VHA Recognizes Five Hospitals for Serving Community Health Needs

IRVING, TX, May 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
VHA Inc., a national health care alliance, has recognized five hospitals
for their efforts to provide health care that matches the needs of their
communities with a 2009 VHA Leadership Award for Community Benefit
Excellence.

The 2009 winners are:

-- Community Health Network, Indianapolis, Ind.
-- MeritCare Health System, Fargo, N.D.
-- Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, Conn.
-- ProHealth Care Inc., Waukesha, Wis.
-- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, N.Y.

VHA serves more than 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals and more than
24,000 non-acute health care organizations nationwide.

"Hospitals across the nation do an excellent job of providing high-quality
care for their patients, but there are still community needs that often go
unmet through the regular course of care," said Linda DeWolf, president of
the VHA Foundation. "This is where community-owned, not-for-profit
hospitals make a difference. Their mission is to ensure that the most
vulnerable in their communities have adequate health care, and these VHA
members have done so."

Providing for the unique health needs of their communities is the hallmark
of not-for-profit hospitals. The VHA Leadership Award for Community
Benefit recognizes organizations for their focus and commitment to
community benefit and the effective strategies they use to tell their
community benefit story. The award focuses on three areas:

-- Demonstration of a comprehensive community benefit strategy;
-- Highlighting a "best of class" community benefit program; and
-- Providing an effective communications plan to tell the community
benefit story.

VHA hopes that recognizing these award winning institutions will
encourage other not-for-profit hospitals and health systems to increase
their community impact by improving and expanding upon their existing
community benefit programs.

For more information on VHA, go to www.vha.com.

Based in Irving, Texas, VHA Inc. is a national network of not-for-profit
health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in
the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance, and
identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency
and clinical outcomes. Formed in 1977, VHA serves more than 1,400
hospitals and more than 23,000 non-acute care providers nationwide.

NOTE: VHA is not an acronym. Use VHA Inc. on first reference and VHA
thereafter.

Media Contact:
Lynn Gentry
972/830-0798
Email Contact

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