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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David McDonough
Phone: 703-243-9262

Joe Flower Predicts the Future of Health Care Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 24, 2001) - Joe Flower, principal of What If… and a respected author, writer and consultant, gave an insightful presentation to attendees at the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association's 2001 International EXPO. Flower spoke at an Educational Breakout Session, sponsored by Kodak, on October 16, covering topics such as biotechnology, clinical technology, nanotechnology and information technology, and how these advances will change the landscape of health care.

"Every other industry in America has learned to use new technologies and new management to revolutionize itself," said Flower. "It is now time for the health care industry to stop being the slow learner."

Mr. Flower is the founder and principal of The Change Project, an educational and consulting organization primarily concerned with health care technology. Among many topics, the futurist informed his audience about man-made organs, either from animal collagen, referred to as neo-organs, or assistive devices, battery operated artificial organs. In addition, he added that a new generation of imaging devices will replace existing X-rays and MRI technologies-allowing a physician to see 3-dimensional volumetric images.

"I believe we are not just going to see incremental changes in health care, we are going to see the end of health care as we know it," predicted Flower.

HIGPA's annual International EXPO was held this year in Palm Desert, California. Over 620 executives and senior managers from health care related companies attended this three-day educational and networking event, including leading Silver Sponsors GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer Corporation.

GlaxoSmithKline, EXPO Silver Sponsor. GlaxoSmithKline-one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies-is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information, visit the GlaxoSmithKline web site.

Bayer Corporation, EXPO Silver Sponsor. Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major business in health care and life sciences, and chemicals. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corp. had sales of $10.1 billion in 2000 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies. It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, based in Leverkusen, Germany. For more information, visit Bayer Corporation.

HIGPA is a chartered trade association of approximately 175 health care purchasing and supply chain organizations that serve approximately three out of every four U.S. acute care hospitals, as well as most of the long term care, home care and medical group practice markets.

HIGPA's trading partner members include many of the world's leading health care product and medical supply manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and related suppliers. HIGPA's industry members include for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, purchasing groups, associations, multi-hospital systems, and health care provider alliances. According to a recent study conducted by a former principal analyst at the Congressional Budget Office, hospitals save patients approximately $20 billion each year by purchasing products through group contracts.

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