers have

unlimited access to medical capital equipment contracts.

-- Access to provider-centric group buys in which Broadlane pays

the travel of one person to attend 12 group buy meetings each

year.

-- Unlimited access to quote reviews for equipment on a current

Broadlane contract or a custom contract. Because of the

complicated nature of capital equipment contracts, overcharges

from vendors occur frequently. Broadlane typically can

identify overcharges of from 6 to 30 percent.

-- Unlimited access to service contract quote reviews to ensure

negotiated terms are optimal for current situations.

-- Medical capital equipment planning that includes budget

reviews, plan review and review of project equipment

documents.

-- The ability to custom contract where flexibility is needed.

-- A single point of contact to ensure prompt customer service

and follow-through.

Hospitals that have participated in the new Broadlane program have realized savings of up to 15 percent.

A distinct feature of Broadlane's medical capital equipment service is the group buy program. Group buys occur approximately 12 times each year and offer pre-committed contracts to medical capital equipment vendors in return for deeply discounted pricing. Each group buy uses clinician methodology for product selection and decisions are made based on meeting predetermined clinical criteria.

For more information about Broadlane's Medical Capital Equipment Services, call 866.BROADLN (866.276.2356) or send e-mail to [e-mail].

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 has offices in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif.; Cincinnati; Dallas; and New York City. For more information, visit www.broadlane.com.