Crystal Decisions to provide Baylor Health Care System enterprise reporting technology

PALO ALTO, CA, July 29, 2003 - Crystal Decisions, a leading global provider of Business Intelligence software and services, today announced that Baylor Health Care System has entered into an agreement to standardize on Crystal Decisions' enterprise reporting technology. With more than 15,000 employees, Baylor is one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The Crystal Decisions solution is designed to provide Baylor management with faster access to key operational data for more effective resource management, while allowing them to leverage existing IT investments and technology partnerships.

The initial pilot implementation at Baylor will focus on providing operational dashboard reports that will present management with a snapshot of daily activity levels at the organization's seven hospitals. Each is considered a separate business unit. Reports will be generated on the number of patients admitted and discharged, specific medical conditions treated, and the type and quantity of medications dispensed, allowing management to make better operational budgeting decisions and to allocate resources appropriately.

"Baylor is fortunate to enjoy a healthy synergy between its clinical and research facilities and we wanted to ensure that we had the right technology so that all our managers were accessing the most up-to-date and reliable data available," commented James McPhail, Baylor Health Care System vice president. "The decision-making process was made easier once we had determined that there was already substantial independent use of Crystal Decisions' reporting technology at individual business units. As an added bonus, Crystal Decisions has a solid partnership with Lawson, our enterprise software provider," continued McPhail.

Crystal Decisions' solution will be used to report against Baylor's Oracle 8 data warehouse and will be rolled out to additional departments after an initial IT pilot. "We are looking to give our management greater business awareness by providing access to more reliable and timely data," said McPhail. "Crystal Decisions' professional services team has been instrumental in helping us define our business objectives and in developing key metrics to measure our future success."

As a member of the influential Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), Baylor envisions an innovative and integrated health care system that will provide quality, cost-effective, comprehensive and affordable care to all consumers. Recognized for its advancements in information technology for three consecutive years by the Journal of the American Hospital Association, Hospitals & Health Networks, Baylor is poised to deliver on these goals by standardizing on a proven reporting solution. The move to standardize will also allow Baylor to address HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance issues more effectively. Beginning in October, HIPAA will require some companies to use standard data content, codes and formats for electronic enrollment transactions and to meet specific user security and authentication requirements.

Commenting on the announcement, Bill Gibson, Chief Operating Officer for Crystal Decisions, said: "We are proud to have this opportunity to work with Baylor, a recognized leader and early adopter in the health care industry and an organization that is constantly striving to improve the affordability, innovation and quality of health care."

For More Information

For more information on Crystal Decisions technologies and services, phone 1-800-877-2340 (North America) or 1-604-681-3435 (International), or visit the Crystal Decisions Web site at http://www.crystaldecisions.com.

About Baylor Health Care System

Founded on a rich heritage, Baylor Health Care System is a network of hospitals, primary care physician centers and practices, rehabilitation clinics, senior health centers, affiliated ambulatory surgery centers and a research institute. One of the largest private-sector employers in the Dallas- Fort Worth Metroplex, Baylor employs more than 15,000 people and has more than 3,300 physicians on its medical staffs. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing in 1903, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research, and community service. For more information about Baylor, visit http://www.BaylorHealth.com.

About Crystal Decisions

Crystal Decisions is a leading global provider of business intelligence software and services that enable the effective use and management of information within and among organizations. As of March 28, 2003, we had delivered more than 14 million licenses and had registered users in more than 170 countries. Crystal Decisions is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., and has more than 25 offices worldwide. Crystal Decisions can be found on the Internet at http://www.crystaldecisions.com

 
 
 For Further Information, Contact:
 Ian Galbraith, Crystal Decisions Liz Sloan, Ruder Finn Switzer
 (604) 974-2370 (415) 249-6778
 Ian.Galbraith@crystaldecisions.com sloanl@ruderfinnswitzer.com
 
 Crystal Decisions, Crystal Reports, Crystal Enterprise, Crystal Analysis,
Crystal Services, Crystal Care, Crystal Assist, Crystal Applications and Holos
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Crystal Decisions, Inc. in the U.S.
and/or other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks
referenced are the property of their respective owners.
 
 
 
SOURCE Crystal Decisions Inc.