2008-09-30 23:39:00 -

- National Surgical Hospitals ("NSH"), owner, operator and developer of surgical hospitals and surgery centers in partnership with local physicians, today announced the opening of Colorado Orthopaedic and Surgical Hospital ("COSH") in Denver, Colorado. The hospital, located at 1830 Franklin Street, is a joint venture among Exempla Healthcare and a group of 26 area surgeons.

The new hospital is equipped with seven operating rooms, one procedure room, and 42 inpatient beds. While suited for a range of multi-specialty surgical care, Colorado Orthopaedic and Surgical Hospital will focus primarily on orthopaedics, spinal procedures and pain management.

Commenting on the opening, John G. Rex-Waller, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of NSH, said, "We are very pleased to announce the

opening of the Colorado Orthopaedic and Surgical Hospital, which marks both the successful conclusion of a three-year development process and the beginning of a new era of better healthcare for the Denver area. This new facility, our thirteenth surgical hospital, exemplifies our growth strategy that is concentrated on the development of specialty surgical hospitals focused on orthopaedic, spinal and pain management procedures. We are grateful to our physician partners in this endeavor and the essential role they play in the development and growth of NSH. We also appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Exempla Healthcare system and one of its member hospitals, Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital, which has recognized the advantages that a specialized facility can bring to the community in terms of quality healthcare."

Jeffrey D. Selberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Exempla Healthcare, added, "The opening of COSH brings to fruition our vision to partner with physicians to generate greater value in terms of quality, cost and the patient experience. Toward this end, we are very impressed with the commitment and expertise exhibited by both our physician partners and NSH in the pre-opening process. We look forward to a long and collaborative relationship in our endeavor to bring what we believe will be outstanding orthopedic and surgical services to the people of Colorado."

Commenting on the new facility, Dr. James Holmes, one of the managing partners for the physician group, said, "We have been impressed and encouraged by the opportunity for our physicians to be involved in the design and development of this hospital. From the outset, NSH has worked closely with the surgeons who will rely on this facility to create an environment that will provide patients with top-quality service and the best possible outcomes, with both objectives furthered by the hospital's specialized surgical focus. We are very excited about the opportunities this new hospital will provide for the physicians in this area, but more importantly, about the new dimension in healthcare this brings to our patients and the community at large."

Exempla Healthcare is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System and the LMC Community Foundation. Exempla was formed in 1998, bringing together Saint Joseph Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center and the Exempla Physician Network in a commitment to provide responsive healthcare to our communities. Exempla opened Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center to meet the needs of the northwest metropolitan area.

National Surgical Hospitals is the innovative healthcare partner that empowers physicians to thrive in a changing marketplace. NSH has operational surgical hospitals located in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Aside from its focus on surgical hospitals, NSH has operational orthopaedic-focused surgery centers located in Arizona, California, Michigan, and Texas. NSH has a strong pipeline of additional opportunities under consideration.

For information about NSH and how it is pioneering a better way to deliver surgical care, visit the Company's website at www.nshinc.com.

National Surgical Hospitals
Bryan S. Fisher, Chief Financial Officer, 312-627-8427
bfisher@nshinc.com