Momentum continues as our company fulfills its role as a regional leader in the health care industry. That momentum reflects customer satisfaction with the services we offer as exemplified through our employees' efforts to achieve challenging targets of performance. I want to thank our customers for placing their confidence in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland and our employees for understanding the importance of working faster, smarter and with a shared commitment to excellence.
The pace of change within the health care industry demands our commitment. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland maintains its leadership in the market for health care and insurance products by delivering quality service to more customers with improved efficiency. This is possible because of the efforts of our employees.
In 1996, our strategy was to position the company to serve customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. We are moving toward our goal of a seamless, comprehensive and convenient array of quality health care options for our customers wherever they live, work or travel within our region. Earlier this year, we announced several business combination plans including merging operations with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area. Taking advantage of each company's strengths, the merger creates for our customers a larger provider network offering greater choice and expanded access.
In the months ahead, we will continue to explore other opportunities for creative partnerships with health care providers that further expand network-based access and choice for our customers. Central to these changes is our vision of a new era in health care in which prevention, sound management and well-informed consumers are key to better health at lower cost. Our performance in 1996 continues momentum toward this goal.
We approach the challenge of that vision with a sharp focus on the needs of the market and a firm resolve to provide our customers with the highest quality and most affordable health care available.
