Wise Regional Health System and Baylor Health Care System Announce Affiliation

Contact: Michael Denis, 940-626-2554 at Wise Regional Health System or Wendy Walker, 214-820-4581 at Baylor Health Care System
Email: mdenis@wiseregional.com or wendyw@baylorhealth.edu

(DECATUR, Texas, Jan. 29, 2007) - Wise Regional Health System and Baylor Health Care System today announced the execution of a formal affiliation agreement, which will begin on Feb. 1, 2007, for an initial term of five years.

"This agreement will provide for close cooperation between Wise Regional and one of the finest large health care systems in the United States. Through this association, Wise County residents will be able to access a full range of top quality health care services," said Steve Summers, CEO, Wise Regional Health System.

"Wise Regional and Baylor share compatible missions and values around integrity, servanthood, quality, innovation and stewardship. We look forward to collaborating with Wise Regional to deliver quality patient care," said Joel Allison, President and CEO, Baylor Health Care System.

This agreement will maximize the delivery of health care in Wise County yet allow both organizations to maintain their independence and control. The agreement specifically provides for:
> Continuing Education: Wise Regional will have the ability to participate in the various education programs for physicians, nurses and other clinical personnel that are offered by Baylor Health Care System to its employees. This is a significant advantage as Wise Regional continues to unfold its plans to become a major medical center.

> Consulting: Wise Regional will have the opportunity to access senior managers at Baylor Health Care System to provide counsel on matters including quality improvement efforts and strategic planning. "It is the goal of Wise Regional to be second to none in the delivery of quality patient care. Baylor Health Care System, an organization nationally recognized for its commitment to quality, will help us maintain that goal," said Leon Fuqua, COO and VP of Patient Services, Wise Regional Health System.

> Physician Recruiting: Wise County is growing at a significant rate. New physicians are constantly needed to provide excellent services. This agreement provides the opportunity for Wise Regional to work with Baylor Health Care System to meet this challenge.

> Group Purchasing: Baylor Health Care System has achieved significant savings through its membership in VHA Texas. This agreement provides the framework to allow Wise Regional to obtain the sponsorship of Baylor Health Care System and access the benefits of this purchasing organization.

"This agreement formalizes years of informal cooperation and mutual support. The welfare of Wise County residents has long been an important interest of leaders of Baylor Health Care System. Coupled with the opening of the new Wise Regional Health System facility in Decatur, this affiliation assures that 21st century health care will be a reality for years to come in Wise County," said Michael Denis, VP of Planning and Development, Wise Regional Health System.

About Wise Regional Health System
Wise Regional Health System provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services to a service area which includes Wise, Jack and Montague counties. Wise Regional operates 148 acute care beds in two facilities spanning one of the main roads in Decatur, Texas. Wise Regional operates a state of the art cardiac catheterization laboratory, a full service dialysis center and one of the best equipped emergency departments in a hospital its size in Texas. The new main hospital is licensed for 99 beds and opened in August of 2006 with the most advanced acute care equipment available. Wise Regional also operates rehabilitation and psychiatric facilities in its newly renovated west campus. It should also be noted that Wise Regional was one of the first hospitals in Texas to receive the highly prestigious Nurse Friendly Hospital designation from the Texas Nurses Association.

About Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Health Care System is a network of hospitals, primary care and specialty care centers, rehabilitation clinics, affiliated ambulatory surgery centers and the Baylor Research Institute. One of the largest private-sector employers in Dallas/Fort Worth, Baylor employs more than 16,000 people and has more than 2,700 physicians on its medical staffs. Baylor University Medical Center, flagship hospital of the system, is a major patient care, teaching and research center for the Southwest. For fiscal year 2006, Baylor Health Care System will report $407 million in community benefit to the Texas Department of State Health Services.