EXHIBIT 10.26
 
                         LETTER AGREEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT
 
                          INNOSERV TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
January 3, 1996
 
Mr. Thomas E. Hoefert
2028 Espinosa Drive
Carrollton, Texas 75010
Dear Tom:
 
    INNOSERV Technologies, Inc.-Registered Trademark- ("The Company") is pleased
to  extend to  you an offer  of employment  for the position  of Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer. This position will report to the President and CEO. You
will be an officer of the Company and a member of the executive management group
that directs the Company. The offer of employment, as set forth in this  letter,
supersedes  any representations, whether written or oral, that may have occurred
previously.
 
    Your annual base  salary will be  $150,000 with the  opportunity for  annual
merit increases with the first annual review occurring on or about July 1, 1997.
Subject  to the  establishment of an  executive bonus  program, contemplated for
fiscal year  1997, you  will  be eligible  for an  annual  bonus based  on  your
performance  against established objectives up to a  maximum of 40% of your base
salary.
 
    You will also receive a  grant of options to  purchase 25,000 shares of  the
Company's common stock pursuant to the Company's Stock Incentive Plan. The stock
options will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common
stock  as defined in the  Company's Stock Option Incentive  Plan on the date you
become an employee of the Company and a term of ten years, and one-third of  the
stock  options  will  vest on  an  annual basis  so  that after  three  years of
employment the options will be fully vested.  As you are aware, there are  stock
options  available for grant to key employees in the discretion of the Company's
Compensation Committee as part of an overall management group incentive program.
 
    Upon employment with the Company you will be eligible to participate in  the
Company's  medical  and  dental insurance  plans  which are  available  to other
officers and employees of  the Company. You  will be entitled  to four weeks  of
paid vacation per year.
 
    You   will  receive  a  car  allowance  of  $600  per  month,  as  well  as,
reimbursement for certain  maintenance and  operating costs, as  defined in  the
Company Policy and Procedures Manual.
 
    If  your employment is terminated  by the Company for  any reason other than
for cause  (which shall  mean  for all  purposes  herein, fraud,  dishonesty  or
willful misconduct), you will receive a severance payment by the continuation of
your  then current monthly salary (less appropriate withholding amounts) for six
months following your  separation. In addition,  the Company will  pay for  your
participation  in its medical and insurance  plans for six months following your
separation. Payment of the severance benefit is conditioned upon your  providing
to  the Company at the time of your  separation a written release of any and all
claims against the Company and your agreement not to compete with the Company or
to hire any of its employees for a period of two years following your separation
from the  Company.  You  are  not  eligible  for  a  severance  benefit  if  you
voluntarily terminate your employment with the Company.
 
    If  a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs, all or your then unvested
stock options will vest immediately. Furthermore, if within six months following
a Change of Control, your employment is terminated without cause, you will  also
receive a severance payment as provided for above.
 
    For  purposes  of the  preceding paragraph  a "Change  of Control"  shall be
deemed to have  occurred if (x)  any "person"  or "group" of  "persons" (as  the
terms "person" and "group" are used in

Mr. Thomas Hoefert
January 3, 1996
Page 2
Sections  13(d) and  14(d) of the  Securities and  Exchange Act of  1934 and the
rules and  regulations  thereunder)  is  or becomes,  after  the  date  of  your
employment  by the Company, the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of the
securities of the Company representing 50%  of the combined voting power of  the
then  outstanding  voting  securities of  the  Company (whether  by  purchase or
acquisition of such securities or by agreement to act in concert with respect to
the voting of such securities or otherwise); (y) all or substantially all of the
assets and/or business of the Company is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed
of to a third party; or (z) a majority of the Board of Directors of the  Company
shall  be comprised of persons  who were not elected to  such offices as part of
the "Company nominated slate" of directors (i.e., the slate of nominees proposed
by the  Board  of  Directors  in office  immediately  prior  to  the  election).
Notwithstanding  the foregoing, there  shall be excluded  from the definition of
"Change of Control" any direct or indirect beneficial ownership change resulting
in 50% or more of the combined  voting power of the then outstanding  securities
of  the Company being beneficially owned individually,  jointly or as a group by
Dudley A. Rauch,  Samuel Salen,  M.D., Donald  G. Moehering,  Michael M.  Sachs,
MEDIQ  Incorporated or the trust created by agreement dated November 18, 1983 by
Bernard B. Rotko as grantor (the  "Rotko Trust") or any of affiliates,  personal
representatives,  heirs, testamentary trusts or donees  who are members of their
family or any of them.
 
    Your starting date  of employment will  be no later  than January 22,  1996.
Your  employment  will  be  governed  by  the  legal  principles  applicable  to
employment at  will and  nothing contained  in this  letter shall  constitute  a
contract of employment
 
    Tom,  I have confidence  in your abilities to  provide many contributions to
the Company and look forward to your  commitment. On behalf of INNOSERV, let  me
congratulate you on your decision to join our team.
 
Sincerely,
 

                                           
        INNOSERV TECHNOLOGIES, INC.                 Understood, Agreed and Accepted
 
            /s/ MICHAEL G. PULS                            /s/ THOMAS HOEFERT
- -------------------------------------------   -------------------------------------------
              Michael G. Puls                              Thomas E. Hoefert
              PRESIDENT & CEO                                 Date: 1/9/96