PRESS RELEASES

Partners at Heart News Release
Contacts: Sherry Sheleny, Port Huron Hospital, 810.989.3743,
ssheleny@porthuronhospital.org
Stephanie Helton, St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron, 810.984.1166,
heltons@trinity-health.org

January 19, 2011
For immediate release:

Port Huron Hospital recognized as Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care®

Port Huron, MI -- Port Huron Hospital has been recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care® by Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan and Blue Care Network for excellence in care.

Blue Distinction® is a designation given by Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies to hospitals that have demonstrated expertise in the delivery of quality healthcare. The program's goal is to help consumers identify and find healthcare facilities with better overall outcomes, such as fewer medical complications, fewer readmissions and higher survival rates, in the delivery of specialty care.

Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care® provide a full range of cardiac care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery including coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

As a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care®, Port Huron Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to quality cardiac care and has met stringent clinical criteria, developed in collaboration with expert physicians' and medical organizations' recommendations, including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and is subject to periodic reevaluation as criteria continue to evolve.

Port Huron Hospital cardiac care services are offered in collaboration with St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron through Partners at Heart. Partners at Heart is a joint operating agreement of the two hospitals providing comprehensive, high quality cardiac care in Michigan's Blue Water area communities. Mortality, ventilation and kidney failure rates for Partners at Heart surgical patients are better than state and national rates, enabling residents in St. Clair and Sanilac Counties access to high-quality care close to home.

To learn more about Blue Distinction® designations, visit www.bcbs.com. For additional information about Port Huron Hospital and Partners at Heart, visit www.porthuronhospital.org and www.partnersatheart.org.

From Blue Cross Blue Shield for plan subscribers
Designation as a Blue Distinction Center® means this facility's overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians' and leading professional organizations' recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call the customer service number on the back of your Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield identification card or call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan.