Healthlink Extends Its National Presence With the Addition of Seven Market Vice Presidents

HOUSTON, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthlink Incorporated, a Houston-based, privately held provider-focused healthcare information systems consulting firm, today announced the addition of seven strategic executives expanding its business development team in key markets across the United States. Healthlink works with clients in a trusted advisor role to assist provider organizations with significant healthcare issues, helping clients realize IT value through the optimization of existing investments and leveraging vendor specific best practices during implementations.

Healthlink believes that organizations have made and are continuing to make significant investments in business and clinical systems and seeks a consulting firm who can help them achieve tangible business and clinical value. To support this need, Healthlink has recruited seasoned healthcare professionals in the Detroit, Ohio/Kentucky and Indiana markets. Healthlink has also added presence in the rapidly growing Atlanta, New York and Chicago markets. The individuals responsible for these markets have backgrounds which include health system executive IT leadership, clinical practitioners with process redesign expertise, and experience working with the leading healthcare software provider systems. Their focus will be to the communities of their respective markets, providing Healthlink the opportunity to build long-term client relationships by being positioned locally and conveniently to those clients.

"We recognize that healthcare provider organizations have limited capital resources. While investments in IT will continue to be made, they require measurable improvements in clinical quality and financial performance as a result of these investments. These organizations benefit from a strategic consulting partner that knows their organization and understands its market dynamics and strategic goals," said Deb Davis, executive vice president of Business Development, Healthlink. "This is one of the primary reasons why Healthlink hires market VPs who have the practical experience to work with clients and lead our consulting teams to get results from their investments.

Healthlink's new executives include: -- Kevin Barbee, vice president of business development for the Dallas/Fort Worth market, joined Healthlink from AdvancePCS where he served as vice president of enterprise business systems. Prior to AdvancePCS, Barbee was an independent consultant to the healthcare IT industry. He also has held IT positions at First Consulting Group and Perot Systems. -- Charles B. Gallamore, Jr., vice president of business development for the Atlanta market, joined Healthlink with more than 20 years experience in the healthcare information technology arena. Prior to Healthlink, Gallamore served as president and managing partner of Innovative Consulting Solutions, LLC where he was responsible for business planning and development, operations management, consulting and marketing. He also served previously in a regional vice president capacity with Siemens Medical Solutions, Health Services Division. -- Judith A. Hetsler, vice president of business development for the Michigan/Detroit area, joined Healthlink from Cerner Corporation where she served as vice president and managing partner. At Cerner, Hetsler was primarily responsible for all facets of fostering client relationships, from initial sales to long-term client relationship management. She also has ten years of information systems implementation experience with Trinity Health System. Her responsibilities at Healthlink include oversight of delivery and quality assurance, as well as developing the Michigan market. -- Harry E. McQueen, Jr., vice president of business development in the Southwest region, has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare information technology industry. Prior to Healthlink, McQueen served as vice president of information systems for Sparks Health System where he was responsible for revitalizing its corporate IT function. While at Sparks, McQueen successfully merged two information systems departments and implemented various systems. McQueen also has held positions at Certus Corporation, Mercy Hospital Medical Center and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of North Carolina. -- Tracey K. Vitori, RN, MSN, vice president of business development for the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana market, joined Healthlink from IBM, Global Services where she served as operation's manager responsible for expanding enterprise application development and middle market business operations. Vitori began her career as a neonatal nurse at Children's Hospital Medical Center. She has deep provider and payer experience and brings to Healthlink more than 18 years of experience in healthcare IT including large implementation, system selections and planning. -- Lynn H. Vogel, Ph.D., vice president of business development for the New York market, joined Healthlink recently from New York Presbyterian Healthcare (NYPH). During his three years at NYPH, Vogel served as vice president of information services where he oversaw IT for NYPH System Hospitals and managed outsourced and in-house technology infrastructure resources. Vogel also held CIO positions at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center and The University of Chicago Hospitals. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the department of biomedical informatics at Columbia University and is a HIMSS Fellow. -- Chris Wierz, RN, who began her Healthlink career as vice president of HIPAA, recently joined the business development team and now serves as vice president of business development for the Chicago market. Wierz has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare operations with an emphasis on large-scale implementations, project management and strategic planning. Prior to Healthlink, she was a vice president for Phoenix Health Systems, Inc. where she was responsible for the overall HIPAA consulting practice including methodology development, strategic direction and service direction.

"We look forward to continued expansion of our national growth strategy for the business development team in 2003. Providing high quality services with a results orientation will continue to be Healthlink's focus as we bring an expanded local presence to our clients," added Davis.

About Healthlink

Healthlink is the largest privately held services company dedicated to the healthcare information technology industry. Healthlink delivers unmatched expertise in enterprise business and clinical processes, technology integration and implementation, and customized healthcare applications to the healthcare community. This expertise results in total solutions for managing and enhancing healthcare services through technology and process improvement. Healthlink has working relationships with more than 400 leading hospitals and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) nationwide. Responding to the current federal and state legislation affecting healthcare organizations, Healthlink is helping its clients realize cost efficiencies and achieve overall improved quality patient care. Healthlink has worked across the nation for organizations including: large IDNs, academic medical centers, community-based health systems, public hospitals and private not-for-profit organizations. For more information on Healthlink and its services, visit http://www.healthlinkinc.com/ .

CONTACT: Suzanne Bautch Healthlink Incorporated 713.852.2112 suzanne.bautch@healthlinkinc.com Amanda LeBlanc Healthlink Incorporated 713.852.2134 amanda.leblanc@healthlinkinc.com

Healthlink Incorporated

CONTACT: Suzanne Bautch, +1-713-852-2112, or
suzanne.bautch@healthlinkinc.com , or Amanda LeBlanc, +1-713-852-2134, or
amanda.leblanc@healthlinkinc.com , both of Healthlink Incorporated

Web site: http://www.healthlinkinc.com/