Stormont-Vail Named Top Hospital by National Research Corporation and Identified as Most Preferred in Professional Research Consultants Study

TOPEKA, KAN., October 30, 2007 -- Stormont-Vail HealthCare has been recognized as a 2007/2008 Consumer Choice Award winner by National Research Corporation (NRC). The award identifies hospitals chosen by health care consumers in more than 190 markets for having the highest quality and image.

“Our vision is to be the health care provider of choice and the employer of choice in northeast Kansas,” said Maynard Oliverius, Stormont-Vail HealthCare president and CEO. “At Stormont-Vail, everything we do is about people. Every service we provide and every investment we make is determined by how it will benefit our patients and our employees. Being the provider of choice and the employer of choice goes hand-in-hand.”

NRC’s winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in the company’s annual NRC Healthcare Market Guide study.

"Consumers play an increasing role in selecting their health care facilities and services," said Michael D. Hays, NRC chief executive officer. "As more health care quality information is made publicly available, we expect this trend to increase. These organizations are selected for the Consumer Choice Awards by the community residents they serve. We are pleased to honor these facilities for their dedication to quality health care in the eyes of their patients."

Also, in a recent study conducted earlier this year by Professional Research Consultants (PRC), Stormont-Vail HealthCare was named the preferred hospital for all eight areas measured, including cardiology, obstetrics, surgery, women’s health, emergency care, pediatrics, orthopedics and cancer.