FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barb Meyer
Director of Communications
Sisters of Mercy Health System
v: 314.628-3633
f: 314.628-3734
e: bmeyer@corp.mercy.net
www.mercy.net

For information on the Most Wired Survey: Jennifer Towne
v: (312) 893-6894
e: jtowne@healthforum.com

SISTERS OF MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM NAMED ONE OF NATION'S MOST WIRED HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS
ST. LOUIS, MO (July 16, 2002) - The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) was named one of the nation's Most Wired hospitals and health systems in the nation. The fourth annual survey and benchmarking study is awarded to technically savvy hospitals and health systems by Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, in cooperation with McKesson Information Solutions, Qwest Communications International, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. The survey and benchmarking study measures the nation's health care systems on their use of Internet technologies to connect with patients, physicians and nurses, payors, health plans and employees. This is the second time Mercy has been named to the list.

"Being named among health care's 'Most Wired' systems again this year is indicative of Mercy's strong commitment to providing state-of-the-art technology for our customers and co-workers," said Skip Hubbard, vice president and chief information officer of Mercy. "We will continue to focus on information technology strategies that support exceptional patient care and improved operational efficiency."

Hospitals & Health Networks worked with two leading technology firms-McKesson Information Solutions and Qwest Communications International-to develop an in-depth eight-page survey available online to every hospital in the United States. Results from the survey were used to name the 100 Most Wired, the 10 Most Improved and the 10 Most Wireless. More than 300 health systems responded to the survey, representing about 800 hospitals.

Independent analysis of this year's winners shows that Most Wired organizations dedicate more staff and capital budget to IT projects than less wired organizations. Large gaps between Most Wired and less wired organizations are evident in services offered to physicians and clinicians. In 2001, the gap for Web-based lab order entry was 19.1 percentage points. In 2002, it jumped to 48.4 percentage points.

"This year's survey shows that Most Wired organizations continue to commit employees and money to their information technology investments," says Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks. "This is reflected in the large gaps in penetration of key technologies and the large gaps in communicating with patients, doctors and nurses." Winners and further analysis can be found in the July 2002 issue of Hospitals & Health Networks (www.hhnmag.com). Information on connecting with suppliers can be found in Materials Management in Health Care (www.matmanmag.com), July. The August 2002 issue of H&HN's Most Wired Magazine (www.hhnmostwired.com) will focus on the Most Wireless winners and the September 2002 issue of Health Forum Journal (www.healthforumjournal.com) will highlight the Innovator Awards winners.

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The Sisters of Mercy Health System, based in St. Louis, Missouri, operates hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics, health plans, and related health and human services in a seven-state area including Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Its members include 19 acute care hospitals providing nearly 5,000 licensed beds, a psychiatric hospital, a managed care subsidiary (Mercy Health Plans), physician practices, outpatient care facilities, home health programs, skilled nursing services and long-term care facilities. Services are provided by approximately 27,000 co-workers and 4,000 physicians who are employed or practice at Mercy facilities.

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the Most Wired survey annually. McKesson Information Solutions serves the supply management and information technology needs of health care organizations. Qwest Communications International is a leader in reliable, scalable and secure broadband data, voice and image communications for businesses and consumers. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society provides leadership for the management of technology, information and change.

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