DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF MANTECA SETS OUT TO FEED THE NEED

MANTECA, Calif. – November 04, 2004 – Doctors Hospital of Manteca today announced that it will participate in Tenet California’s annual “Feed the Need” challenge, to be held through November 19, 2004.  The "Feed the Need" challenge will matches every pound of food donated at Doctors Hospital of Manteca with one dollar from the Tenet Healthcare Foundation (up to $5,000).  This year, all donated food and matching Foundation money will be donated to the local nonprofit, HOPE Family Shelter.  The employees of Doctors Hospital of Manteca are hoping to exceed the 1,300 pounds of food they raised in 2003.

“Our nurses, physicians and other employees look at the Feed the Need challenge as one more way that we can reach out to the community and touch lives,” said Katherine Medeiros, Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital of Manteca.  “Every year we set a goal for ourselves to increase the amount of food that we donate to charity over the previous year.  “This year,” she continued, “we selected the HOPE Family Shelter to be the recipient of our donation because we want to support the invaluable services it is providing to the community.”

The collected food will be weighed each week.  At the end of the “Feed the Need” Challenge, Doctors Hospital of Manteca will tally the total pounds of food.  Every pound of food donated will be matched by the Foundation with one dollar.  

Remember, hunger is a year-round issue facing our community.  This Thanksgiving Season, please join us in our quest to help alleviate the impact of hunger on local individuals and families.  Bring in a can, or a bag, of non-perishable groceries and be a part of the Feed the Need Challenge!  Food may be dropped off in the Inpatient and Outpatient Lobbies between the hours of 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

About Doctors Hospital of Manteca

Located at 1205 East North Street, Manteca, Calif., 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 380 employees and a medical staff of 160 physicians.  While maintaining small-town comfort, Doctors Hospital offers many advanced services.  Patient rooms, expanded and enhanced imaging services, emergency, pharmacy, physical therapy, ICU/CCU and obstetrics areas are designed for the care and comfort of our patients. The hospital 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 www.doctorsmanteca.com.