Lake Forest Hospital Proposes a New Health Care System in Lake County

LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(Business Wire)--The Lake Forest Hospital Foundation board of directors presented a
merger proposal today to Condell Health Network to create a new health
care system for northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region. The
new system would be governed by a combination of both hospital boards
and would bring together the clinical strength and reputations of the
two highest consumer ranked hospitals in Lake County.(1)

As part of the proposal, the Lake Forest Hospital Foundation board
also presented a significant line of credit to Condell Medical Center
to support the financial needs of the hospital.

Lake Forest Hospital Foundation Chairman Forrest R. Whittaker
said, "Rather than building multiple hospitals throughout the region
with inpatient beds, we would be creating a more efficient system that
brings tertiary care services that are unavailable in the county, the
lack of which causes residents to seek care outside the county.
Currently, the county has no Level I trauma center or Level III
neonatal intensive care unit."

"We would be combining the quality reputation of Lake Forest's
health care and personalized services with the breadth and depth of
Condell's health network. This is the best solution to bring quality
health care to the residents of the region," he added.

A combination of Lake Forest Hospital and Condell Health Network
would bring together two locally-governed community hospitals which
have served the region for over a century. Their combined resources
would create a regional network with 488 inpatient beds, 1,200
physicians, 3,000 employees, two Level II trauma centers, two Level
II+ special care nurseries, five acute care centers, robotic surgery,
and the largest open heart program in Lake County.

Lake Forest Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas
J. McAfee added, "The clinical and financial strength of Lake Forest
Hospital combined with the expansive clinical network of Condell
Medical Center would create a local system of the highest quality and
reputation. This is the true meaning of access to health care."

(1) Lake Forest Hospital and Condell Medical Center were both
named #1 Consumer Choice hospitals in Lake and Kenosha counties in
2007 by National Research Corporation (NRC). Lake Forest Hospital has
earned the award for three years in a row by NRC.

Lake Forest Hospital is a fully licensed and accredited 215-bed
community hospital offering a complete range of services staffed by
625 physicians, with offices conveniently located throughout Lake
County. For information about the hospital, call 847.234.5600; for a
physician referral call 847.535.6171. For more information, visit the
hospital's website: www.lfh.org.

Lake Forest Hospital
Jane Griffin
847.535.6107
jgriffin@lfh.org
or
M Group Communications
Michael Myers
847.208.6920
michael@mgroupcommunications.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008