Quest Diagnostics 1999 Annual Report Download - page 5

Looking Ahead
Our objectives for the year ahead are clear. We must:
• Continue to meet our customers’ expectations as we integrate our two companies;
• Speed progress toward our goal of becoming the clear quality leader in health care
services by incorporating Six Sigma quality processes throughout our business;
• Accelerate innovation and business development in areas with high growth
and profit potential;
• Improve employee satisfaction by providing an exceptional work environment; and
• Stimulate profitable growth, including an annual increase of at least 30%
in earnings per share over the next several years.
We are excited about the opportunities in the core business and new growth areas.
As the year ended, we began to plant the first seeds of our strategy to become a leading
provider of medical information and harvest the value inherent in our powerful database
of clinical results. We established relationships with several Internet providers and
anticipate additional arrangements, which will allow us to further establish our brand
identity and deliver value-added services directly to physicians, hospitals and consumers.
As always, the success of our efforts rests upon the energy and commitment of our
employees. To each employee I offer personal thanks for all you have accomplished and
endured during this year of historic and sometimes difficult change. It is your efforts that
will make possible our continuing industry leadership in the years to come.
Kenneth W. Freeman
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
3