Doctors Hospital of Manteca Recognized for Quality
Respiratory Care
Facility receives recognition from American Association for Respiratory Care

MANTECA, Calif. – For Immediate Release
Doctors Hospital of Manteca is proud to announce that our facility has received Quality Respiratory Care Recognition from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).  Representing more than 30,000 health care providers involved in respiratory care nationwide, the Association recognizes hospitals that promote safety by adhering to a strict set of criteria.

Respiratory therapists are specially trained professionals who work under physicians’ orders to provide breathing treatments and other services to people with respiratory diseases.  “This recognition means that our respiratory therapists are recognized as competent, licensed professionals,” says Doug Lammey, C.R.T., Director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Doctors Hospital of Manteca.  In keeping with AARC standards, the department is also overseen by a Medical Director, Anil Sain, M.D., who specializes in internal medicine.
 
Besides the comprehensive outpatient diagnosis and treatment the hospital provides for respiratory problems, respiratory therapists are available 24 hours a day for the needs of hospitalized and emergency room patients.
 
The Cardiopulmonary Services Department at Doctors Hospital of Manteca is deigned to provide a single stop for services pertaining to respiratory medicine.  These services include:

• Pulmonary function testing
• Bronchodilator therapy to open blocked airways
• Pulmonary hygiene education (maintenance of the patient’s airways)
• Testing of blood gases (a valuable diagnostic tool)
In addition, the Cardiopulmonary Services staff performs EKGs and other cardiac tests.
 
The department works with physicians affiliated with Doctors Hospital of Manteca to diagnose and treat respiratory problems of patients with:

• Emphysema
• Cystic fibrosis
• Asthma
• Lung cancer
• Bronchiectasis (inflammation of airways)
• Pneumonia
• AIDS
 
The AARC’s Quality Respiratory Care Recognition program was started to help consumers make informed choices about their health care.   For more information about respiratory services, or for a physician referral, please visit www.doctorsmanteca.com or call 800-470-7229.
Doctors Hospital of Manteca is part of Tenet California.  Doctors Hospital of Manteca opened its doors in 1962 as a 28-bed, 41 employee, nine physician rural community hospital in the heart of California’s Central Valley.  Over the years, the hospital expanded services to keep pace with the needs of a rapidly growing community.  A multi-million dollar addition and upgrade construction project increased the hospital’s capacity to 73 beds.  One of the largest businesses in the community, Doctors Hospital now has more than 375 employees and a medical staff of 160 physicians.  While maintaining small-town comfort, Doctors Hospital of Manteca offers many advanced services.  Private patient rooms, expanded and enhanced imaging services, emergency, pharmacy, ICU/CCU and obstetrical services are designed for the care and comfort of our patients.
Doctors Hospital of Manteca is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about Doctors Hospital of Manteca, visit our website, www.doctorsmanteca.com.

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Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements.  They are based on management’s current expectations and could be affected by numerous factors and are subject to various risks and uncertainties.  Certain of those risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s transition report on Form 10-K for the 7-month period ended Dec. 31, 2002 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  Do not rely on any forward-looking statement, as we cannot predict or control many of the factors that ultimately may affect our ability to achieve the results estimated.  We make no promise to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or otherwise.