FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barb Meyer
Director of 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 ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENT

St. Louis, MO (October 21, 2003) -- The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) has announced the promotions of Julie Hurtubise to Executive Director–Finance/Corporate Controller, and Diana Silvey to Executive Director–Community Outreach Services. In addition, Sharon (Sherry) Kwater has joined Mercy as Executive Director–Clinical Excellence. The appointments were announced by Ron Ashworth, president and chief executive officer.

Hurtubise has primary responsibility for monitoring the Health System’s financial performance. Silvey provides operational oversight and assistance to Mercy’s outreach ministries and grant recipients in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Belize. Kwater will work with physician and nursing leaders across Mercy to ensure exceptional clinical quality. Kwater comes to Mercy from St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, where she was director of quality performance improvement.

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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 healthcare system in the United States based on net patient service revenue and is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy–St. Louis Regional Community.

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