Capella Healthcare Announces Matching Gift of $25,000 to Aid in Disaster Relief

Gift will go to The Care Fund to Help Hospital Employees in Six Southern States

Franklin, TN (May 18, 2011) – Capella Healthcare announced today a matching gift of up to $25,000 to aid in disaster relief efforts throughout the South.   The company will be matching dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000, donations made by their staff to organizations that provide disaster relief.

“Hospital employees across the south, including many of our own, have suffered devastating losses from recent tornadoes and floods. Many lost their homes and property, while others lost friends and family members,” said Dan Slipkovich, Chief Executive Officer.  “Our hospitals, as well as many of our staff members, have already given time and money to assist those in need.  With the goals of recognizing our employees’ generosity as well as making a meaningful financial contribution that may encourage additional giving, Capella Healthcare is announcing today a matching grant of up to $25,000 to aid in relief efforts.”

Capella’s matching gift will go to The Care Fund, a fund established specifically to assist hospital employees impacted by disasters.  Originally established following Hurricane Katrina, the fund is being administered by state hospital associations in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Donations will be disbursed to affected hospital employees in these states. One hundred percent of all contributions will go directly to hospital employees, and all contributions are tax deductible.  For more information or to donate to The Care Fund, visit the website at www.TheCareFund.net

While Capella’s matching gift will go directly to assist employees of hospitals throughout the south via The Care Fund, the company is matching financial gifts donated by any of its workforce members to any organizations providing disaster relief to the affected areas between April 27 and June 3.  The workforce includes employees, medical staff, volunteers, and contract personnel.

“While other organizations and businesses can close in preparation for tornados, blizzards or floods, hospital employees and physicians  must work around the clock, caring for their communities while often entrusting their own families to someone else’s care,” Slipkovich said.  “We’ve chosen to give our matching donation to The Care Fund to recognize the dedication and commitment of our own hospital staff members as well as those throughout the country.”

Four of Capella’s hospitals – located in the path of the April tornados – treated over 100 victims, gave shelter during the storm, and provided help to neighbors.  As is often the case in such disasters, the storm crippled or compromised electricity, transportation, communication and other essentials normally taken for granted.  Hospitals plan for these factors well in advance during their emergency preparedness planning and testing.

• Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, TN, operated on generator power for approximately 18 hours, treating 22 victims, many of whom required surgery.  All of their EMS personnel and ambulances were called to assist throughout the region.
• Parkway Medical Center in Decatur, AL, treated 59 storm victims in their ER, admitting 28, while also helping other impacted hospitals by performing additional outpatient procedures.  They were on generator power for 24 hours.
• Hartselle Medical Center in Hartselle, AL, operated on emergency power for 42 hours, also treating a number of victims.  The hospital also provided a place for people to use their home nebulizers, obtain oxygen, keep medications cool with ice and charge their cell phones so they could communication with family and friends.
• Although Jacksonville Medical Center in Jacksonville, AL, was ready with extra physicians and staff in-house, they considered themselves very fortunate as the EF-4 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa missed them by about 10 miles.  However, many people sought safe shelter from the storm by coming to the hospital, including the local EMA dispatch operations.  They treated 11 people injured during the storm.

These hospitals are now helping with their community’s recovery efforts.  To read more about how Capella Healthcare’s hospitals responded during the storm, visit the website at www.CapellaHealthcare.com

About Capella Healthcare

Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Capella owns and/or operates 13 general acute-care hospitals in seven states.  With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level.  The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, reinvesting 100% of net cash flow into its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities. For more information, visit the website at www.CapellaHealthcare.com

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