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

SISTERS OF MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM APPOINTS NEW VP/CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

St. Louis, MO (December 12, 2003) – The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) has named Dick Escue to the position of Vice President/Chief Information Officer. In this role, Escue will provide leadership of all corporate information technology functions.

Prior to joining Mercy, Escue served in senior information management positions for a major healthcare organization in Memphis, Tennessee. He holds a master’s degree in marketing and a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Memphis State University. Escue was recently awarded the 2003 Hospital and Health Networks Innovator Award and earned a place on the 2003 CIO Magazine 100 Most Resourceful list.

--30--

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, a heart 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 26,000 co-workers and 3,100 physicians who are employed or practice at Mercy facilities. Mercy is the 10th largest Catholic health care system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue and is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy–St. Louis Regional Community.

###