St. Francis Hospital Awarded BusinessLI 2005 MVP in Healthcare

Roslyn, N.Y., September 23, 2005 — St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® was honored with the 2005 MVP in healthcare award at the fourth annual Long Island Association (LIA) September luncheon today at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. General Colin Powell, Secretary of State (2001-2004), was the guest speaker.

BusinessLI, a joint publication of the LIA and Newsday's Island Publications, Inc., awards the MVP annually to Long Island companies that show marked growth and expansion and demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.

"We are honored to be recognized by the Long Island Association for our growth, and more importantly, for our long-standing commitment to the healthcare needs of the community," said Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. "St. Francis Hospital has an active outreach program to underserved communities. We take care of everybody who comes to our doorstep, regardless of race, creed, or ability to pay."

As a part of its outreach efforts, St. Francis Hospital sends a cardiologist with a Spanish-speaking interpreter to a number of community centers across Long Island each week. The Hospital also provides free cardiac backup services to the Coalition for Community Well-Being in Hempstead and Rotacare in Uniondale.

As a nationally recognized leader in cardiac care and New York State's only specialty designated heart center, St. Francis Hospital has experienced tremendous demand for its services in recent years. As a result, the hospital has embarked upon a three-year, $190 million project to expand and enhance the physical plant, the largest construction project in the hospital's 83-year history.

"Our goal is to build a platform to continue to attract the very best physicians and nurses, accommodate our patients with comfort and convenience, and house the latest technology to keep the hospital at the forefront of medical care," Dr. Guerci noted.

St. Francis Hospital performs the largest cardiac surgery caseload in New York State, for the most recent year reported by the New York State Department of Health (2002), and the largest volume of percutaneous coronary interventions (2003). In addition, the same high level of expertise is available for noncardiac care. The hospital offers a full range of services, including general, vascular and orthopedic surgery, gastroenterology, pulmonology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology and urology.

St. Francis Hospital's DeMatteis Center for Cardiac Research and Education in Greenvale offers a rich array of community health and education programs. Staffed by physicians, registered nurses, dietitians and exercise physiologists, the Center's mission is to complete the circle of excellence that extends from the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease to cardiac research, education, and prevention.

St. Francis Hospital is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island (CHS).

Contact us at 1.888.HEART.NY or visit us at http://stfrancisheartcenter.chsli.org.

Contact: Paul Barry, 516-705-6657, paul.barry@chsli.org