Oak Brook, IL (July 9, 2007) —

Advocate Health Care, a non-profit, faith-based provider of health care, today reported another exceptional year of delivering charitable care and services to the diverse neighborhoods throughout Chicagoland. Advocate detailed more than $296 million in community programs and services in its 2006 Community Benefits Report filed with the State under Illinois’ Community Benefits Act.

The report underscores the compassion and dedication of Advocate’s doctors, nurses and other caregivers who positively impact the health of millions of people of all ages, races and backgrounds across the Chicago area each and every day.  This impact includes quality care that is provided free, subsidized or without full reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid or other government insurance programs; services responding to unique community needs, such as neonatal intensive care and behavioral health services, as well as health screenings, school-based health care and other community outreach programs; education to train physicians, nurses and a host of other highly skilled health care professionals; volunteer services provided by hospital workers who volunteer in their communities and community members who volunteer at Advocate’s hospitals; language-assistance services, such as interpreters and non-English patient education materials; and donations by Advocate hospitals of meeting and clinic space, as well as other assistance to community groups.

“Advocate Health Care’s nearly 5,000 doctors and 25,000 associates perform individual acts of compassion everyday for the patients, families and communities we are privileged to serve,” said Jim Skogsbergh, president and chief executive officer of Advocate.  “As a result, Advocate’s mission and its impact extend well beyond the walls of our hospitals and other sites of care to make a difference in our communities.”

Advocate’s Community Benefits Report was filed with the Illinois Attorney General’s office.  The health system’s 2006 total of $296 million in charitable care and services represents a nearly $10 million increase from its 2005 community benefits contribution of $286.6 million. The Community Benefits Act defines the range of services provided by hospitals and health systems that reflect benefits to the community. 

About Advocate Health Care

Oak Brook-based Advocate Health Care, the largest health care provider in Illinois, is ranked among the nation’s top health care systems.  A faith-based, non-profit system, Advocate is related to both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ.  Advocate’s 200-plus sites of care in metropolitan Chicago include eight acute care hospitals and two children’s hospitals, a home health care company and four of Chicago’s largest medical groups.  Through its academic and teaching affiliations, Advocate trains more resident physicians than does any non-university teaching hospital in Illinois.  For more information about Advocate Health Care, please visit www.advocatehealth.com .