For Immediate Release

El Reno Hospital Board Selects Mercy for Management Agreement

El Reno—After a process of careful consideration, the Parkview Hospital board has engaged Mercy Health System of Oklahoma in a management agreement. The board made its final decision last week after narrowing the selection process to three candidates: Mercy, Community Partners and Quorum Health Resources.

“In order to have economic development in El Reno, we must have a good community hospital,” said Tony Rivera, El Reno city manager. “We believe Mercy’s perspective on hospital management will strengthen our community and provide us with the support we need to meet any challenges we face.”

A management arrangement, such as the agreement with Mercy, keeps the ownership of Parkview with the community. The terms of the management agreement include assistance in financial planning, leadership development, support to quality and safety initiatives underway, physician recruitment, service line development and other functions key to operating a community health center.

The board, along with Mercy, will begin a search for a Parkview chief executive officer after an initial assessment is made. In the meantime, Mercy Health System of Oklahoma’s vice president of rural services Cindy Carmichael will serve as interim CEO. With experience in developing a strong operating infrastructure and focusing on quality, safety, service and fiscal accountability, Carmichael will work directly with the board, physicians and co-workers at Parkview to set and address priority strategies.

“I am excited to work with Parkview,” said Carmichael. “Parkview is an excellent healthcare resource for this community. Our team will fall right in step with the Parkview team; I am confident that together we will continue to serve the community.”

“We see our role with Parkview as one of providing local support where needed,” said Di Smalley, president and CEO of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma. “Our work across Oklahoma is to strengthen health and provide a fully functioning team to meet regional needs.”

Press release dated: April 3, 2009