St. Mary's Hospital Foundation Provides Additional Tree of Life Support

Rogers, AR (April 13, 2007) - The St. Mary's Foundation Board of Directors voted to provide additional funding in the amount of $120,000 for the rest of this fiscal year for Tree of Life Family Health Clinic. This additional support will sustain Tree of Life at full operational status and allow for an increase in staffing to manage increased patient volumes.

"The Foundation Board of Directors is thrilled to be able to provide this early gift to Tree of Life. The Clinic has always been a high priority for the Foundation as one of the main recipients of our special event proceeds," said Clark Ellison, Executive Director of the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation.

Ellison said that the success of the 2006 Charity Ball, which raised over $420,000 in December, made the gift possible.

"Since the money came from the Charity Ball proceeds, this gift is really from the community," said Ellison.

Community support of Tree of Life will need to play a vital role in its future.

"As Northwest Arkansas has grown, so has the demand for indigent care since Tree of Life was founded as Poplar House Clinic in 1992. Mercy's financial commitment has increased over the years to match the demand and additional community support will be needed going forward to sustain and grow the program," said George Flynn, CEO of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas

A committee made up of Mercy Leadership; community leaders, including those on the Foundation Board and Hospital Board; and Tree of Life co-workers has been formed to assure the sustainability of Tree of Life as it moves forward.

Currently, Tree of Life's prenatal and pediatric programs are fully operational and are taking uninsured and Medicaid patients. A new clinic manager and two bilingual replacement staff members have been hired and are going through orientation this week as part of an improved operational model. Mercy is also committed to the adult services and MAP program (Medication Assistance Program) at Tree of Life. For improved operational and management support, Tree of Life will be brought under the Mercy Medical Clinics umbrella from its previous hospital department status.

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, a not-for-profit faith-based health system, provides healthcare services to residents in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The System includes St. Mary's Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, The Gardens at Osage Terrace Assisted Living Facility and Mercy Medical Clinics in 22 locations throughout northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The new medical campus at Interstate 540 and New Hope Road in southwest Rogers is slated for completion in January 2008. It will include a 350,000-square-foot medical center with 200 beds and a medical office building to accommodate 90 physicians.