Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 16, 2006 - Baptist Memorial Health Care was named among the top integrated health care networks in the nation in a recent survey published by Modern Healthcare and conducted by Verispan.

Baptist placed 45th nationally in the 2006 Verispan IHN 100—a nationwide study of nearly 600 integrated health care networks, which includes some of the most prestigious health care systems in the country. Baptist is the highest ranked health care system in the Mid-South region of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“We are honored to be counted among the top 100 health networks in the country,” said Stephen C. Reynolds, president and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care. “It acknowledges our excellent staff and physicians, and demonstrates their commitment to making a difference in health care in our communities across the Mid-South.”

All of the health care networks on the list this year are not-for-profit health care systems. The list totaled 101 this year because of a tie in the overall score at the No. 100 spot.

For the past nine years, Chicago-based Verispan—a research firm formerly known as SMG Marketing Group—has recognized health care systems, which integrate hospitals, medical care practices and other health care services under one umbrella.

This marks the eighth year that Baptist has been included in the top 100. This list ranks health care systems on the basis of their financial and clinical performance levels and degree of integration. The rating system is based on eight critical success factors: overall integration, integrated technology, services and access, number of physicians, financial stability, hospital utilization, outpatient utilization and contractual capabilities.

One of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the United States, Baptist Memorial Health Care is the only Memphis-based health care system to offer a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South. The Baptist system, which consistently ranks among the top integrated health care networks in the nation, comprises 15 hospitals; more than 2,900 affiliated physicians; home, hospice and psychiatric care throughout the tristate area; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by the Baptist College of Health Sciences. Baptist has more than 2,500 licensed beds systemwide, employs more than 12,000 people and has approximately 88,000 admissions annually. For more information about Baptist, please visit www.baptistonline.org or call (800) 4-BAPTIST.

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