FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Niki Burgdorf, 314/628-3603

Sisters of Mercy Health System Names Wheeler Senior Vice President

St. Louis, Mo. (September 25, 2008) — The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) has named Philip Wheeler to the position of senior vice president–general counsel, effective October 1.

Wheeler previously served as vice president–general counsel. Prior to joining Mercy in January 2007, he served as assistant general counsel for the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He also has held the positions of senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for HealthTrust, Inc.-The Hospital Company and executive vice president and co-founder of NetCare Health Systems, Inc.

Wheeler has a law degree from New York University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Miami University of Ohio.

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About Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) 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 18 acute care hospitals providing more than 4,000 licensed beds, two heart hospitals, 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 28,000 co-workers and 4,450 physicians who are employed or practice at Mercy facilities. Mercy is the 9th largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. It is sponsored by Mercy Health Ministry, an entity established by the Catholic Church to oversee the healing ministry and Catholic identity of Mercy. For more information, visit www.mercy.net.

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