CHRISTUS Health to Begin Using Broadlane's Total Cost Management Services.

Business Editors/Medical Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2003

Broadlane Inc., the leading provider of total cost management services to the healthcare industry, today announced that CHRISTUS Health, one of the largest and most respected faith-based health systems in the nation, has agreed to begin using a range of Broadlane's total cost management services as the newest Broadlane customer.

CHRISTUS, which spends approximately $400 million annually for supplies and services, comprises more than 40 hospitals, inpatient and long-term care facilities, as well as dozens of clinics, physician offices and healthcare services in more than 60 cities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Mexico. CHRISTUS previously used Premier for its contracting services.

Broadlane will negotiate and manage all of CHRISTUS Health's supply and service contracts, including those for capital equipment, with a blend of national, regional and local agreements. In addition, Broadlane will apply its total cost management approach to assist CHRISTUS with advanced technology, and operational consulting and assessment. CHRISTUS will integrate to its vendors using BroadLink(TM), Broadlane's e-commerce exchange.

"Broadlane was selected following a rigorous and comprehensive review because we feel they can best assist us in refocusing our supply chain process to achieve a more centralized, focused approach," said Jay Herran, chief financial officer of CHRISTUS Health. "Broadlane has the proven experience to help us make this vital transition."

Tom Sherry, Broadlane managing director, said: "At Broadlane we only want to work with clients that have the vision and institutional desire to truly make improvements to their supply operations and CHRISTUS Health certainly fits that description. Together I am confident that we can achieve the significant savings goals that CHRISTUS is targeting while ensuring that their physicians and other caregivers continue to have access to the best quality products and services."

About CHRISTUS

Headquartered in Dallas, CHRISTUS Health is a faith-based, not-for-profit health system comprising more than 40 hospitals, inpatient and long-term care facilities as well as dozens of clinics, physician offices and healthcare services in more than 60 cities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Mexico.

To provide care and support for patients, the system employs more than 23,000 associates, with 8,000 physicians on facility medical staffs. CHRISTUS Health is listed among the top 10 Catholic health systems in the United States and among the nation's Top 100 integrated healthcare networks. For more information, visit www.christushealth.com.

About Broadlane

Broadlane delivers total cost management to the healthcare industry, allowing hospitals to reduce operational costs while maintaining or enhancing patient care and clinician satisfaction. Broadlane provides contracting, clinical, operational and technology services, as well as outsourcing. Among the companies that focus on cost management within the healthcare supply chain, only Broadlane offers this total cost management approach.

Broadlane customers include leading healthcare providers such as Advocate Health Care, Community Health Systems, Continuum Health Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Kindred Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, Universal Health Services, U.S. Oncology and others. Broadlane counts among its customers more than 490 acute care hospitals, more than 1,500 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.