CombineMed extends traditional face-to-face negotiations through their on-line Healthcare Sourcing Suite which allows suppliers and buyers to come together in a richer, more collaborative marketplace. Suppliers have the flexibility to submit creative electronic proposals, and buyers can analyze these proposals against an unlimited number of business rules, constraints and preferences to find the best award. For more information, please visit www.combinemed.com.

HealthTrust Purchasing Group supports nearly 1,400 acute care facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices and alternate care sites. With members' annual purchasing volume of $19.7 billion, it is committed to obtaining the best price for clinically recommended products and continuously evaluating and improving its services to patients, physicians and clinicians. www.healthtrustcorp.com

The Advisory Board Company is a leading provider of comprehensive performance improvement services to the health care, health benefits and education sectors -- including operational best practices and insights, technology solutions, leadership development, and consulting and management support. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience, The Advisory Board Company is privileged to serve a membership of more than 2,800 organizations, all sharing a charter "above commerce," a commitment to best-practice standards, and an unyielding insistence on continual improvement. For more information visit www.advisoryboardcompany.com