Nation’s Health Leaders See Information Technology, Disease Management Programs as Keys to Improving Quality and Containing Costs of Health Care

ROCHESTER, N.Y. and NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 26, 2005 - Top executives in the health care industry believe greater use of information technology (IT), practice guidelines and patient safety measures, as well as implementation of disease management programs are key to improving quality and containing costs of health care in the U.S., according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive^® among registrants for the 2^nd annual World Health Care Congress. More than 1,100 health care policy makers, as well as leaders of major corporations, provider and payer organizations, pharmaceutical/biotech firms and academic institutions are expected to attend the summit, which will convene on January 30, 2005 in Washington, D.C., to discuss how to achieve quality, cost-effective health care in the U.S.

Forty percent of respondents believe a combination of IT, practice guidelines and patient safety measures is both an effective and desirable way of containing health care costs. Furthermore, 27 percent named disease management programs as the second most effective way to better manage costs.

Conversely, 38 percent say slow adoption of IT poses the most serious threat to the health care industry, closely followed by rising medical costs (37%) and the increasing number of uninsured/or under-insured (34%).

Interestingly, support for universal health insurance is relatively strong, with 49 percent of respondents in favor and 37percent opposed. However, 94 percent say such coverage is either highly unlikely or somewhat unlikely to happen during the next five years.

"While IT is still significantly underused in health care versus other industries, we are seeing growing consensus and appetite among health care leaders for electronic medical records and clinical systems," observed Lewis Redd, president of Capgemini Health, the leading consultant to health providers and payers and the World Health Care Congress’ presenting sponsor. "The big challenge now is how to pay for it."

When asked about the most significant opportunities that their organization can pursue during the next two years, the results again underscore the growing importance of IT in health care:

• Forty-eight percent (48%) name greater emphasis on data-driven clinical care (including evidence-based medicine and advanced care management programs).
• Thirty-one percent (31%) cite the development of portable, shared electronic health records.
• Twenty-nine percent (29%) identify increasing prevalence of pay-for-performance initiatives.

With regard to the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), more than two-thirds (68%) of those respondents who work for hospitals, physician practices or health insurers say their organization has increased or accelerated their investments in clinical IT and EMRs and an additional 15 percent plan to make new investments soon. However, only one-third of them say they are working with other local health organizations on these initiatives.

"Unless there is much greater collaboration among health care providers, payers and policy makers—and that is somewhat unlikely—it will be tough to deliver higher quality of care and contain costs," said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll^® at Harris Interactive. "Although we are making progress, it’s at a slow pace."

Methodology
Harris Interactive conducted the survey online in the United States between December 28, 2004 and January 10, 2005. Capgemini Health worked with Harris Interactive to design the survey questionnaire. It was completed by 122 registered attendees of the 2^nd Annual World Health Care Congress, of whom 44 work for hospitals, physician practices or health insurers. The majority of the respondents hold senior level positions within their own organizations: 20 percent are Chairman, CEO or President; 15 percent are in the C-suite (COO, CFO, CHIO, CTO, CMO); 20 percent (Senior VPs, Executive VPs or VPs); and 39 percent are Directors. The data are representative of those health care professionals who are registered to attend the conference and who participated in the survey. This online sample is not a probability sample.

Capgemini, one of the world's foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has a unique way of working with its clients, which it calls the Collaborative Business Experience. Through commitment to mutual success and the achievement of tangible value, the company helps businesses implement growth strategies, leverage technology, and thrive through the power of collaboration. Capgemini employs approximately 60,000 people and reported 2003 global revenues of 5.754 billion euros. More information about individual service lines, offices and research is available at www.capgemini.com

Capgemini’s health practice (Capgemini Health) is the leading health consultancy in the United States, serving one-third of the nation’s hospitals and many of the largest managed care organizations. More information about the health practice and related research is available at www.us.capgemini.com/health/

Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), the 15^th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll^® and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris (www.novatris.com), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide (www.wirthlinworldwide.com), a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25^th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online^SM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit www.harrispollonline.com.

Rachael Adler
Capgemini Health
212-455-8037
radler@cooperkatz.com

Susan Pralgever
Capgemini Health
212-455-8019
susan@cooperkatz.com

Hindy Shaman
Capgemini Health
703-453-6161
hindy.shaman@capgemini.com

Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
nwong@harrisinteractive.com