Kindred Healthcare Appoints Christopher M. Bird as President of Its Peoplefirst Rehabilitation...

Kindred Healthcare Appoints Christopher M. Bird as President of Its Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Division

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(Business Wire)--
Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE:KND) today
announced the appointment of Christopher M. Bird as President of its
Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Division effective April 21, 2008. Mr. Bird
succeeds Benjamin A. Breier, who was recently named Executive Vice
President and President of the Company's Hospital Division. Mr. Bird
will be a member of the Company's Executive Committee.

Peoplefirst Rehabilitation provides contract therapy services,
including physical, occupational and speech therapies, to residents
and patients of nursing centers, assisted living facilities and
hospitals.

Mr. Bird has healthcare experience with several healthcare
organizations. He most recently served as Vice President, Operations &
Business Development, Outpatient Services Division with Tenet
Healthcare Corp. (NYSE:THC), which through its subsidiaries, owns and
operates acute care hospitals and related ancillary health care
businesses, which include ambulatory surgery centers and diagnostic
imaging centers. At Tenet, Mr. Bird was responsible for a division
with approximately $200 million in revenues and 1,500 employees.
Previously, Mr. Bird was Division Vice President, Western Division
with DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA), where he provided strategic and
operational leadership for a geographic division covering southern
California, Arizona and Utah. DaVita is a provider of dialysis
services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also
known as end stage renal disease. Mr. Bird earned a bachelor's degree
from Colorado State University, a master's degree in health policy and
management from Columbia University, and an MBA from Harvard
University.

"We are pleased Chris is joining Kindred to lead Peoplefirst
Rehabilitation Services," said Paul J. Diaz, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. "Chris's energy, leadership and
operational skills will be a great addition to the senior management
team, and will help us to continue to grow Peoplefirst Rehabilitation
and support the expanding rehabilitation needs of our own 312
healthcare facilities. After reporting its fourteenth consecutive
quarter of revenue growth, Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Services is
positioned to continue its goal of becoming the therapist and employer
of choice nationwide."

About Kindred Healthcare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:KND) is a Fortune 500 healthcare
services company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, with annual revenues
of over $4 billion. At December 31, 2007, Kindred through its
subsidiaries provided healthcare services in approximately 630
locations in 40 states, including 84 long-term acute care hospitals,
228 skilled nursing centers and a contract rehabilitation services
business, Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Services, which served 318
non-affiliated facilities. Kindred's 52,500 employees are committed to
providing high quality patient care and outstanding customer service
to become the most trusted and respected provider of healthcare
services in every community we serve. For more information, go to
www.kindredhealthcare.com.

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
Susan E. Moss, 502-596-7296
Vice President of Corporate Communications

Copyright Business Wire 2008