Two of Region's Leading Healthcare Providers Announce Partnership

To: Megan Allen

MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Janie Poulnott

Media Relations Director

478-633-7107

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Two of Region's Leading Healthcare Providers Announce Partnership

Alignment to Improve Quality, Safety, Education

MACON, GA (Tuesday, June 11, 2013) – Houston Healthcare (HHC) and The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) are pleased to announce their agreement to create a strategic alignment that will benefit the central Georgia region. Both organizations will remain independent, but will collaborate in a formal affiliation that HHC and MCCG leaders believe will enhance the level of healthcare delivery in central Georgia.

"This is a historic alignment of healthcare organizations that have served our communities for years. We look forward to a partnership that will continue to ensure excellent patient care for central Georgians," said Sonny Watson, Chairman of the Houston Healthcare System Board of Trustees.

The purpose of the partnership is three-fold.

"The primary goal of this partnership is to improve the value of healthcare for patients, employers and payors. Houston Healthcare and The Medical Center of Central Georgia will provide the community with joint service focused on cost reduction, as well as increased training opportunities focused on quality and safety," said Cary Martin, CEO of HHC.

Recent changes in the healthcare industry have prompted strategic alignments, like the one between HHC and MCCG.

"As the face of healthcare continues to change, strategic alignments with community partners will ensure the viability and longevity of two of our region's chief healthcare providers," said Ken Harper, Chairman of MCCG's Board of Directors.

MCCG President and CEO Dr. Ninfa Saunders, FACHE said both organizations came to the conclusion that they share a common culture dedicated to quality care and safety.

"Each of our organizations is committed to quality patient care and patient safety. This alignment ensures that those in need of healthcare throughout the region receive the right access to care at the right time, using the right resources," said Dr. Ninfa Saunders, FACHE, President and CEO of Central Georgia Health System and MCCG.

The two organizations are currently working to bring the initial service offerings of the collaboration to the market. The current development efforts are focused on increased excellence in patient care and medical education.

About Houston Healthcare

Houston Healthcare operates Houston Medical Center, a 237-bed facility, and Perry Hospital, a 45-bed facility. In addition, Houston Healthcare operates The Surgery Center, Houston Heart Institute, Houston Lake Rehab, Pavilion Rehab, the Houston Health Pavilion, and three urgent care facilities – Houston Lake, Lake Joy and Pavilion Med-Stops. The Pavilion Family Medicine Center (PFMC) is home to the Family Medicine Residency Program which will ultimately have eighteen residents providing care to patients at the PFMC and Houston Medical Center. Houston Healthcare has approximately 2,400 employees and a medical staff of over 165 physicians.

About The Medical Center of Central Georgia
The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG), an entity of Central Georgia Health System (CGHS), is a tertiary regional teaching medical center, a designated Level I Trauma Center, a perinatal center, and is one of 42 twice-designated Magnet® hospitals for nursing excellence. MCCG serves a primary and secondary service area of 30 counties and nearly 750,000 persons in central and south Georgia. It has over 4,600 employees and a medical staff of over 620 physicians. MCCG is the second largest hospital in Georgia with a capacity of 637 beds including medical-surgical, obstetric, pediatric, psychiatric, and specialized individual intensive care units for neurology, pediatric, neonatal, surgical trauma, cardiac and cardiac surgery. The Emergency Center, with helipad capability and three urgent care centers, treats over 120,000 visitors per year. MCCG provides a broad range of community-based, outpatient diagnostic, primary care, extensive home health and hospice care, and comprehensive rehabilitation services. MCCG is the primary teaching hospital for Mercer University School of Medicine, providing residency and fellowship programs for over 100 residents and fellows, and is affiliated with multiple universities as a clinical education site.

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