FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Sisters of Mercy Health System Honored for Innovative Technology Solution

St. Louis (November 17, 2005) — The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) has been recognized as a national leader for innovative technology (IT) solutions.

Mercy is one of only 12 healthcare organizations honored by InfoWorld, a national trade publication for IT professionals, on its 100 Most Innovative Corporate IT Solutions 2005 list. The list, released November 14, recognizes IT projects that demonstrate the most creative use of cutting-edge technologies and stretch beyond typical solutions to achieve well-defined business goals. Mercy earned its place on the list for its rapid and comprehensive implementation of a software-management solution on 16,000 personal computers (PCs) in approximately two months, nearly ten times the average pace.

Mercy’s use of the ManageSoft product was the precursor to an organization-wide PC standardization initiative called Project Access. This initiative will establish a more secure, high performance computing environment for meeting both patient care and business technology needs across Mercy. When the project is complete, all Mercy co-workers will use standard hardware and software, allowing for improved sharing of information in support of patient care and other needs, as well as reduced PC downtime. They also will be able to access their computers using a biometric fingerprint reader.

“We are honored to be recognized by InfoWorld magazine,” said Dick Escue, chief information officer for Mercy. “The innovation, creativity and resourcefulness of our team are what make initiatives like Project Access successful. We are proud to be in the company of other InfoWorld honorees including Microsoft, American Express, E*Bay, GE and Sutter Health.”

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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 19 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 9th 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.

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