output dimension 259 so that an order-of-magnitude change in the performance measures, especially cost of operation, can be achieved. · Theproviderswhoareanintegralpartofafacility,suchasoperating room, general care unit, specialty care unit, and other ancillary depart- ments, will be permanently assigned to that facility while retaining their membership in the knowledge pool. · Thecurrentmodelofthe"emergencyroom"operationwillberecon- ceptualized and redesigned. No longer will it be allowed to act as convenient, free access to the care system. Consequently, creation of decentralized regional primary care centers will help take away the incongruent responsibilities that are currently imposed on emer- gency departments. Such a realignment will make sure that Emergency Department (ED) units can afford to discharge their legitimate, and highly critical, function without having to get constantly sidetracked by nonemergency referrals that come in through the ED and must be treated in such an intense setting. · Regionalprimarycarecenterswillbeinchargeofservicesthatshould rightfully fall into their specialized domain. The decentralized arrange- ments of the regional primary care centers will have the added advantage