For Immediate Release

National Research Group Names Mercy Top Hospital

Oklahoma City — Mercy Health Center has been named one of the top hospitals in the nation by the National Research Corporation (NRC) — the nation’s leading consumer health care study. As a Consumer Choice Award winner, Mercy will be listed as one of the hospitals most preferred by consumers in the official announcement in this week’s Modern Healthcare magazine.

“We are honored to be named one of the top hospitals by the country’s largest and most comprehensive study of its kind,” said Jim Gebhart, president of Mercy Health Center. “It means that Oklahomans recognize Mercy as having the highest quality and image.”

The NRC Healthcare Market Guide study surveyed more than 250,000 households nationwide, asking consumers to answer more than 200 questions about health care in their community. The study looked at everything from overall quality to the level of care given by nurses and doctors.

“Healthcare has become an increasingly important issue across the country and empowered consumers are making decisions for themselves and their families when selecting their healthcare facilities and services,” said Ginny Martin, president of NRC’s Ticker Division. “As care options multiply and financial challenges remain strong, consumer perception of quality continues to grow in importance. Dedication to providing high quality healthcare has become essential for all hospitals. In the face of adversity, these Consumer Choice award winners exemplify the dedication it takes to provide quality healthcare to their communities, and we are pleased to honor them through the eyes of their patients.”

NRC’s Healthcare Market Guide Ticker is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. No other study used to measure hospital performance and preferences contains more consumer responses than NRC’s study.

Integris Health was the only other Oklahoma hospital named a 2009/20010 Consumer Choice Award winner. Both Mercy and Integris were the hospitals most preferred by patients in the Oklahoma City market.

Press release dated: October 12, 2009

Mercy Health Center, the first Magnet hospital in Oklahoma, is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the Sisters of Mercy Health System. Magnet-designated facilities: report higher patient satisfaction rates, deliver better patient outcomes, provide more nursing care at the bedside of patients and consistently outperform non-magnet organizations.