Broadlane Launches Unique Service to Reduce Cardiovascular Program Costs.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

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

Broadlane, the leading provider of innovative business services for the healthcare industry, today announced the launch of the healthcare industry's first comprehensive cardiovascular cost management program designed to help hospitals reduce the costs associated with cardiac care. Broadlane's unique program can reduce the costs of a hospital's cardiovascular services by 10 percent to 20 percent through detailed tracking and analysis of spending and utilization patterns, better procurement and management of supplies, collaboration with clinicians to standardize products and eliminate excess utilization, and improved efficiencies in procedures and processes.

Broadlane's program is offered to all hospitals and systems regardless of their group purchasing affiliation or cardiovascular supplier. No other program offers ongoing management to ensure that all planned savings initiatives are implemented and become permanent. Other firms may suggest and implement change, but do not ensure change is fulfilled on a permanent basis.

"Our team possesses expertise in both inpatient and outpatient reimbursement to help position hospitals for future shifts in policy from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Spending and help to forecast changes," said Hazel Seabrook, vice president, clinical services, at Broadlane. "This information can provide insight into purchasing opportunities in advance of the competition."

The incidence of cardiovascular disease is expected to continue rising as the effects of aging, obesity and secondary diabetes take their toll. Healthcare organizations have to manage the impact of new techniques and technologies in cardiovascular care, and constantly seek new ways to identify and implement effective cost-control strategies.

U.S. hospitals expect cardiology inpatient services to increase 44 percent more than the average among all service lines and grow 8.8 percent annually over the next five years.

Broadlane's Cardiovascular Program delivers significant benefits to customers by:

-- Revealing true cardiovascular costs

-- Lowering costs through better management of supplies,

product standardization and procedure efficiencies

-- Engaging clinicians as participants in reducing costs,

balancing the needs of medical staff and hospital

administrators

-- Implementing cost-saving initiatives that provide

long-term expense and revenue management

-- Monitoring quality indicator metrics to maintain or

improve reimbursement

-- Providing ongoing management to sustain positive clinical

and financial outcomes long-term

"Broadlane's collaborative approach brings our dedicated clinical consulting team together with hospitals' cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and management staff to target strategies for controlling costs without sacrificing quality of care," continued Seabrook. "We create a partnership among stakeholders that bridges the gap between clinical and financial priorities."

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.