Press Release

CONTACT: Michael Greywitt (West Coast) (805) 418-8000 John Tews (East Coast) (248) 267-6800

Saint Joseph's Hospital Recognized Again for Clinical and Service Excellence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2005

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.—Saint Joseph's Hospital, a 360-bed acute-care hospital in Atlanta, is being recognized for both clinical and service excellence under the Distinguished Hospital Program^SM, a collaborative effort by HealthGrades, Inc. and J.D. Power and Associates. Saint Joseph's Hospital has been recognized for the third year in a row for clinical excellence by HealthGrades and for a second year in a row for service excellence by J.D. Power and Associates. These distinctions acknowledge a strong, ongoing commitment by Saint Joseph's Hospital to provide its patients with an outstanding patient experience.

"To be honored by both the service and clinical arms of the Distinguished Hospital Program is something of which the caregivers, physicians and administrative staff at Saint Joseph's can be proud," says Steven D. Wood, Ph.D., senior vice president at J.D. Power and Associates and general manager of the healthcare division. "At a time when consumers are increasingly exerting influence over the kind of care they receive and are seeking credible resources to make well-informed decisions, this program enables Saint Joseph's to differentiate itself in the market."

In its 2005 study, HealthGrades independently and objectively analyzed Medicare patient records from fiscal years 2001-03 for 28 common medical procedures and diagnoses. To qualify, hospitals were required to meet minimum thresholds in terms of patient volumes, quality ratings and the range of services. Hospitals with risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates that scored in the top five percent or better nationally—which demonstrates superior overall clinical performance—were then recognized as Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence.

The HealthGrades national study places Saint Joseph's Hospital among the top 5 percent in the United States for clinical quality performance. As a result, HealthGrades, has recognized Saint Joseph's with the 2005 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.^TM This marks the third year in a row that the hospital has achieved this distinction and Saint Joseph's is one of only 72 hospitals in the nation to be a recipient of this award three years consecutively.

Service excellence was determined by surveying a random sample of recently discharged patients from Saint Joseph's Hospital on their perceptions of their hospital stay and comparing the results to the national benchmark established by the J.D. Power and Associates annual National Hospital Service Performance Study.^SM

The telephone-based research conducted among Saint Joseph's Hospital patients focuses on the five key drivers of patient satisfaction with their overall hospital experience established in the national study. These drivers include: dignity and respect; speed and efficiency; comfort; information and communication; and emotional support.

"Because consumers place a high value on the service aspects of their hospital stay, providing patients with a consistent, positive experience year after year is as important to hospitals as it is to any other service industry," said Wood. "The J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital recognition enables Saint Joseph's Hospital and other top-performing health care facilities to effectively communicate an unwavering commitment to patient satisfaction and quality care to the communities they serve."

Saint Joseph's Hospital, the first in Atlanta to receive this distinction from J.D. Power and Associates, notably exceeded the national benchmark study score for overall patient satisfaction. The hospital performed especially well in providing treatment to patients with speed and efficiency, receiving high marks from patients on the nurses' promptness in responding to the call button and the doctors' coordination of care with nurses. Saint Joseph's Hospital also performed well relative to the national study in providing comfort to patients during their stay. The hospital received high ratings in regard to the nurses' concern about controlling pain and the discharge personnel's concern for the patients' continued recovery and well-being after leaving the hospital.

Additionally, patients were asked to rate their level of trust and confidence in the hospital. A majority of Saint Joseph's patients report higher levels of trust and confidence in the hospital after their most recent stay. When compared to the national average, overall trust and confidence in the hospital is higher among Saint Joseph's Hospital patients.

"There is clearly a difference in the quality of care available, and for patients and families in our community, this is good news," says Bonnie Phipps, president and CEO of Saint Joseph's Hospital. "Receiving the HealthGrades and J.D. Power and Associates distinctions mean that at Saint Joseph's patients can expect a superior clinical and service experience during their hospital stay."

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. J.D. Power and Associates can be accessed through the Internet at www.jdpower.com. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.

HealthGrades, Inc. (OTCBB: HGRD) is the leading independent health care quality company, providing ratings, information and advisory services to health care providers, health plans, insurance companies and more than 125 of the country's largest employers. Through its Web site, HealthGrades also provides its award-winning information about health care providers and practitioners to more than one million consumers each month. More information about the company can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

Lynn Peterson, Saint Joseph's Hospital, (404) 851-5849, lpeterson@sjha.org
Scott Shapiro, HealthGrades, (303) 716-0041 x6584, sshapiro@healthgrades.com
John Tews, J.D. Power and Associates, 248-267-6800, john.tews@jdpa.com

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