The healthcare industry is undergoing profound and fundamental changes. Controlling costs without sacrificing quality or outcomes is a challenge for every provider. Healthcare represents one seventh of the national economy. This fact underscores the importance of making choices that are efficient and beneficial to everyone involved.

Payors, healthcare delivery organizations and practitioners are consolidating through mergers, acquisitions and alliances. They are transforming themselves from stand-alone operations into healthcare systems supporting a continuum of care.

Information processing and telecommunications are key to the success of this transformation. Data networks linking providers, payors and decision makers are providing increased levels of efficiency. This, in turn, permits you to do more with less, while improving the quality of patient care. Healthcare professionals recognize that these networks are positive investments which improve the organization's performance and bottom line.