Partnering: a closer look at one group's programs.

The word "partner" brings to mind myriad thoughts and ideas: an association, a sharing relationship, joint interests, marriage. "Partnering" is arguably the most overused term in health care purchasing so far in the 1990s; nonetheless, it represents a change in how business is being conducted and an effective way to lower costs. The following is a representation of how one of the nation's leading group purchasing organizations (GPOs) uses partnerships with a variety of associates to provide opportunities for health care providers to lower costs.