RED BUD, Ill. – March 13, 2006 – Red Bud Regional Hospital, a member of Community Health Systems, today announced it has signed an independent affiliation agreement with SSM Health Care-St. Louis.  The affiliation is intended to bring a broader range of specialized health care services to the community, along with continuing medical education for physicians and staff.

A cardiologist from SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, Dr. Stuart Higano, has staffed a cardiology clinic at Red Bud since January.  At a signing ceremony Monday, Red Bud Regional Chief Executive Officer Bob Moore said that the clinic “has been received very positively by patients and physicians alike.  We look forward to building on that success and bringing other specialists to our community, particularly as St. Joseph Hospital transitions to its new medical campus in late 2008,” he said.
 
St. Joseph Hospital will continue to be Red Bud Regional’s primary hospital partner, however, it will have access to all the facilities and services provided by the SSMHC-St. Louis network.

“We believe strongly that collaboration is essential to preserving and expanding access to convenient, high-quality health care services,” said Ronald J. Levy, president of SSMHC-St. Louis, who attended the signing ceremony.  “We look forward to working with the hospital’s board, physicians and staff to determine where the needs are, and how we can best help Red Bud meet those needs.”

Other SSMHC-St. Louis affiliates in Illinois include Pinckneyville Community Hospital and Washington County Hospital in Nashville.  Madison Medical Center in Fredericktown, Mo. is also an affiliate.

About Red Bud Regional Hospital
Red Bud Regional Hospital is a 35-bed acute care community hospital and Critical Access Hospital located in Red Bud, Illinois.  It also operates the Red Bud Nursing Home licensed for 115 beds.  Services include a 24-hour Emergency Department; medical, surgical and rehab services; a sleep disorders lab, home health care and a variety of other services.  Red Bud Regional Hospital is a member of the Community Health Systems (CHS) based in Brentwood, Tennessee, which owns 71 hospitals located in 21 states across the country.  Visit www.redbudhospital.com for more information.

About SSM Health Care
With 8 hospitals, 2,000 staff physicians and nearly 11,000 employees, SSM Health Care-St. Louis is committed to serving the comprehensive health needs of St. Louis area residents.  Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the health care network includes SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, SSM DePaul Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Health Center (St. Charles), SSM St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West (Lake Saint Louis), SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, SSM St. Mary's Health Center and SSM Rehab, plus three medical groups:  SSM St. Charles Clinic Medical Group, SSM Medical Group and SSM DePaul Medical Group. Its parent organization, SSM Health Care System, also based in St. Louis, in 2002 became the first health care recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.  The system owns, operates and manages hospitals and nursing homes in four states: Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.