HEALTHSTAR NETWORK INC

IN AUGUST OF 1996 HEALTH STAR NETWORK, INC. D/B/A STELLARIS HEALTH NETWORK WAS FORMED BY WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL CENTER (WHITE PLAINS, NY) AND NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, (MT. KISCO, NY). IN RECOGNITION OF DRAMATIC CHANGES OCCURRING IN THE REGIONAL HEALTH CARE MARKETPLACE, HEALTHSTAR WAS CREATED TO PARTNER LIKE-MINDED HEALTHCARE ENTITIES. THESE ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF COLLABORATION, SYNERGY, AND LEVERAGE, AND DETERMINED TO FORM AN ALLIANCE TO IMPROVE HEALTH QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE, AND REDUCE COSTS. STELLARIS HEALTH NETWORK THE REGION'S FIRST COMMUNITY HOSPITAL NETWORK, EVOLVED OUT OF THE MEMBER ORGANIZATION'S SHARED VISION TO MAINTAIN LOCAL DECISION MAKING AND DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES. IN MARCH, 1997 LAWRENCE HOSPITAL CENTER (BRONXVILLE, NY) JOINED THE NETWORK AND IN OCTOBER 1997 PHELPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOC. (SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY) FOLLOWED SUIT. IN 2000, THE NETWORK SPONSORED THE FORMATION OF AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS), WHICH PROVIDES MUNICIPAL PARAMEDIC SERVICES TO NEARLY ONE THIRD OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY. IN ADDITION, STARNET EMERGENCY SERVICES (TRADE NAME-WESTCHESTER EMS) ALSO PROVIDES AMBULANCE AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE NETWORK INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS AND OTHER NON-AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS.IN 2001, HEALTHSTAR NETWORK, INC. BEGAN OPERATING UNDER THE TRADE NAME OF STELLARIS HEALTH NETWORK. STELLARIS REPRESENTS THE STELLAR LEVEL OF CARE AND SERVICES WE STRIVE TO DELIVER, AND POETICALLY REFER TO THE GROWING CONSTELLATION OF AFFILIATES IN OUR NETWORK. BASED IN ARMONK, NY, STELLARIS HEALTH NETWORK WAS MANAGED BY SHARON M. LUCIAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO. TOGETHER THE ORGANIZATION SET AN AGENDA FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS THAT ALONE WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT (OR IMPOSSIBLE) TO ACHIEVE. AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION ENVISIONED THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A HIGH QUALITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. OTHER CORE OBJECTIVES INCLUDED REDUCTION OF EXPENSES THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN CENTRALIZATION INITIATIVES, SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES AND CLINICAL CARE OFFERED TO OUR PATIENTS. STRATEGIC GOALS FOR STELLARIS INCLUDED COST REDUCTION INITIATIVES SUCH AS SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED BUSINESS FUNCTIONS SUCH AS JOINT INSURANCE PROCUREMENT PROGRAMS, HIPAA COMPLIANCE, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATE OF THE ART INFORMATION SYSTEM AND CLINICAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE SPONSORSHIP OF AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE (EMS).