Vital links for today and tomorrow. With one stage of MIS development complete, an integrated delivery network looks to the future.

Over the past four years, Provenant Health Partners (PHP), Denver, has been developing and implementing a management information system to meet the organization's current needs. The system consists of the following information networks: Internal management; Electronic claims processing; Purchasing; Physician communications; Clinic communications; Physician practices; Other hospitals,offnaged health. In the past, PHP used the system primarily for traditional management and control purposes. Recently, however, the organization has extended the use of its data outputs to include internal and external marketing purposes as well. Clinical, service, and management quality data are now tracked and shared with internal and external constituents. PHP is also working to develop a health information system for the future. Such a system will include all the components of the current management information system, but will also facilitate effective health management of populations enrolled in the organization's integrated delivery network.