WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER RANKED AMONG NATION'S BEST FOR QUALITY OF CARE

6/4/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tammy G. Love

Director of Marketing & Medical Staff Development

Phone: (336) 651-8116

Wilkesboro, NC - For the second year in a row, Wilkes Regional Medical Center has been rated by its patients as among the nation's top healthcare facilities for quality of care, according to survey results released by the national healthcare market research firm Professional Research Consultants (PRC). For the second time ever, the hospital was rated among the top 25% in the nation for the overall quality of inpatient care provided at the medical center.

In addition, OB/GYN care at New Beginnings Birthing Center as well as the medical center's Medical Pediatric Care received five star rankings, placing them among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation for quality. A five star ranking is the highest rating awarded by PRC.

"For the second year in a row our patients have rated us as among the best in the nation in delivering quality inpatient care," says Ted Chapin, Wilkes Regional Medical Center president and CEO. "As importantly, this is the first time that we have been recognized by our patients for the overall quality of our inpatient care. This clearly reflects the hard work of our medical staff and employees and their efforts to improve the care we offer to the community."

PRC is the premier marketing research organization providing services exclusively for the healthcare industry. Rankings are based on patient surveys conducted during 2006. More than 290 hospitals and medical centers are included in PRC's nationwide quality ranking program.