Creative Healthcare USA signs Agreement to provide Six Sigma performance improvement services to Good Samaritan Health Systems, Kearney NE

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (August 12, 2002) -- Creative Healthcare USA (CHC) and Good Samaritan Health Systems have signed a formal agreement whereby CHC will provide performance improvement consulting and training services to Good Samaritan utilizing the methodologies in a process now known as "Six Sigma." Six Sigma is a leading process improvement methodology used by world class companies to achieve significant improvements in quality, service, productivity and customer satisfaction. It uses a variety of sophisticated statistical tools and skills, integrated with a standardized methodology, to measure, analyze, improve and control processes.

"We are delighted to include Good Samaritan among the growing number of leading healthcare organizations taking a positive step toward improved performance," notes Ian R. Lazarus, CHC's Managing Partner. "And because Six Sigma methodologies use customer-driven measures as the basis for improvement, the customer will ultimately enjoy the most significant benefits from this important new initiative."

Under the terms of the agreement, CHC will perform projects at Good Samaritan while assisting staff to learn the new methodologies. Six Sigma is a relatively new phenomenon in the health sector, but many leading healthcare institutions are finding it useful in overcoming challenges not satisfied by traditional quality improvement initiatives. Good Samaritan hopes to make its use of Six Sigma methodologies the key to becoming the "gold standard of care" within the midwest region that they serve.

"Good Samaritan Health Systems is excited to utilize the rigors of the Six Sigma statistical process as a means to identify true process improvement opportunity," reports Greg Balfany in the Management Engineering unit at GSHS. "We feel these techniques will help us focus on the true opportunities and better assist us as we strive to maintain long term gains. Hardwiring this type of process evaluation and change implementation will create safer and more efficient systems throughout our enterprise."

About Good Samaritan Health Systems:

Good Samaritan Health Systems features a 287-bed regional referral center and several state-of-the art centers of excellence, including the Greater Nebraska Heart Center, the Back and Spine Institute, and the Good Samaritan Cancer Center. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Initiatives and serves the specialty care needs of more than 350,000 people in central Nebraska and northern Kansas.

About Creative Healthcare USA:

Creative Healthcare USA is a leading provider of Six Sigma and related consulting services to the healthcare industry. Healthcare administrators, physicians and Six Sigma certified "black belts" formed Creative Healthcare in 1998, providing performance improvement programs, business development and strategic advisory services, CRM and e-Health solutions, and marketing and market research services. Creative Healthcare is a founding charter member of the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals. They offer a free Primer on Six Sigma for Healthcare Providers at www.creative-healthcare.com.