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March 12, 2008Carol Wootton

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Gulf Coast Medical Center Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer

-- Randy Slack brings 18 years of experience to Wharton --

Wharton, TX – Louisiana native Randy Slack has been named chief executive officer of Gulf Coast Medical Center and will take the post on April 15th, officials with Signature Hospital Corporation announced today.

“We are very excited to introduce Randy to the Wharton community and look forward to the contributions he will make at Gulf Coast Medical Center,” said Charles R. Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Signature. “Based on our work with Randy in the past, we know he has the experience and ability to help Gulf Coast reach its full potential.”

Mr. Slack brings 18 years of healthcare leadership experience to the Wharton position. For the past five years he has served as chief financial officer of Mission Regional Medical Center, a 289-bed facility in the Mission/McAllen area of Texas. He has also worked in financial and administrative leadership positions with other investor-owned hospitals, as well as in the former corporate office of Champion Healthcare in Houston. He recognizes that Gulf Coast is faced with the same challenges that many other hospitals are experiencing, especially those in smaller communities near larger cities. One of the most difficult challenges is attracting and keeping good clinical and professional talent with so many competitors nearby.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the physicians and employees at Gulf Coast Medical Center. Based on my discussions with people in Wharton, there is tremendous opportunity for the hospital to serve this community and the surrounding area well. I believe the key will be to work collaboratively and cooperatively with the hospital employees and medical staff to produce quality outcomes, prevent medical errors, and demonstrate value to patients and their families.”

Mr. Slack is a graduate of Louisiana State University. He is also a certified public accountant. He will be relocating to the Wharton area with his wife Shelly and his two daughters. He has a son who lives in Denver.

About Gulf Coast Medical Center

Gulf Coast Medical Center is a 161-bed acute care facility located in Wharton, Texas. The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission. In partnership with more than 75 area physicians, the hospital provides a full range of medical services to meet the healthcare needs of the community it proudly serves. Gulf Coast is an affiliate hospital of Signature Hospital Corporation.

About Signature Hospital Corporation

Based in Houston, Texas, Signature Hospital Corp. is a privately held company dedicated to providing affordable, state-of-the-art medical services to communities in which it owns and operates hospitals.

Anchored by a strong commitment to patient safety, backed by proprietary technology for measuring and improving quality in its hospitals, Signature presently owns and operates four hospitals: 115-licensed bed Pampa Regional Medical Center in Pampa, Texas; 161-licensed bed Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton, Texas; 79-licensed bed Medical Park Hospital in Hope, Ark., and 325-licensed bed St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Parkersburg, W. Va.

Signature’s board and management team boast more than two centuries of combined experience in healthcare management and finance. Signature’s financial partner is Goldman Sachs, the nation’s premier investment banking firm. For more information on Signature, please visit www.signaturehospital.com.

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