105 Wall Street Poteau, OK 74953 Phone 918-647-8161 Fax 918-635-3308

Press Release

Contact: Audra Wright Phone: (918) 635-3309

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EOMC and EOHH Awarded Accreditation from

The Joint Commission

By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety, Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center and Eastern Oklahoma Home Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. “Historically, survey accreditation has been difficult to obtain, in part, because of deficiencies in our physical plan,” stated Rod Fulsom, LCHA Chairman. “For the first time since we were surveyed by The Joint Commission our building ”passed” without any deficiencies which demonstrates our commitment to re-invest capital in our facilities to improve patient safety.”

The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of EOMC and EOHH occurred in August of 2007.

“In becoming accredited, EOHH was evaluated against a set of national standard Joint Commission’s team of surveyors experienced in the delivery of home care service,” says Gina Val Zimmermann, senior executive director, Business Development, The Joint Commission. “Achieving accreditation demonstrates EOHH’s commitment to providing high quality and safe care to its clients.”

“Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” says Darlene Christiansen, executive director, Hospital Accreditation Program, Joint Commission. “The community should be proud that EOMC is focusing on the most challenging goal – to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.”

Terry Buckner, CEO spoke of his pride in a staff whose members ask what needs to be done to be accredited by The Joint Commission. “In addition, they appreciate the educational aspect of the survey and the opportunity to interact with the team of surveyors.”

He called the accreditation, “proof of an organization-wide commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis.”

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, the Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The hospital is licensed to operate 82 acute care beds and has an average daily census of 28 patients. The LeFlore County Commissioners, Freddie Cox, Lance Smith and Carroll Rogers appoint the Board of Trustees to the Hospital Authority. Members of the Board of Trustees are G.R. (Rod) Fulsom, Chairman, Paige, OK; Jim Scarbrough, Treasurer, Heavener, OK; Larry Lucas, Secretary, Poteau, OK; Jim Linville, Member, Spiro, OK; Aud Balentine, Member, Wister, OK, Carrel Vaughn, Member, Wister, OK, and Wayne Hoffman, Member, Cameron, OK. Mr. Dean Warren serves as legal counsel to the board of Trustees.