Program evaluation is intended to systematically determine the merit and worth of a program. We broadly define "merit" and "worth" to include economic perspectives obtained through the analysis of the finances of a program--both the costs and the benefits. A study reported here addressed the cost and benefit of investing in an educational intervention to change and improve processes in a health care setting. The potential economic impact of a training intervention intended to improve the uptake of a new purchasing process was evaluated. The study illustrates economic evaluation that anticipates the future value of educational interventions, a prospective view. (Contains 3 tables.)