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Presents information on issues concerning the healthcare industry in the U.S. as of August 2004. Proposals endorsed by the American Medical Association involving medical malpractice cases; Information on the exit strategy of Thomas Scully, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Settlement of antitrust lawsuit filed by Retractable Technologies Inc. against BD.

Focuses on the materials management team at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Los Angeles, California which was selected by the periodical "Healthcare Purchasing News" as the 2004 Materials Management Department of the Year. Evaluation procedure used by the periodical in selecting the awardees; Efforts of the department to preserve its financial integrity; Qualities of the department which demonstrate handling of logistics and supply chain activities in materials management.

Provides information on several practices of healthcare facilities in disposing liquid medical waste. Methods used by hospitals in disposing fluid waste; Percentage of hospitals that continue to pour potentially infectious fluids down the hopper sinks as standard practice; Views of Stephanie Lipp, senior market manager of the Medivac line at medical products and services division of Cardinal Health Inc., on pouring fluid waste down the hopper sinks.

Presents views on the information technology infrastructure of the U.S. healthcare industry. Healthcare infrastructure which U.S. President George W. Bush plans to implement; Results of research regarding surgeons who play video games; Features of a 40-slice computed tomography scanner launched by Phillips Medical Systems.

Provides an update on issues concerning health care and the medical profession as of May 2004. Move of some physicians to drop their malpractice insurance coverage; Comment on clean-hand scanners using fluorescent blue light to detect fecal matter developed to reinforce hand-washing practices; Information on a health literacy campaign launched by the Institute of Medicine to prevent medical errors.

Comments on several issues affecting the health care industry in the U.S. Importation of prescription drugs from foreign countries; Plan of JC Penney to sell Eckerd Drug Stores; Rule of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding bar coding for drug products.

Comments on how "Healthcare Purchasing News" fulfills its mission. Effort of the magazine to keep itself as a marketplace of ideas; Views on how readers of the publication benefit from what they read; Mission of the magazine.

The article discusses the importance of reward programs in fostering customer loyalty. According to the author, the main problem with reward programs is the cost, but brands can make rewards affordable by keeping a balance between cost and return on investment. He states that an effective rewards program should also involve an appropriate frequency program structure. He adds that a promotional currency can also add flexibility to a frequency program.

Reports on the increased used of co-branding by companies as a way of improving consumer relations, focusing on the launching of AT and T Universal Card. What are the concepts of co-branding; Benefits to be derived form co-branding; Background information on AT and T.

Opinion. Comments on the re-emerging of coalition marketing in business. Information on the frequent-flyer partnership model; What coalition marketing is based on; What should be considered in coalition marketing,.

Discusses the growth in the use of relationship marketing in the United States. Types of relationship marketing strategies used by various companies; Two most popular relationship marketing strategies in use; Details on these two strategies.