Broadlane Selected by Tulare District HealthCare System.

DALLAS -- Broadlane today announced that Tulare District HealthCare System, a healthcare provider serving the city of Tulare and surrounding communities in California's Central Valley, selected Broadlane effective Aug. 1 to provide an array of group purchasing services under an exclusive five-year agreement. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The services to be provided by Broadlane will include sourcing and contracting for a wide range of consumable supplies and equipment, pharmaceuticals and purchased services. In addition, Broadlane will provide technology services that include use of Broadlane's e-commerce exchange, BroadLink(TM), which will be integrated into the health system's material management information system. Broadlane is the group purchasing entity in healthcare with its own integrated e-commerce exchange that allows its clients to connect directly to their suppliers. Last year BroadLink recorded nearly $2.6 billion in client purchase volume. Reports generated by BroadLink will give Tulare District HealthCare System deep new insights into its procurement activities.

"During our due diligence we were particularly impressed by the savings we determined we would be able to achieve by accessing Broadlane's contract portfolio," said Lucy Reimche, Tulare District HealthCare System's chief financial officer. "But even beyond price we believe that we will reap tangible benefits from Broadlane's unique customer service and support which will allow us to achieve our supply chain improvements more rapidly."

In selecting Broadlane, Tulare District HealthCare System also noted that Broadlane's dynamic capital equipment portfolio and industry leading group buys for capital equipment will help it control costs as it rolls out a number of important expansion programs over the next several years.

"We are delighted to welcome Tulare District HealthCare System to the Broadlane family," said David C. Ricker, president and chief operating officer of Broadlane. "Our focus will be on ensuring that they are rapidly able to access the full value of their new Broadlane relationship."

Prior to choosing Broadlane for an exclusive GPO relationship, Tulare District HealthCare System had used two other GPOs. The system includes Tulare District Hospital, Tulare Home Care, Tulare Pharmacy and Evolutions Fitness and Rehab Center.

About Broadlane

Through a comprehensive set of services focused on contracting, purchasing, clinical and pharmacy cost management, labor, capital equipment and information management, Broadlane helps providers go further to reduce costs and improve financial performance.

Broadlane is known for superior and verifiable cost savings, deep clinical and operational expertise and technology that enables more effective spend management. Together, these capabilities help providers rapidly achieve industry-best procurement practices.

Broadlane serves thousands of acute care hospitals, sub-acute care facilities and physician practices across the country. The company was named in both 2004 and 2005 to Inc. magazine's list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Broadlane is headquartered in Dallas with additional offices in California, New York and Ohio. For more information, visit www.broadlane.com.