The list includes the Arizona Heart Hospital (Phoenix), the LouisianaMedical Center and Heart Hospital (Lacombe, La.), the Avera Heart Hospital ofSouth Dakota (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Heart Hospital of Austin (Texas) and theHarlingen Medical Center (Texas). Now in its tenth year, the study marks thefifth time Arizona Heart Hospital has received the honor, the fourth time forHeart Hospital of Austin and the third time for Avera Heart Hospital of SouthDakota.

The list, published online by Modern Healthcare magazine(www.modernhealthcare.com), is based on hospitals' performance treating fourkinds of emergencies: heart failure, heart attacks, bypass surgeries andangioplasties. Thomson Reuters examined the clinical outcomes of patients at970 hospitals and found, for example, that the mortality rate for bypasssurgery was 26 percent lower in the 100 Top Hospitals. The study also foundthat, on average, the top hospitals cost $1,542 less per case.

"These hospitals provide enormous value to their communities because heartdisease is still the nation's number one killer," Jean Chenoweth, senior vicepresident for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs in theHealthcare business of Thomson Reuters, said in statement issued by ThomsonReuters. "They have set the new national standard for cardiovascular diseaseoutcomes, process of care, efficiency, and lower costs."

Said MedCath CEO Ed French, "It's an honor that five of our nine hospitalshave received this prestigious ranking, because it recognizes the one measurethat matters most: quality care. Studies repeatedly show that our patient-focused model has helped lead to lower mortality rates, shorter lengths ofstay and a higher rate of being discharged directly home. We're pleased thatthese five hospitals, in particular, have been singled out for theirexceptional performance."

MedCath Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a healthcareprovider focused on high acuity services with the diagnosis and treatment ofcardiovascular disease being a primary service offering. MedCath owns aninterest in and operates nine hospitals with a total of 676 licensed beds,located in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Dakota,and Texas. MedCath is in the process of developing its tenth hospital, whichis anticipated to open in fall 2009, in Kingman, Ariz. In addition, MedCathand its subsidiary MedCath Partners provide services in diagnostic andtherapeutic facilities in various states.

The Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters produces insights, information,benchmarks and analysis that enable organizations to manage costs, improveperformance and enhance the quality of healthcare. Thomson Reuters is theworld's leading source of intelligent information for businesses andprofessionals. It combines industry expertise with innovative technology todeliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial,legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, poweredby the world's most trusted news organization.

SOURCE MedCath Corporation