WakeMed and Surgical Care Affiliates Enter into Venture for Ambulatory Surgery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- WakeMed Health & Hospitals and
Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA) have entered into a Letter of Understanding
(LOU) under which the two organizations will explore partnership
opportunities.

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These opportunities may include WakeMed becoming a majority partner in the
entity that operates Blue Ridge Surgery Center with SCA continuing to manage
the operations. SCA may be engaged to manage the daily operations of WakeMed's
outpatient surgery locations. The two organizations also will evaluate the
option of working together to grow existing outpatient surgery offerings and
develop new projects. The organizations expect to execute definitive
agreements by the end of February 2010.

"WakeMed excels at running large inpatient surgery programs, and Surgical Care
Affiliates has extensive knowledge of outpatient surgery businesses. We are
exploring this partnership to share our specialized expertise in different
surgery environments," commented Dr. Bill Atkinson, WakeMed president and CEO.
"Increasingly, new technology and advanced procedures are enabling more
surgeries to be completed in an outpatient setting. The outpatient surgery
model is often more efficient and greatly enhances access and convenience for
our patients. We are pleased to be working with the physician partners and SCA
on this potential ambulatory care venture in Wake County."

Andrew Hayek, president and CEO of SCA, said, "We are excited about the
opportunity to partner with this extraordinary health care system to provide
quality, efficient healthcare in the Raleigh community. Together with our
physician partners, we can make a tremendous positive impact on the patient
experience."

WakeMed currently offers outpatient surgery at three locations including
WakeMed North Healthplex, WakeMed Cary Hospital and WakeMed Raleigh Campus. In
fiscal year 2009 WakeMed completed 28,053 outpatient surgery procedures. SCA
through its partnership with 38 surgeons at the Blue Ridge Surgery Center
performed 8,500 outpatient procedures in the last 12 months.

About Surgical Care Affiliates
Surgical Care Affiliates is committed to being the partner of choice for
physicians, hospitals, and health systems in delivering high quality surgical
services. SCA's centers operate with outstanding clinical outcomes and patient
satisfaction. SCA operates 129 ambulatory surgery centers and surgical
hospitals across the country with approximately 4,000 full time teammates and
approximately 2,000 physician partners across the country. For more
information on SCA, visit www.scasurgery.com.

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals
WakeMed Health & Hospitals, one of the first hospital systems in the country,
is a private, not-for-profit health care organization based in Raleigh, N.C.
The 870-bed system comprises a network of health care facilities throughout
Wake and Johnston Counties, including: a Level I Trauma Center and tertiary
referral hospital and rehabilitation hospital in Raleigh, a community hospital
in Cary, comprehensive outpatient centers and freestanding emergency
departments in North Raleigh and Apex, seven outpatient rehabilitation sites,
two skilled-nursing and outpatient facilities, a 100+-physician multispecialty
practice, and home health services. The system includes accredited Chest Pain
Centers and Joint Commission-certified Stroke Centers. Throughout the system,
there are an additional 60 beds under construction and 41 newly approved by
the state. WakeMed also provides management services for Betsy Johnson
Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC. Centers of excellence include cardiac and
vascular care, women's and children's services, physical rehab, emergency and
trauma, orthopaedics, neurosciences, home care and numerous wellness and
community outreach programs. WakeMed's team of 7,000 nurses, technologists and
medical support staff and more than 1,000 affiliated physicians serve the
residents of North Carolina using the most advanced technologies and
facilities to ensure the finest in health care. For more information, visit
www.wakemed.org.

SOURCE Surgical Care Affiliates

Clete Walker, Vice President, Development, +1-205-307-5273