Leading healthcare consultants speak out. Interview by Bill Childs.

In 1993 American consulting firms worked overtime helping executives of healthcare delivery systems cope with recent developments and anticipate coming events. From vertical integration to mergers and acquisitions, from reengineering to downsizing, it appeared that industry activity amounted to full employment for consultants. Recently Bill Childs, Healthcare Informatics' editor-in-chief and market observer, took the opportunity to visit with two leaders in the healthcare consulting field--Jim Reep, Chairman of First Consulting Group, Long Beach, Calif.

A time for reengineering.

Industry consultant Rich Helppie claims that information systems changes throughout the last decade brought about a change in systems, and little else. Healthcare organizations during the 1990s must reengineer their operations--with the benefit of I/S technology--to stay competitive ..

Information systems purchasing: reform overdue.

Drastic reforms in the way hospitals select and buy information systems are required if institutions are to effectively deal with the deluge of available technology, says the CEO of Superior Consultants. He offers guidelines for implementation of reforms and some tough questions purchasers must ask themselves during the procurement process.

Five years old and going strong. Interview by Eric Skjei.

Superior Consulting recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. The firm now employs more than 85 people and continues to enjoy strong growth. Where is it headed? To 200 employees and annual revenues approaching $30 million to $40 million, says President Rich Helppie.