Catholic Healthcare West Begins Information Technology Initiatives With SAIC and Cisco Systems.

Business Editors & Health/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 18, 2000

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the largest Catholic health care provider based in the western United States, recently signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a preferred relationship with Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) of San Diego and Cisco Systems, San Jose, Calif.

SAIC, the largest employee-owned high technology firm in the U.S., and Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, together are examining ways to provide synergistic solutions for planning, design, implementation and management of CHW's information technology (IT) initiatives.

"These two industry leaders bring significant experience from multiple settings and industries that go beyond the traditional health care environment to provide CHW with a complete continuum of traditional and leading edge IT strategies," said Lloyd Dean, president and CEO of Catholic Healthcare West. "CHW intends to focus on our core business of providing high quality, cost effective, affordable health care to those in need. To continue on this path, we continuously must look at innovative ways to provide care at lower costs. Developing a close relationship with SAIC and Cisco will help us do that."

"SAIC and Cisco jointly will be involved in the strategic planning process for CHW's internal knowledge transfer, internal and external e-solutions and evaluation of its current IT capabilities," said Bill Nydam, SAIC sector vice president, SAIC. "We want to bring our extensive experience and level of knowledge of best practices related to e-business and cultural transformation in health care and other industries to assist CHW in accomplishing many of its objectives. Among them, lowering operational costs, implementing supply chain management solutions in an effective manner, and establishing a value proposition for its future endeavors while CHW continues to provide high quality health care."

In today's health care environment, hospitals face significant challenges, increased competition and increasing cost pressures that threaten their very survival. "We are pleased to work with CHW to help them achieve their e-business objectives and to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry," said Sue Bostrom, senior vice president, Internet Business Solutions Group, Cisco. "As an Internet expert, Cisco will help CHW re-architect its business to leverage the power of the Internet."

Catholic Healthcare West is the largest Catholic health care system based in the western United States, and one of the leading not-for-profit health systems in the country. Its network of more than 8,000 physicians, nearly 40,000 employees and 47 acute care facilities in California, Arizona and Nevada provides 1.4 million patient days of care per year to more than 327,000 people in the communities it serves. In addition, in fiscal year 2000, CHW contributed $406 million in community benefits and care for the poor. The CHW system has 30 Catholic hospitals and 17 community hospitals.

SAIC is the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eBusiness products and services to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in telecommunications, national security, health care, transportation, energy, the environment and financial services. With annual revenues exceeding $5.5 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 41,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. More information about SAIC and its subsidiaries can be found at SAIC (www.saic.com).