News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAINT JOSEPH'S MOVES FORWARD WITH PLANS FOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL

ATLANTA - (August 26, 2008) - Saint Joseph's Hospital is moving forward with architectural planning and development activities for a regional hospital to be located near Linger Longer and Highway 44 in Greene County. The new, centrally-located facility will replace Minnie G. Boswell Memorial Hospital, a 50 year-old facility purchased by Saint Joseph's in early 2008, to serve the greater Lake Oconee region. Saint Joseph's has been in discussions and submitted comprehensive proposals to Putnam General and other area hospitals for several months about a regional facility. A request to respond was unacknowledged as of August 26.

"We're certainly disappointed that the Putnam Task Force hasn't responded favorably to our proposal to collaborate for a regional hospital but we will move ahead nonetheless,' says Kirk Wilson, CEO and president of Saint Joseph's Health System. "We're confident that a new facility will provide the highest level of programs and services necessary for the growing population in the tri-county area."

Saint Joseph's proposal included continued operation of the PGH Emergency Room as an urgent care center, imaging center and laboratory capabilities necessary to support the local primary care physicians following closure of the hospital. Saint Joseph's also proposed development of an indigent care fund, initially resourced from the purchase of PGH equipment and inpatient beds as operations are discontinued. The fund would then need to be replenished from time to time to maintain a $200,000 average balance to care for the county's less fortunate. Wilson said, "We've established a fundraising arm for the new hospital and are moving forward with those activities as well, part of which will be to eventually endow some the indigent care funding needs."

Ground breaking for the new hospital is slated for late 2009 or early 2010.

Editor's Note:

Saint Joseph's Hospital, the regions premier provider of cardiac and vascular services and recognized as one of the 50 top hospitals in the country, is Atlanta's oldest hospital. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, today Saint Joseph's is a 410-bed, acute-care hospital recognized as one of the leading specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast. Saint Joseph's acquired Minnie G. Boswell Memorial Hospital in 2008.

As a leader in cardiac, neurologic, vascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, orthopaedic and cancer care, among others, Saint Joseph's offers its patients the latest procedures and treatments by providing its medical staff of more than 750 physicians with research services and the most advanced technology available. In addition to serving the metro-Atlanta area, patients come from all over Georgia, nearby states and internationally because of Saint Joseph's specialized services, excellent reputation and unique patient experience.

Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Joseph's is a member of Catholic Health East. For more information, visit the website at www.saintjosephsatlanta.org.