Mercy Ranked Fourth in Nation for Quality of Overall Medical Care 

Des Moines, IA (April 3, 2009) - According to the latest national scorecard compiled by The Delta Group's CareChex® Medical Quality Rating System, Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines ranks fourth among all general, acute, non-federal U.S. hospitals for the quality of overall medical care provided.

The report - which bases its findings on three years of risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates combined with a detailed evaluation of clinical processes, outcomes and patient experiences - also ranks Mercy first in the nation for cardiac care and second in the nation for respiratory care.

"This latest announcement is another testament to the quality of care our physicians and staff provide to our patients each day," said President & CEO Dave Vellinga. "We all know how hard the entire Mercy Family works to ensure excellence in every aspect of patient care, but it's nice to be recognized by unbiased third parties on a national scale, as well. It is further proof the work we do each day is sacred and meaningful, and deeply impacts the patients and families we serve."

The CareChex Medical Quality Rating System is unlike other rating systems in that it provides a comprehensive, multi-dimensional analysis of medical quality. By factoring in a variety of process, outcome, safety and patient satisfaction measures, CareChex is able to accurately compare hospitals against national, state and local standards.

About Mercy

Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines is a 917-bed acute care, not-for-profit Catholic hospital situated on three campuses. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1893, Mercy is Des Moines' longest continually operating hospital and one of the largest employers in the state, with more than 6,900 employees and a medical staff of 900 physicians and allied health professionals.

Mercy is also one of the Midwest's largest referral centers, offering a variety of specialty services that are unique to Iowa and the region. To learn more, visit www.mercydesmoines.org.

About The Delta Group

The Delta Group is a leading healthcare information services and consulting company dedicated to providing an extensive array of products and services designed to measure, manage, and monitor the clinical, financial, and market performance of healthcare organizations. Our vision is simple: to see healthcare organizations achieve and maintain superior performance. Our mission is as broad as necessary and as narrow as possible-to assist clients in the interpretation, application, and implementation of findings which are catalysts for effecting meaningful change. This approach has proven to be the key to successful change management; whether in reducing clinical costs, improving medical quality, or redefining market strategy. For more information, go to www.thedeltagroup.com.