National Research Corporation Once Again Names Baptist Health Among Top Healthcare Providers
Baptist Downtown Is 2008/09 Consumer Choice Award Winner

Jacksonville, Florida, October 20, 2008 -- For the 18th year, local consumers have selected Baptist Health as the "Most Preferred Health Care Provider" and Baptist Medical Center Downtown as the 2008/09 Consumer Choice Award winner for the greater Jacksonville area.

Baptist Downtown's award was based on the National Research Corporation's (NRC) 2008 Health Care Market Guide study of nearly 200,000 households representing 400,000 consumers in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia.

In addition, Baptist Health was named "Most Preferred Healthcare Provider" in the NRC Health Care Market Guide, which the system has received since 1990.

Baptist Health was selected by consumers as the best among five local health systems in all quality categories, including recognition for having the "Best Overall Quality," "Best Doctors," "Best Nurses" and "Best Community Health Programs." Baptist Health was also rated number-one in 17 service categories, including heart care, orthopaedic treatment/surgery, neurology, home health, emergency care, mental health services, maternity/obstetrics and women's/gynecology.

"It is an honor for Baptist Health to be recognized by our community for the high quality of our care, and the skills of our physicians and nurses," said Baptist Health President and CEO Hugh Greene. "We recognize that consumers have a choice when it comes to selecting their health care facilities and services, and we are pleased they have put their trust in Baptist Health."

"These Consumer Choice award winners exemplify the dedication it takes to provide quality health care to their communities, and we are pleased to honor them through the eyes of their patients," said Ginny Martin, president of NRC's Healthcare Market Guide Division.

Baptist Health is the recipient of numerous other consumer choice awards, including "Top Medical Center" in Jacksonville Magazine's annual Readers' Poll since the survey's inception in 1997. Folio Weekly readers have selected Baptist Downtown as the "Best Hospital in Northeast Florida" for the magazine's "Best of Jax" issue every year since the reader poll began in 1991. Baptist Health has also been recognized as an outstanding employer, have been recently selected as one of the "Best 100 Places to Work in Healthcare" by Modern Healthcare magazine.

In addition, Baptist Downtown was recently the recipient of the American Stroke Association's "Get With the Guidelines" Bronze Performance Achievement Award.

A Summary of the Results of the NRC's Health Care Market Guide
Among quality measures, Baptist Downtown scored the highest among local health care facilities for having the:

Best Nurses

Best Doctors

Best Overall Quality

Best Community Health Programs

Highest Patient Safety

Most Personalized Care

Best Image/Reputation

Most Preferred for All Health Needs

Latest Technology and Equipment

Widest Range of Services

Hospital Most Conveniently Located

Hospital Web Site Used Most Often

Best Accommodations/Amenities

Among product lines, Baptist Health led in 17 categories, including:

Heart Care

Home Health Care

Hospital Emergency Room

Hospital Inpatient Stay

Imaging Services

Maternity/Obstetrics (OB)

Mental Health Services

Neurology

Orthopaedic Treatment/Surgery

Outpatient/Same-Day Surgery

Outpatient Testing/X-Rays

Pediatric Services

Physical Therapy

Senior Services

Women's/Gynecology (GYN)