<PAGE>
Exhibit 16
November 16, 2000
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Dear Sir/Madam:
We have read the first two paragraphs of Item 4 included in Amendment No. 1 to
Form 8-K dated October 31, 2000 of Covalent Group, Inc. to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2000 and are in agreement
with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
cc: Joseph Delikat
Principal Accounting Officer
Covalent Group, Inc.