1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES We provide technology-enabled products and services which together deliver solutions designed to reduce total cost of care, enhance operational efficiency, align clinical delivery with advance care coordination and improve revenue performance for hospitals, health systems and other ancillary healthcare providers. Our client-specific solutions are designed to efficiently analyze detailed information across the spectrum of cost, operations, clinical delivery and reimbursement. Our solutions integrate with existing operations and enterprise software systems of our clients and provide financial improvement with minimal upfront costs or capital expenditures. Our operations and clients are primarily located throughout the United States and to a limited extent, Canada. Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MedAssets, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have prepared the accompanying consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ( GAAP ) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the  SEC ). Use of Estimates The preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates. We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts and returns, product development costs, share-based payments, business combinations, impairment