FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: John Marshall, Communications Director
Telephone: 314-842-8655 Ex.189
Email: jmarshall@signaturehealth.net
Website: http://www.signaturehealth.net

Health Foundation Grants $4,000 to Connect Care for Defibrillator

( St. Louis, August 25, 2005)  The Signature Healthcare Foundation has awarded $4,000 to St. Louis Connect Care. According to Connect Care’s Medical Director, Susan Pearson, M.D., the grant will be used to purchase a defibrillator for Connect Care’s Urgent Care Center at 5535 Delmar. The formal check presentation was made on Wednesday, August 24, by the Signature Healthcare Foundation Board Chair, Herman Noah, to Glendia Hatton, President & CEO of Connect Care.

St. Louis Connect Care is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1997 to meet a critical need in the St. Louis community -- to provide healthcare services to low income and uninsured individuals. It is a collaboration of the governments of St. Louis City, St. Louis County and the State of Missouri, two medical schools, four hospital systems, private physicians and other area health centers. Each year 50,000 patients use Connect Care to provide needed medical services, regardless of their ability to pay.

Signature Health Care Foundation was formed in 2002 by Signature Health Systems, Inc. with a vision to “be a recognized leader in the local and national health care dialogue and spearhead physician leadership in improvements and efficiencies in the health care delivery system.”  The mission of the Foundation is to utilize physician leadership to improve the quality, efficiency and affordability of health care in the St. Louis area and nationally. Grants are awarded to not-for-profit organizations that attend the Foundation's annual policy forum. This year's forum will be held on the morning of Thursday, November 3, at the Frontenac Hilton.

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